Democrats Block GOP Health Care Mailing (Marxism is alive in well in the Democrat Party)

rollcall ^ | 7/23/09 | Jackie Kucinich

[bestintxas]

Democrats are preventing Republican House Members from sending their constituents a mailing that is critical of the majority’s health care reform plan, blocking the mailing by alleging that it is inaccurate. House Republicans are crying foul and claiming that the Democrats are using their majority to prevent GOP Members from communicating with their constituents.

The dispute centers on a chart created by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee to illustrate the organization of the Democratic health care plan.

At first glance, Brady’s chart resembles a board game: a colorful collection of shapes and images with a web of lines connecting them.

But a closer look at the image reveals a complicated menagerie of government offices and programs that Republicans say will be created if the leading Democratic health care plan becomes law.

In a memo sent Monday to Republicans on the House franking commission, Democrats argue that sending the chart to constituents as official mail would violate House rules because the information is misleading.

In their eight-point memo, which was obtained by Roll Call, Democrats identify a litany of areas where they believe the chart is incorrect.

For example, Democrats argue that the chart depicts a “Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund” that is “simply a recipient of IRS funds, with no outflow. ... This is false.”

The chart’s illustration of low-income subsidies is also “misleading and false,” Democrats argue.

Congressional rules for franked mail bar Members from using taxpayer-funded mail for newsletters that use “partisan, politicized or personalized” comments to criticize legislation or policy.

[WOSG]

“The memo and the chart should be sent to every conservative talk show host, every conservative forum, and every conservative PAC around the country...it will then get out to the constituents.”

Been there done that - in fact the Media Matters folks whined about it showing up on FoxNews and elsewhere. It’s gotten a lot of traction. I got from a friend via email.

You get flak when you are over the target!

[Recovering_Democrat]

Congressional rules for franked mail bar Members from using taxpayer-funded mail for newsletters that use “partisan, politicized or personalized” comments to criticize legislation or policy.

I see. Perhaps the Republicans should remember that fact and enforce it with extreme prejudice if they are ever fortunate enough to be given another chance to run things. (They won't remember--because they are panty waists.)

[SF_Redux]

One would think they could have heard about Youtube by now.

that would be great, but I have many family members and email buddies that are still restricted to dialup in rural areas ... let's face it, everyone isn't in a city and if they are ina big city, they most like be demo's anyway

[justiceseeker93]

Ping!!!

Wonder if that Orwellian-sounding ban on mailing out “partisan, personalized, or politicized” comments critical of legislation or policy was instituted after the ‘Rats took back control of the House in the 2006 elections. If it was in effect before then, you could be sure that the ‘Rats violated it many times when the GOP controlled the House.

[Arizona Carolyn]

But Obama can run a perpetual campaign out of the white house? which, BTW I “thought” was illegal.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Democrats Block GOP Health Care Mailing (Marxism is alive in well in the Democrat Party)
rollcall ^ | 7/23/09 | Jackie Kucinich

the writer is Dennis Kucinich’ daughter!

http://bigheaddc.com/category/jackie-kucinich/

[mojitojoe]

Democrats are getting lots of letters. Here is one that I saw posted:

I’ve got great news. Recently, the Senate HELP Committee passed the Affordable Health Choice Act which includes giving everyone in America the choice of a strong public option.

The pressure is working! We would be nowhere on this important legislation without your continued hard work and dedication putting the pressure on your elected officials through phone calls, petition deliveries, and local actions.

Now, I’ve teamed up with Democracy for America to thank Senator Kennedy and his colleagues on the HELP Committee for their commitment to real reform. Help me send a clear message to my colleagues that when Senate Democrats stand up and lead, Americans won’t forget. Will you join me today?

THANK SENATE DEMOCRATS ON THE H.E.L.P. COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP:
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/activities/176

Twelve colleagues put this bill together under the leadership of Senator Kennedy with help from Senator Dodd. Here’s the whole list so we all know who they are:

Edward Kennedy (MA) - Christopher Dodd (CT)
Tom Harkin (IA) - Barbara A. Mikulski (MD)
Jeff Bingaman (NM) - Patty Murray (WA)
Jack Reed (RI) - Bernard Sanders (VT)
Sherrod Brown (OH) - Robert P. Casey, Jr. (PA)
Kay Hagan (NC) - Jeff Merkley (OR)

I’m not interested in passing a bill in name only, and neither are my Democratic colleagues on the HELP Committee. Every American deserves the right to quality healthcare and allowing Americans to choose a strong public healthcare option will help ensure that for all of us.

