Yesterday, Progressive Future's Political Director Brad Martin attended HCAN's rally for health care in Washington, D.C. Check out some great photos and see Brad's update on the rally below:
Thousands of health care activists rallied in Washington DC today, calling on Congress to join President Obama in passing real health care reform in 2009 and to push through a public health care option that will increase competition and cut costs for families, communities and state governments.
Estimates put the crowd at over 10,000, overflowing upper Senate Park, with huge crowds from labor and the social justice community turning out to hear from doctors and patients, celebrities and community organizers, Democratic lawmakers and union leaders – all calling for high quality, affordable health care for all.
After repeated pleas to not let the specials interest and health insurance lobby derail real reform, participants jumped into action – attending town hall meetings with lawmakers, and dropping by Congressional offices to make their voices heard.
The day was a proud accomplishment for the Health Care for America Now Coalition (HCAN - Progressive Future is proud to be an active member) and was powerful, important next step in passing health care reform in 2009.
To see more pictures from the HCAN rally, click here.
This Friday, clean energy legislation goes to the floor of the House--and it may not pass without a grassroots push over the next 36 hours.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES, or Waxman-Markey) isn't perfect. But, it's a significant step. And, we working to strengthen and pass the bill.
if passed, it will be the first EVER national effort to curb global warming.
And, it will help move us towards a clean energy economy. The Center for American Progress reports that, along with President Obama's stimulus package, ACES will spur $150 billion in clean energy investments each year for a decade, creating 1.7 million new jobs in a typical year.
All for the price of a postage stamp a day for an average American family. And, the energy efficiency provisions will actually save the typical family hundreds of dollars per year by 2030.
But, even in a Democratic Congress, our contacts in DC tell me that passage is far from secure.
Please take a moment to call your representative and urge him/her to vote for ACES. The congressional switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.
For those who are interested, here's some more information on the bill:
• Bill text, summary, cost and environmental analysis, etc.
This hilarious video comes to us from John Erhardt, leader of Denver's chapter of Drinking Liberally and Square State.
From John:
HAARM.org or Healthy Americans Against Reforming Medicine (Heal Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps) is a new parody of conservative efforts to block health care reform from the geniuses behind Laughing Liberally in cooperation with the SEIU's Change the Works campaign.
Make sure to share this video with your friends, and check out John's posts at Square State.
Replies: 3
I just saw that we’ve been attacked by right wing blogger and talking head Michelle Malkin. Apparently, she was upset that some of our canvassers approached her to support President Obama’s health care plan at Denver International Airport.
In spite of Malkin’s baseless speculation, we don’t receive any money from the stimulus bill or AmeriCorps—or any government funding at all for that matter. And, in spite of further speculation from folks commenting below the main post, we have no official connection to ACORN—although we consider them strong allies in the constant fight for civic engagement and greater public participation in our political process.
No government money, no for-profit corporate funding. We raise our money from citizens who are tired of the mess we’re in and ready to become part of the solution.
Oh, and Ms. Malkin also calls us silly for fundraising at the airport. But, Michelle, as an experienced traveler (I’m guessing), surely you’ve noticed that for every harried runner racing to catch his/her flight, there is another person who showed up two hours early fearing a giant line at security—and now has some serious time to kill. Turns out many of these people are happy for the opportunity to become a bit more politically engaged and help our president break through the log jam of special interest and right-wing opposition in Washington.
Finally, I see that Malkin lives in Colorado Springs—not too far from our Denver headquarters. Perhaps she’d like to grab some lunch and talk things out. We’re not likely to agree, but it might be nice to learn something about the folks you’re attacking. Standing offer—I’ll pay.
Welcome to the final installment of blog entries on my multi-city tour giving briefings to all of our Progressive Future canvass offices.
San Francisco
When we last left off, our intrepid hero (er, that's me) had just finished giving a briefing in the Mountain View office, south of San Francisco.
As I was waiting for a train to San Fran, an elderly Peruvian man approached me and asked me in Spanish if I could help him purchase "un boleto de tren." I helped him buy his ticket and invited him to sit with me so that I could make sure he didn't miss his stop--and I had my first real conversation in Spanish in a very long time. I understood about 1/3 of what he said (unfortunately, not including his name), but it was fun. Here's a photo of my brief travel companion:
That evening, I headed to a 10th anniversary celebration for US Action, a strong progressive ally and leading player in the Health Care for America NOW! coalition (of which we're part).
I met actor Kurtwood Smith at the reception--Red from "That 70s Show" and the mean father from Dead Poets Society ("You're going to Harvard and you're gonna become a doctor"), among others. He was very cool and into both health care reform and our summer campaign to push back on Rush Limbaugh and the right wing.
I extended my stay in San Francisco for a night so that I could meet with several canvass directors from the region who canvassed for Progressive Future on Saturday.
Then, it was off to the airport to Seattle...
