In a move that surprised me (because I’ve been having an ongoing conversation with his spokesperson Shannon O’Brien and have been unable to get a definitive answer) Bill Foster signalled his support for a strong public option, without triggers, when he signed a letter from 22 members of the New Democrat and Blue Dog coalitions to Nancy Pelosi last Wednesday.
A copy of the letter is posted here on Firedoglake.
There’s more…
It can’t come as a surprise to anyone who has been following my blogging about health care that I’m deeply concerned with this issue, and while I think single-payer is the only truly logical solution to our national health care nightmare, a strong public option without triggers is probably the best we can hope for from this Congress.
Among other things, a strong public option will offer those, like me, who are uninsurable under the current fiasco that is the profit-driven health insurance system in our country, an opportunity to actually get health care. Just as importantly, it will help break the death grip on that system currently held by what is essentially a handful of massively large corporate insurers acting in lock-step as a monopoly, by offering up a little healthy and desperately needed competition.
Where this letter is concerned, these 22 New Democrats and Blue Dogs are essentially breaking with their coalitions to offer support for a strong public option that may prove critical to actually achieving some reform that will move us toward actual health care for all.
Because of this, because Foster is still gathering input about health care reform, and because I think we can absolutely count on the fact that Repubs in the district – Prince Hastert the Younger among them – will be be trying to make political hay out of this issue, it’s very important that we do everything we can to get Foster’s back on this stand.
Take the time to call or stop by his office:
1339 Longworth HOB *
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-297627 North River Street
Batavia, IL 60510
(630) 406-1114119 W. First Street
Dixon, IL 61021
(815) 288-0680137 S. State St., Suite 344
Geneseo, IL 61254
(309) 944-3558
or stop by one of these events
Congress on Your Corner is a one-on-one town hall meeting that allows constituents to bring their concerns to Rep. Foster in an informal way without making an appointment.
July 18 Campton Hills 9:30 A.M.-11:00 A.M. Farmer’s Market, 40W115 Campton Crossing Drive
July 18 Plano 12:30 P.M.-1:30 P.M. Plano Library, 15 W. North Street
to express your approval of his support for a strong public option, available on day one and to thank him for his stand on this issue.
While poll after poll has shown that the public is 75% in favor of a strong public option, you can bet Repubs are going to try to raise a very loud noise about this in-district, so Foster is going to need all the support on this issue that his progressive and Democratic constituents can give. Please contact him asap, one way or the other, and let him know how you feel.
Cross-posted at DailyKos
Tags: Bill Foster, health care, IL-14, Illinois, insurance, legislation, reform, U. S. House
I would never have believe it. I still have a lot of reservations about Congressman Foster, but we definitely need to back him against the Republicans in the district as well as the other Blue Dogs that will definitely come after him for leaving their ranks.
I’ll send the email AND I’ll call tomorrow. He wasn’t my choice in the primary, but I might warm up to him at least a little bit if he supports the public option.
[…] of Congress, blogger Downtowner reports that IL-14’s freshman Congressman Bill Foster supports a strong, no-trigger public option — making him one of a score of Blue Dog Dems to […]