DNC Weekly Update
What's happening this week?
July 2nd 2009 Edition
What’s Happening this Week?
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine Joins President Obama at Health Care Town Hall in Annandale, VA. Chairman Kaine joined President Obama on Wednesday at a health care town hall at Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale, VA. This was another effort by the President to connect with people outside of Washington and answer their questions about his plan for reform. In addition to queries from the live audience, the President answered questions submitted via Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. President Obama made a strong case for his three principles for reform – lowering costs, preserving patient choice and expanding access to quality, affordable care to all Americans – and reiterated his support for a deficit neutral plan that includes a public insurance option and the creation of a health insurance exchange. The President said the status quo is unacceptable and encouraged Americans to stand up for change and join the fight to make health care reform happen this year.
Historic Energy and Climate Legislation Passes the House. Last Friday the House passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, 219 to 212. Only eight Republicans voted in favor of the bill. The legislation creates the first-ever national limit on greenhouse gas emissions, lessens our dependence on foreign oil and creates a set of incentives that will spark a clean energy transformation in our economy and create millions of new, green jobs. Now the debate over comprehensive climate and energy legislation moves to the Senate. Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, has said she hopes to have a bill out of committee before August recess. Last Sunday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Carol Browner, the White House coordinator of energy and climate policy, joined President Obama for an interview about the House bill on Sunday. It’s a must read. The New York Times posted the transcript here.
President Obama Promotes Community Solutions. On Tuesday, President Obama highlighted innovative non-profits that are making a difference in communities across the country. He called on foundations, philanthropists and the private sector to partner with the government to find and invest in innovative, high-impact programs that will help build the new foundation for the nation’s economy. At the event, the President announced that Melody Barnes, the director of the Domestic Policy Council, and the White House innovation team would travel across the country to identify and evaluate the best programs eligible to apply for funding through the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which includes a $50 million innovation fund.
Minnesota Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Al Franken. The Minnesota Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on Tuesday in favor of Al Franken, finally ending an eight-month long battle for Minnesota’s senate seat. Here’s the key language of the decision: “For all of the foregoing reasons, we affirm the decision of the trial court
Here’s an excerpt from the President’s remarks:
“…But the hardest part is yet to come -- because everybody here knows that the easiest thing to do when you're looking at big policy questions like health care is just to be saying it can't be done. And the naysayers are already starting to line up and finding every excuse and scare tactic in the book for why reform is not going to happen. This is going on as we speak. And what I say to these critics is, well, what's your alternative? Is your alternative just to stand pat and keep on watching more and more families lose their health care, more and more families with higher out-of-pocket costs for less insurance; businesses who are not able to compete internationally; a Medicare and a Medicaid system that is run amok? Is that your alternative?
“What do you say to all those families who can't pay their medical bills? What do we tell those businesses that are having to choose between closing their doors or eliminating benefits for their workers? What do you say to every taxpayer whose dollars are propping up a system that doesn’t work and that's driving us into debt?” 1 Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
that Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is entitled under Minn. Stat. § 204C.40 (2008) to receive the certificate of election as United States Senator from the State of Minnesota.” DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued a statement immediately following the MN Supreme Court’s announcement congratulating Al Franken on his election and calling on Norm Coleman to concede and Governor Pawlenty to sign the election certificate. Today's ruling “marks the end of the line for Norm Coleman's legal battle,” Kaine said in a statement. Coleman conceded the race at 3pm Central Time, and Pawlenty signed the certificate on Tuesday evening. Senator-elect Franken is expected to be sworn in early next week.
LGBT Leaders at the White House. In celebration of Pride Month, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama joined a crowd of about 250 in the East Room of the White House on Monday for an event honoring the accomplishments of LGBT Americans. During his remarks, the President reiterated his commitment to repealing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, urged Congress to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act and said his administration is committed to rescinding the discriminatory ban on entry to the United States based on HIV status. This week marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, the 1969 Greenwich Village protests that gave birth to the modern gay rights movement. You can read the President’s remarks here.
