ACA repeal is alive. Call your Congresspeople.

[biscoffcookies]

So I know there have been some previous threads about the Graham Cassidy ACA repeal bill in which it was discussed that it looked like a long shot.

That is no longer the case, according to the media and confirmed by seeyalater52 in a convo I had with her this morning. It appears the Senate is going to try to push this through by the September 30 deadline. Everyone who opposes repeal and massive coverage losses needs to get on the phone.

McConnell and leadership are now all in on the bill and are leaning on CBO for a rush score. Senators are being leaned on heavily to support. McCain has said he supports the substance of the bill and cannot be relied upon to stay no, lack of regular order or not. This bill as far as I can tell doesn't defund Planned Parenthood so the thing that previously helped keep Collins and Murkowski no is appaently no longer an issue.

All this is to say: people have to get on the phones to Senators AND Representatives (because if the bill passes the Senate it will go straight to the House for a vote given time constraints - you won't really have time to lobby your Representative then). It also would be good to get on the phone to your Governor, especially if you have a GOP governor in an expansion state or are in Arizona, as expansion states get hit hardest by this bill and if governors oppose that might cause Senators to oppose.

Graham Cassidy is just as bad if not worse than previous versions of repeal. It among other things will:

- gut Medicaid funding
- end the Medicaid expansion in part by taking money away from expansion states to give to no expansion states
- allow states that get waivers to allow insurance plans to not cover essential health benefits
- allow states that get waivers to allow insurance plans to charge people with pre-existing conditions more (gutting pre-existing conditions protections)
- end subsidies to low income people to buy insurance

States will be given a block grant, but funding is less than current levels and unlike now there will be no requirements of how a state must use it - they won't be required to use it to reduce costs or make insurance affordable. Coverage losses will like before likely be in the many millions.

The formula for the block grants has been tailored to help give extra funding to states like WV and Alaska to try to buy those votes. At the end of the day their Medicaid coverage will also be gutted and their people harmed but it gives a potential fig leaf for support.

The timeline is tight but passage is possible, and the GOP is going to do everything they can to do it.

[seeyalater52]

I am swamped today but I'll try to pop in and out. Here's a target list and a number that can be circulated. It will route you to the right Senate targets, and should drop you down to House members if you don't have Senate targets. Obviously Senate is highest priority since it has to pass the Senate first, but House members should be getting calls NOW to encourage them to speak out against the bill pre-emptively, which will take some of the wind out of the sails of the Senate effort to whip sufficient votes.

You can use this TOLL-FREE CALL IN NUMBER: 888-981-9704
KEY PRIORITY TARGETS:

Collins (ME)
Murkowski (AK)
Capito (WV)
Flake & McCain (AZ)
Portman (OH)
Cotton & Boozman (AR)
Gardner (CO)
Grassley (IA)
Ernst (IA)
Moran (KS)
Alexander & Corker (TN)
Young (IN)

Call Republican governors too, especially in expansion states.

This proposal is the WORST for Medicaid so far. By a lot. The threat level is decently high but I will say that there are a lot of folks in DC who are saying the GOP is overplaying their hand and can't pass this by the Sept 30th deadline. Let's make them right by making sure Congress hears from lots of people about why this is terrible.

Also, if you'd like to say something about what they SHOULD be focusing on, feel free to point out that there are some great ideas coming out of the HELP Committee hearings and the bipartisan governor's blueprint they could focus on to actually move us FORWARD instead of backwards.

[meshaliuknits]

goddamnit

[compassrose]

Called Portman for all the good it will do, since he's a spineless worm. wowhead wambam cuddlyevil

[kballerina]

Called Cory F. Gardner today - all lines (Denver, Pueblo, GJ, FC) i tried went directly to voicemail. So much for talking to staffers anymore.

[biscoffcookies]

If you are inclined, consider posting something on your social media about Graham Cassidy an sencouraging others to call. The faster and farther the word can spread and the calls can be made the better.

[buckeyegirl]

I called Portman. We'll see what happens.