This fight for real reform is far from over. Please add your name to our thank you and remind Senate Democrats that when we stand with the American people, the American people will stand up for us.

JOIN ME — ADD YOUR NAME NOW

Insurance industry executives and special interests shouldn’t rule the debate, and they shouldn’t rule decisions about the kind of health care your family needs. The Affordable Health Choice Act is the first step towards giving families a choice, and making sure that all Americans are covered.

So keep the pressure up. We need to hear from you. All of us in Congress need to hear from all of you. There is too much at stake to sit at home hoping for change. It’s up to each of us to work together to make change happen.

Thank you, *****, for all of your hard work.

Sincerely,

-Russ

Russ Feingold
United States Senator

[justiceseeker93]

But Obama can run a perpetual campaign out of the White House?

The Clintons did too. Remember the White House data base of Dem fatcats, the Gore calls to contributors, the White House coffees and the Lincoln Bedroom sleep-ins, just to name a few practices that come to mind. The Republicans were more circumspect about doing their partisan political activities away from the White House during the Bush years.

But all of that is really a different issue than the one that's the crux of the posted article. It's not as if these GOP members opposing the health care bill are abusing their franking privileges to raise campaign cash. If they can't discuss legislation and policy in their free mailings, what are the franking privileges for? It would be preferable to abolish the privileges altogether for all members of the House if they can't be used for their intended purposes.

[Tzimisce]

When they said “free speech”, they didn’t mean for people who disagree.

Now pay your taxes - we need a raise. :)

[Arizona Carolyn]

Yes, the Gore thing particularly comes to my mind.

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!
(View past Libertarian pings here)

[americanophile]

...what have the Democrats been sending out? Let's have a full investigation. I'm sure we'll find plenty of stuff that it partisan and misleading...starting with any and all communication regarding the great political pay-off known as the ‘stimulus.’

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks justiceseeker93.

• Reid Postpones Health Care Vote Until After August Recess, House Mulls Timetable
• States Where the Unemployed Are Giving Up

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Shame on the Dems. This will backfire on them.

Meanwhile, I don't like that chart all that much. Okay as a first effort, but it is an oversimplification, for one thing. Where are the fines for non-participants? Where are the phase-outs of private insurers? Where are the abortions that Catholics and other pro-life taxpayers will be paying for? Where are the illegal aliens who will be covered but exempted from four-figure non-participation fines, unlike you and me?

Meanwhile there are some nodes in the chart which appear to have been added for impact but, when you think about it, risk being spotlighted as examples of our side's demagoguery. "Look here-- are the Republicans saying Medicare is bad? It's right there on the chart! What about all the poor seniors who depend on it for their healthcare? Republicans want old people to die!!"

Let's get this right, is all I'm saying. For one thing, we are missing an opportunity to say "The Ted Kennedy Federal Healthcare Bill-- from the guy who brought you the HMO." Nobody likes HMOs, but thanks to the media few people realize this is not his first at-bat for health-care, and how badly he has performed in his prior efforts.

[PhiKapMom]

The other day I send a webmail form to my Congressman, Tom Cole, and it wouldn’t take because it said I had the wrong zip code. I haven’t moved and they have not redrawn the lines of our district so I contacted the head of his local office who sent my note to Tom, but then I talked with several others who also had problems.

Figured then the DemocRATs were up to their tricks and now this. Pelosi is a dictator and any Dem that voted for her as Speaker needs to be challenged on that vote at the Town Hall meetings. It is up to all of us to bring this out when local media are present.

Forget the mainstream lunatics and go to local media which is what Bush-Cheney had to do in 2000.

[bustinchops]

People living in rat-run congressional districts should start contacting their reps and request/demand an organizational chart of the House health care bill.

I just sent one to my rep after reading this article.

[bustinchops]

The chart is already out “there”. The pub party could send them out, as many by email as possible.

And anybody with a copy machine is free to copy and distribute them.

[doug from upland]

Maybe we can take action. I discussed this with Brady’s office —

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2299525/posts

[iThinkBig]

You got that right, put up or shut up. I invest my own money educating the American public in six figure amounts. They will have to get more creative but it is no surprise the communist don’t want competition on there advertising monopoly. They were just smart enough to invest in the 1990’s.

[TheThinker]

Democrats are preventing Republican House Members from sending their constituents a mailing that is critical of the majority’s health care reform plan, blocking the mailing by alleging that it is inaccurate.

How is this legal?

They're really running scared on this one. Dems are putting it all on the line for absolute power.

If they fail, they know the downside could be devastating.