American Troops Transfer Control in Iraq. On Tuesday, American troops transferred control of all Iraqi cities and towns to Iraq's government and security forces. The transition was agreed to last year as part of our Status of Forces Agreement with the Iraqi government. The transfer of authority yesterday is part of the Obama Administration’s strategy to responsibly bring an end to the war by removing all American combat brigades from Iraq by next September, and all American troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
Organizing for America (OFA)
The Real Harry and Louise. OFA has collected hundreds of thousands of personal health care stories in the past several weeks in an effort to show the human face of the health care debate and inspire Americans to action. Yesterday OFA Director Mitch Stewart sent an email to supporters asking for their help in creating a TV ad that would put the folks how have shared their personal health care stories in coast-to-coast television and online ads.
We believe these ads could create a breakthrough moment in the health care debate, when millions of Americans realize how urgent reform really is.
Conference Call with Representative Gerald Connolly (VA-11). Tuesday afternoon Rep. Gerald Connolly joined Organizing for America’s Director Mitch Stewart, Russell Axelson of Alexandria, VA and Alicia Brewster of Herndon, VA (two VA residents that have been affected by our health care system) on a conference call about health care reform. Axelson’s story was featured in a recent OFA “Faces of Health Care Reform” web video, which can be seen here. You can listen to the full audio of today’s call here. In early June, OFA coordinated a conference call with Rep. Steve Kagen (WI-8) in advance of President Obama’s health care town hall in Green Bay, WI.
National Health Care Day of Service. Last Saturday, tens of thousands of Americans attended thousands of events in all 50 states to participate in health care service events in their communities and raise awareness about the urgent need to pass comprehensive health care reform this year. The events received wide press coverage all across the country.
Excerpts from a few local and regional stories around the country:
Here’s an excerpt from the email:
Many experts believe health care reform was defeated in the early 90's by the infamous "Harry and Louise" ads. They featured actors sitting around a fake kitchen table, pretending to be a family that was frightened by reform. So just imagine if this time around, the debate is shaped by real people, looking us in the eye, telling their actual story, and asking for our help to fix this broken system. 2 Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Boston Globe, Boston, MA:
“The group Organizing for America is headquartered only two blocks from the Capitol, but when horse-trading over healthcare legislation intensified there this week, Barack Obama’s grass-roots advocacy operation turned its attention away from Washington. Yesterday, the group recruited thousands of its volunteer members to gather in farmers’ markets, rehab clinics, parks, and libraries nationwide as part of a National Health Care Day of Service.”
New York 10 News, Dewitt, NY
“One Central New York group answered President Obama's call for a National Health Care Day of Service by launching a new project in the community. Organizing for America volunteers from around the region are introducing ‘Rides for Reform,’ which will offer free rides to medical appointments for people in need. Organizers hope the program brings more people to their cause of reforming health care. ‘If we're going to ask the government to reform health care and do something good for our community here, then we need to do some service that shows we're in this together,’ said event organizer John DeSantis.”
Pasadena Now, Pasadena, CA
“About two dozen volunteers spent Saturday at the Smart and Final store on Fair Oaks Ave. in Pasadena showing their support for President Obama’s health reform package now working through Congress. ‘Health care reform has to be dealt with right now,’ explained Deb Vogel Cornwell, of South Pasadena. ‘Our economic future depends on it.’ The volunteers fanned out across the parking lot in the morning heat, greeting shoppers pushing carts filled with groceries.”
Just for Fun
July 4th, Independence Day. Dozens of DNC staffers and their guests will join President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and hundreds of others for the annual Fourth of July picnic and fireworks celebration at the White House on Saturday. The White House will provide dessert and beverages, and of course, all guests get prime seating for the big fireworks display.
Key Issues in the News & Background
Energy Bill Passes in the House of Representatives
During his weekly Saturday address, President Obama praised the House of Representatives for passing the historic American Clean Energy and Security Act and called on the Senate to take the next step. You can watch it here.
Talking Points:
• On Friday, the House of Representatives passed a historic piece of legislation that will pave the way for a clean energy economy and a better future for America.
• The Obama Administration rejects the false choice between investing in clean energy and economic growth. We always knew passing energy and climate legislation was going to be tough - historic change always is. But success begets success. The House passage of the bill gives us momentum for efforts to pass a bill in the Senate.