[katieinthecity]

Sept 15, 2017 13:09:19 GMT -5 biscoffcookies said:

If you are inclined, consider posting something on your social media about Graham Cassidy an sencouraging others to call. The faster and farther the word can spread and the calls can be made the better.

Do you mind if we use your language from the OP to do this? 

[seeyalater52]

Here's some stuff for social media that might be helpful:

Tweet at your senators urging them to oppose Graham-Cassidy: Find your senators’ Twitter handles.https://www.socialseer.com/resources/us-senator-twitter-accounts/ 

Share this tweet and this Facebook post about the ways that Graham-Cassidy is just as bad as previous repeal bills the Senate has already rejected

Some talking points:

1. Graham-Cassidy is a last-ditch effort to repeal the ACA. It would cause virtually all of the same devastating impacts as previous repeal bills already rejected by the Senate, such as:
· cutting health coverage and raising premiums and out-of-pocket costs for millions
· slashing Medicaid, converting the traditional Medicaid program to a per capita cap, and ending the expansion
· allowing states to gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions
2. The country has moved on from repeal. They want and expect Republicans and Democrats to work together to stabilize the health insurance marketplaces, protect children’s health, and take steps to help people afford the coverage they need.
3. These bipartisan efforts are where Congress should be placing its focus, not on last-ditch attempts to resurrect ACA repeal measures the Senate has already rejected.

And I know a lot of folks are still really interested in pre-existing conditions, so this paper is something to pay attention to: www.cbpp.org/blog/cassidy-grahams-waiver-authority-would-gut-protections-for-people-with-pre-existing-conditions

[seeyalater52]

Sept 15, 2017 13:27:15 GMT -5 kellady said:

Sorry - time for a stupid question.  How should I phrase this to my Republican governor from Michigan.  (Both of our senators are D, thankfully.)

I can use the language from the OP, but do I just ask him to call his friends in Washington?  Anything else to bring up?

And also, shit!  

Sorry @seeyalater,  I was typing as you posted.  And thanks for all your input.

Definitely ask Snyder to oppose the bill. It's going to drain money out of Michigan and give it to other states that didn't expand Medicaid. You can't afford that. He definitely needs to lean on his contacts in Washington, especially other Republican governors. 

Some pointed questions about why he didn't sign on to the largely good bipartisan governor's blueprint for health care would also be in order. Ask him to sign on and move us forward instead of backwards. 

governor.ohio.gov/Priorities-and-Initiatives/Blueprint-for-Stronger-Health-Insurance-Markets 

[biscoffcookies]

Sept 15, 2017 13:15:34 GMT -5 katieinthecity said:

Sept 15, 2017 13:09:19 GMT -5 biscoffcookies said:

If you are inclined, consider posting something on your social media about Graham Cassidy an sencouraging others to call. The faster and farther the word can spread and the calls can be made the better.

Do you mind if we use your language from the OP to do this? 

Not at all. Although I just made it up off the top of my head so no promises that it is the most eloquent thing out there.

[biscoffcookies]

seeyalater52 do Congresspeople count Tweets up there with calls in terms of gauging constituent support/opposition? I always assumed that Tweets would be dismissed under concerns about bots and lack of evidence the Tweeter is a constituent.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 15, 2017 14:13:18 GMT -5 biscoffcookies said:

seeyalater52 do Congresspeople count Tweets up there with calls in terms of gauging constituent support/opposition? I always assumed that Tweets would be dismissed under concerns about bots and lack of evidence the Tweeter is a constituent.

It's more helpful for building public visibility than pressuring the target. But we need visibility right now, so if people can do both I would. If you can only do one thing to actually target a legislator I would call FOR SURE. 

[biscoffcookies]

It turns out that Graham Cassidy might in fact defund a Planned Parenthood (in that it won't be able to receive Medicaid funds for a year). So that is good vis-a-vis Collins and Murkowski, but (1) it will be easy for them to delete that provision if needed to get their support and (2) it might be tossed in the Byrd review rendering it moot. Wasn't the Planned Parenthood defunding cut in Byrd review earlier in the summer for the BCRA?