Seattle
I arrived in Seattle on Saturday afternoon. My good friend from law school Meron picked me up from the airport and we spent a fun weekend tooling around town at the famous market and walking around Lake Washington. Here we are in front of the lake:
I was up early this morning for a 7:30 PT/8:30 MT phone briefing for our Boulder office (I've been there in person twice this summer). Then it was time for a briefing at the Seattle office. Here's Regional Director Joe Rupp in front of the one of the office's Rush cut-outs:
And, practicing Progressive Future canvassing after the briefing:
One more briefing this afternoon, and then I head home tomorrow. Thanks for following along...
The House Democrats released their long-awaited heath care plan today. The summary looks good, and the Health Care for America NOW! coalition (of which Progressive Future is part) has immediately endorsed with high praise.
This is a strong marker, and a step towards fulfilling Speaker Pelosi's pledge to pass a bill with a public health insurance option.
Now the pressure is on the Senate to come through with something similar--not a watered down proposal that won't do the job for the American people. Click here to urge your Senators to pass real reform.
Minneapolis
I finally arrived in Minneapolis at about 11pm and was greeted graciously by Ed Johnson, Citizen Outreach Director for the Fund for the Public Interest (who we hire to run our canvass offices). Here's Ed (who is a fellow Duke grad by the way, so can do no wrong...):
I headed to the office the next morning for my briefing.The office is located in "Dinkytown," which is the cute college town bordering the University of Minnesota.
Here's Carl, one of the directors, with their Rush:
After my briefing, Ed recommended I head to Al's for breakfast, rumored to be among the best greasy spoon breakfast joints in the country.
Breakfast was quite good--and they have this cool system of yellow debit books: you can give them some cash up front and open a tab, kind of like in Cheers (but unlike Norm I think you actually have to pay). Here's a shot of the yellow books piled up behind the counter:
After breakfast and a few precious minutes online, I headed across town through U of M to meet my law school friend, Minnesota native, and former St. Olaf hoops player Tim for lunch in downtown Minneapolis. We had an interesting (to us nerds) conversation about judicial philosophy and confirmations. Here's Tim in front of City Hall:
From there I was off to the airport. I think Minneapolis set my record for fewest hours in a city/state: 15.
Los Angeles
I arrived in LA a bit after 7pm on Tuesday. My friend Ryan picked me up at the airport and we camped out at a nearby hotel to grab a drink with Laura, another law school buddy.
Our LA office is in Koreatown on Wilshire Blvd. Here I am in the office with their Rush:
After the briefing, I had lunch with my boss Wendy at a local noodle shop.
Then it was off to the airport again. Contrary to popular belief, LA does have public transit. Here's Wendy next to the metro stop (I even took the metro, and a bus, to the airport):
About 22hrs in LA...
Palo Alto/Mountain View
I arrived at SFO at about 6pm, and Summer, one of the directors in the Palo Alto office (which is really in Mountain View) was kind enough to pick me up and take me home to stay with her beautiful family. Here is Summer with Kaleo (right), Tiara (left), and Jamar:
Tiara and Kaleo in the car EARLY this morning:
Here's me giving my briefing this morning in the Mountain View office (Johnny Cash-style):
My attentive audience (or part of it):
The other half of my audience, including directors Sean and Ranmit (sp?):
And here I am with Summer and Kim, the star field mananger who raised nearly $300 last night on her first night canvassing for Progressive Future:
OK, now I've got to get to San Francisco for a tenth anniversary event for US Action tonight. Tomorrow I fly to Seattle.
Today's Washington Post has an interesting and helpful article today about the senators to watch as this health care debate unfolds. See the list below or read the original article here.
From the Washington Post:
We derived a list of six of the most important pieces to any bipartisan health-care bill.
• Utah's Republicans: Sens. Bob Bennett and Orrin HatchBennett has co-sponsored health-care legislation with Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden (D) that has drawn considerable bipartisan support while Hatch is close personally to Sen. Ted Kennedy who, ailing with a brain tumor, has his best chance ever to see his dream of universal health care achieved. Bennett's support is complicated by political reality -- he is facing a serious fight for the Republican nomination from his ideological right in 2010. Playing a key role in some sort of health care compromise would not sit well with GOP activists in the Beehive State. may hail from one of the most Republican states in the country but both men are seen by Democrats as critical to their efforts to sell the bill.
• Olympia Snowe: The Maine Republican sits on the Finance Committee and will likely be under considerable pressure -- given Maine's Democratic leanings -- to support some sort of compromise bill. Snowe was the only one of the ten Republicans on the Finance committee who chose not to sign a letter to the president opposing the so-called "public option"; Senate Republicans badly want a united front in opposition to the public option and Snowe holds the key.
• Bob Menendez: Mendendez, more so than any other Democratic senator, has one eye on the policy of the legislation and one eye on the political implications. If the possibility of raising taxes is floated -- Obama has said the plan can't grow the deficit and there are only so many available funding sources -- Menendez is likely to raise concerns about what voting for a tax increase could mean for targeted Democratic senators and aspiring Democratic candidates. How loud does he make his case and will it change any minds?