• The energy bill that passed the House will at last create a set of incentives that will spark a clean energy transformation in our economy.
o It will spur the development of low carbon sources of energy – everything from wind, solar, and geothermal power to nuclear energy and cleaner coal.
o It will create new ways to save energy, like efficient windows and other materials that reduce heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer.
3 Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
o And most importantly, the bill will make possible the creation of millions of new jobs.
• And the legislation was crafted to address the concerns that many have expressed in the past:
o Instead of increasing the deficit, it is paid for by the polluters who currently emit dangerous carbon emissions.
o It helps businesses and families as they make the gradual transition to clean energy technologies.
o It gives rural communities and farmers the opportunity to participate in climate solutions and generate new income.
o And above all, it will protect consumers from the costs of the transition to a clean energy economy, so that in a decade, the price to the average American will be about a postage stamp a day.
• We have been talking about energy for more than three decades – now it’s time to take action. Our dependence on foreign oil is endangering our national security. Carbon pollution is jeopardizing our planet. And the jobs and industries of the 21st century will be centered around clean, renewable energy sources. America must continue to lead by creating those jobs and industries.
Talking Points: Community Solutions
• President Obama hand his team are working hard to rebuild our economy and help people who are struggling. But the administration believes there is a limit to what government can – or should – do. For example:
o Government can help to rebuild our schools, but we need new ways to teach our children, train our teachers, and get parents more involved in their kids’ education.
o Government can reform our health care system, but we need innovative approaches to helping people manage their illnesses and lead healthier lives.
o Government can invest in clean energy, but we need new initiatives to get people to train for green jobs and make their homes and offices more energy-efficient.
• Ultimately, the best solutions don’t come from the top-down from Washington; they come from the bottom up in our communities. Solutions to America’s challenges are being developed every day at the grass roots – and government shouldn’t replace those efforts, it should support them. Instead of squandering taxpayer money on programs that are obsolete or ineffective, government should seek out creative, results-oriented programs and help them replicate their efforts across America.
• Replicating programs that work is the purpose behind the $50 million innovation fund included in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Those funds will be used to identify America’s most promising non-profits, evaluate their results, and invest in the most successful programs that are most likely to provide a good return on taxpayer dollars. Recipients of innovation funds will be required to get matching investments from the private sector to make those taxpayer dollars go even further.
• This innovation fund represents a new approach the President and his team are taking government-wide: rigorously testing programs to see what works and what doesn’t, then investing in the programs that get the best results.
4 Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Talking Points: Principles for Health Care Reform
• President Obama’s commitment to reforming health care starts with a simple promise and principle.
– The promise: No matter how we reform the system, if you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor. If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your health care plan.
– The principle: To keep preserve what’s best about our system, we have to fix what’s broken and build on what works.
• In some cases, there’s broad agreement on the steps we should take – most people agree that we should use electronic medical records to reduce errors, save lives, save money, while still ensuring privacy, and we should invest in prevention and wellness programs.
• The bigger cost savings will come from changing the incentives of a system that equates expensive care with better care.
– The President is committed to looking at the health care systems and communities around America that provide better care for less money, identify their best practices, and replicate their success throughout the country.
– We need to change incentives for doctors and hospitals so that they are rewarded based on the quality of care they provide, not on how many tests or procedures they prescribe, even if those tests or procedures aren’t necessary or result from medical mistakes.
• We also must provide Americans who can’t afford health insurance with more affordable options. This is the right thing to do. But we must also do this because when people without insurance have to be treated in the ER, everyone else ends up paying for it.
– President Obama believes we should have a Health Insurance Exchange so Americans can compare health plans – none of which would deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions – and pick the one that’s right for them. And if someone can’t afford one of the plans the government should provide assistance so s/he can.
– President Obama believes one of the options in the Exchange should be a public insurance option. If private plans have to compete with a public option, it will keep them honest and help keep prices down.
• Covering more Americans will not be cheap. To that end, President Obama has promised that reform will not add to our deficit over the next ten years and has already identified hundreds of billions of dollars in savings from steps like rooting out waste in Medicare and Medicaid. He will continue to outline hundreds of billions more in savings in the days to come
5 Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