[seeyalater52]

Sept 15, 2017 15:20:05 GMT -5 biscoffcookies said:

It turns out that Graham Cassidy might in fact defund a Planned Parenthood (in that it won't be able to receive Medicaid funds for a year). So that is good vis-a-vis Collins and Murkowski, but (1) it will be easy for them to delete that provision if needed to get their support and (2) it might be tossed in the Byrd review rendering it moot. Wasn't the Planned Parenthood defunding cut in Byrd review earlier in the summer for the BCRA?

Yes, and it's likely to be cut this time as well.
ETA: still feeling good about Collins and Murkowski though even if it gets cut

On the Hill they are claiming the whip is at 49. That is overly ambitious but Kansas folks you should definitely make calls to Roberts and Moran, since I hear they are still in the mix.

Also:
Capito
Gardner
Portman

This is not shaping up well. The silver lining is that they have to wait on the CBO score (it's with them now) and late-breaking bad CBO news has been a game changer before. Hopefully we will get a second wind in the media with that release since the single payer bill tanked our efforts to generate awareness about Graham Cassidy easier this week. Fucking fuck.

[TamiTaylor]

Omg the Rs and this bill (all the bills) are like a stage 5 clinger. Just go the fuck away.


Someone post the mean girls fetch gif.

[biscoffcookies]

I guess I am not surprised - last I saw Flake is trailing badly in the GOP primary polls for 2018. He can't afford to make enemies with the party right now if he has a hope of keeping his job. But yet, not great.

[seeyalater52]

Our people on the Hill are counting whip at 50 votes now, with expected introduction date in the Senate Sept 28th. Paul is a faker, we need Capito to oppose and it doesn't look like that's going to happen right now. Obviously there's some time between now and then for this to fall apart and the CBO score will be another late-breaking opportunity but it is looking very bad.

WV please call Capito!!

[pugz]

Here we go again

I will get to calling Moran again this week!

[cville]

Jesus H. Christ. These assholes.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 17, 2017 23:24:37 GMT -5 pugz said:

Here we go again

I will get to calling Moran again this week!

I'm not certain the logic, but this time both your Senators are on the target list so if you have an extra second maybe call both. Thank you!

[miniroller]

SHIT.
I can't believe I missed this Fri, sorry. I've caught up over the weekend & my guys are getting called (though not in a state that "matters"😢) @ 8am.
Twitter has scared the shit outta me this weekend. I've been posting to all my social media accounts & definitely encourage others to do the same!
I'm embarrassed that I'm so aghast that they're trying to pull this sneaky shit when people aren't paying attention/ don't expect it. THIS IS NOT HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK!

*Speaking of the media's lack of attention to this matter: Joe (Morning Joe) just asked Kasie Hunt what she's going to be working on today. Her answer was "Healthcare, at least for a bit; democrats are trying to get something stirred up; I'm just not sure if it's real yet..."

[biscoffcookies]

Sept 17, 2017 22:49:37 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Our people on the Hill are counting whip at 50 votes now, with expected introduction date in the Senate Sept 28th. Paul is a faker, we need Capito to oppose and it doesn't look like that's going to happen right now. Obviously there's some time between now and then for this to fall apart and the CBO score will be another late-breaking opportunity but it is looking very bad.

WV please call Capito!!

Jesus.  This literally has me feeling like I am going to throw up. 

Also, I don't even have words for McCain.  Just yesterday he was on Face the Nation where he unprompted brought up how heath care shouldn't be shoved through on a party line vote like Democrats did, and regular order is important, and gave a shout out to Alexander and Murray for doing it the "right" way.

ETA: reminder -- also call your representatives to tell them to oppose the bill if it comes to them.  Particularly if you have a GOP rep in states that are going to get hit hard by this bill -- California and New York, for example.   