• Mitch McConnell: Can the Senate minority leader hold his conference in line? McConnell was unable to keep Snowe as well as Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Arlen Specter (then R-Pa.) from supporting the economic stimulus package, defections that gave Democrats the magic 60 votes. With Specter having switched parties in the interim, McConnell has even less wiggle room if he wants to block the bill. The question before the Kentucky Republican is whether he can convince senators who are up for reelection in 2010 in targeted races to oppose a bill and, if so, what will the message be for that opposition be? Simply saying no is not an option.
• Ted Kennedy: The Massachusetts senator is not likely to play a major role in the coming debate due to his illness but his presence looms over the chamber and could have real influence with wavering members. Kennedy has made it his life's work to pass universal health care and brought low by a brain tumor may not get another chance to see that vision realized. Given all of that, the symbolic import of passing some sort of legislation is considerable -- particularly on Democrats who might otherwise be inclined to take a pass.
Do any of these Senators represent you? If so, let them know you want quality, affordable health insurance for all. Click here.
I'm writing from O'Hare Airport where I'm stuck after my airline decided to downsize the plane and bump a set of us with confirmed tickets. Oh, well...at least I got a free trip and ran into a college friend who got me into the Red Carpet Lounge for free blocks of cheese.
After spending the weekend in NYC with family and friends, I arrived in Chicago last night and came to the office this morning to brief the canvassers and meet with the Progressive Future campaign team.
President Obama Speaks to the AMA
I wasn't the only one in Chicago today. President Obama was in town to address the annual meeting of the American Medical Association. This is particularly interesting given that the AMA came out last week against a key part of the president's health care reform proposal: giving Americans the option of choosing a public health insurance plan, or keeping the private insurance they have.
You can urge the AMA to drop its opposition by clicking here.
My Day at the Office
As usual, I forgot to take pictures during my briefing and the early part of the day; but I managed to snap a few shots later on.
Here is the director Katie meeting with Meshawn, the Regional Director, conveniently, right under the PF sign (OK, I asked them to move over slightly--but they were really close to it anyway):
And, here is Emily, one of the directors, in front of Chicago's Rush. Emily spent some time in Denver with us during the election campaign last year, so she's a Progressive Future veteran.
If I ever get out of O'Hare, I'm headed off to Minneapolis tonight. At least my laptop will be charged and my belly will be full of free blocks of cheese...
Every once in a while, it's nice to hit the road. Through a blur of airports, buses, and subways, I'm talking to the canvassers in all nine Progressive Future summer citizen outreach offices.
In addition to hitting Boulder twice this summer (in my own backyard, just 40 mins from Denver), I was in Miami last week. This week I was in Boston/Cambridge and I'm now writing from Manhattan.
Next week is Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Here are some pics and stories from the road:
Miami
Late last week, I flew from the America's Future Now conference in DC down to Miami for my first far-away office briefing.
It was hot.
Canvass Director Nick and the Assistant Directors have a great crew down there who are not shy about heading out into the 100 degree heat (with nearly 100% humidity, of course) every day to build our membership and get folks involved.
Here is Katie, one of the directors in the office, and Adam who works for one of our coalition partners (Environment Florida) standing with our life-sized Rush Limbaugh cut out:
Two of the "Field Managers" (who work with the directors to manage staff and are key to winning our campaigns) have been offered Director jobs next year--so they're doing something right in that heat.
Cambridge
After toughing it out in the FL heat, I headed back to Denver for a few days before getting back on a plane to Boston to brief our Cambridge office, run by Canvass Director Sasha Rosen, and located just off of Harvard Square.
Here is the Progressive Future crew from the Cambridge office, with their "Rush":
Here's assistant canvass director Mike Norris in action just off of Harvard Square:
While in Boston, I got to hang out with my good friend from law school, Rahul. Rahul is also a doctor and a recognized health care expert who served on President Obama's health care transition team. Over sushi and sake, we talked about the health care bill the Democrats had introduced earlier in the week and its prospects for passage. Bottom line: we can do this, but there's lots of work left to do.
Manhattan
After Cambridge it was the Bolt bus (complete with wireless access) to Manhattan on Thursday evening for a 9am briefing with the Manhattan office, run by Sam Landenwitsch.
This is the biggest canvass office in the country--they'll send out about 80 canvassers every day at their peak for groups that include Progressive Future, Environment New York, Human Rights Campaign, and New Jersey PIRG.
Here's a shot from daily annoucements (quick political updates, goals for the day and week, etc.) just before my briefing. Sam is on the right; Anthony Romeo (on the left) is the highest averaging canvasser in the country--he raised $1290 per day for the Human Rights Campaign this week.
Here's a shot of the Progressive Future crew before heading out to the streets of New York:
Here's the PF crew from today in Manhattan: director Lawrence with Kyle and Elizabeth.
OK, that's it from NYC. I'll spend the weekend with friends and family (I'm from Long Island) and get on a plane for Chicago on Monday. I'll send more updates from the road next week.
