Senator Harry Reid’s (D-NV) health-care proposal was voted into the debate phase late Saturday night, presumably while no one was watching. Any hope that remained for the so-called “moderate” Democrats in the Senate was dashed when senators Lieberman (CT), Lincoln (AR), Nelson (NE), and Landrieu (LA) were bribed, cajoled, and threatened into voting to move ahead with debate on the health-care reform bill. The most blatant bribery was a reported $100-million gift to any state exactly matching the description of Louisiana. This appears to be bribery enforced by law. Blanche Lincoln seemed to simply succumb to peer pressure when the other 59 Dems had already voted for the bill. Democrats essentially shouted, “C’mon Blanche, everybody’s doin’ it,” until Lincoln, one of the youngest members of the Senate, simply gave in. Senator Joe Lieberman, who had promised to filibuster any bill with a public option (like this one), was threatened by the radical left with losing all his Senate power if he didn’t toe the party line. Ben Nelson was a goner when a flimsy article was added to the bill supposedly to prevent government-funded abortion. The article won’t do that, but it gave Nelson cover enough to vote with the party.
The only way this bill gets stopped now is if enough Democrats wake up to the idea that they are going to get kicked out of office if they vote for this bill on the floor. Here is a list of the Senators who need reminding, preferably on a daily basis, of how bad a health-care bill like Senator Reid’s would be for America, and for them. These senators have shown some unease regarding the bill and are prime targets for calls, faxes, and e-mails. Although such measures didn’t help before, a greater outpouring might be more effective.
Evan Bayh (IN) E-mail [Removed link when Bayh left Senate] Phone (202) 224-5623Fax (202) 228-1377
Byron Dorgan(ND) E-mail [Removed link when Dorgan left Senate] Phone (202) 224-2551Fax (202) 224-1193
Mary Landrieu (LA) E-mail Phone (202) 224-5824Fax (202) 224-9735
Joe Lieberman (CT) E-mail [Removed link when Lieberman left Senate] Phone (202) 224-4041Fax (202) 224-9750
Blanche Lincoln (AR) E-mail [Removed link when Lincoln left Senate] Phone (202) 224-4843Fax (202)-228-1371
Ben Nelson (NE) E-mail [Removed link when Nelson left Senate] Phone (202) 224-6551Fax (202) 228-0012
Mark Pryor (AR) E-mail Phone (202) 224-2353Fax (202) 228-0908
Arlen Specter (PA) E-mail [Removed link when Specter left Senate] Phone (202) 224-4254Fax (202) 228-1229
Jon Tester (MT) E-mail Phone (202) 224-2644Fax (202) 224-8594
Mark Warner (VA) E-mail Phone (202) 224-2023Fax (202) 224-6295
Jim Webb (VA) E-mail [Removed link when Dorgan left Senate] Phone (202) 224-4024Fax (202) 228-6363
Please always be polite when contacting your elected officials. They may not be the greatest people in the world, but showing them kindness while remaining firm in your convictions will be more effective than ranting at them.