I just...god.  I'm am thinking of all the people who must -- once again -- be scared out of their minds right now.  And also, how people have been fighting like hell for MONTHS for their lives, the lives of their kids, and/or the lives of strangers just because they care, and how utterly cruel it will be if this bill passes anyway.  In some ways, if the outcome is going to be ACA repeal, then I kind of wonder if it wouldn't have been better for it to pass on one of the earlier tries -- making people go through all this fight and have hope for this time only to crush it seems extra cruel if in the end the bad stuff happens anyway.

[biscoffcookies]

seeyalater52 -- I have always assumed that Paul is a spineless faker, but curious: have people on the Hill actually heard that he has committed to voting yes if it comes up for a vote? Because he has been Tweeting all over the place against G-C, including this morning on Twitter where he sent several Tweets basically saying G-C is just Obamacare passed to the states, "no conservative should vote for a rebranded trillion dollar spending program just because it adds some block grants," and "keeping 90% of Obamacare is not OK and not what we ran on. Conservatives should say no."

I mean, if he is going to vote yes at the end of the day, then one would think that the right thing to do would be to make some generally critical comments but not stick your neck out quiiiiite so much. I don't think he's reliable, I just think he's....got some weird game theory.


All that being said, if you are in Kentucky, now might be the time to call Paul and say that you TOTALLY AGREE with his opposition to G-C and that you are counting on him to vote no for it for all the reasons he said.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 18, 2017 10:13:33 GMT -5 biscoffcookies said:

seeyalater52 -- I have always assumed that Paul is a spineless faker, but curious: have people on the Hill actually heard that he has committed to voting yes if it comes up for a vote? Because he has been Tweeting all over the place against G-C, including this morning on Twitter where he sent several Tweets basically saying G-C is just Obamacare passed to the states, "no conservative should vote for a rebranded trillion dollar spending program just because it adds some block grants," and "keeping 90% of Obamacare is not OK and not what we ran on. Conservatives should say no."

I mean, if he is going to vote yes at the end of the day, then one would think that the right thing to do would be to make some generally critical comments but not stick your neck out quiiiiite so much. I don't think he's reliable, I just think he's....got some weird game theory.


All that being said, if you are in Kentucky, now might be the time to call Paul and say that you TOTALLY AGREE with his opposition to G-C and that you are counting on him to vote no for it for all the reasons he said.

He was just as loud and outspoken about the last bill he voted in favor of. He's too much of a wild card. If we were betting people we would bet he'd vote with leadership when it came down to it. But there is a chance I suppose he'd oppose it. We need someone else though, there's no way we can base our count around him. I am hoping that his outspokenness will spoil the freedom caucusers in the House.

ETA: Paul almost never seems to have an actual plan. He is actually pretty consistent ideologically in how he talks about the issues and his positions but his voting record doesn't necessarily reflect those values. He's such a grandstander and doesn't appear to get strategy very well. Definitely call him though, cant hurt anything.

[pitta12]

In case anyone was thinking McCain might go for a repeat performance:

[seeyalater52]

Sept 18, 2017 10:57:08 GMT -5 pitta12 said:

In case anyone was thinking McCain might go for a repeat performance:

This also means everyone needs to go HARD on Ducey to oppose. Call him, AZ folks! He can oppose publicly or talk to McCain and Flake behind the scenes, but he needs to do it now.

[pugz]

Sept 18, 2017 5:28:16 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Sept 17, 2017 23:24:37 GMT -5 pugz said:

Here we go again

I will get to calling Moran again this week!

I'm not certain the logic, but this time both your Senators are on the target list so if you have an extra second maybe call both. Thank you!

done and done! Will call again tomorrow!

[biscoffcookies]

Sept 18, 2017 10:57:08 GMT -5 pitta12 said:

In case anyone was thinking McCain might go for a repeat performance:

And this:

Johnson's committee is Homeland Security. It doesn't have jurisdiction or expertise over this bill. While any hearing for this bill would have been a farce, this is just highlights it. But it gives McCain enough of a fig leaf to vote yes while telling himself that he didn't really violate his principles because hey, there was a hearing.

[pitta12]

Welp, there goes McCain.