@dkmich To think our reps consider this depth of response is sufficient to appease our interests...

he just had to send you his canned response.

@PhilK
How high do you want me to jump, Sir!

I'm wondering what his response would be to a letter like this:

Dear Rep. Carbajal,

Single-payer is a terrifying threat to the livelihood and well-being of your many Democratic constituents employed in the health insurance industry. Please accept this check for $2500, and please continue to defend our jobs.

I'm guessing that, instead of the boiler-plate baffle-gab he sent you, he'd say something like, "How high do you want me to jump?"

@GreatLakeSailor GreatLakeSailor. I agree. Can't forget her pre-Convention superdelegate vote for Clinton. I think she too may have trouble in her re-election, especially if she plays the "Trump so awful" card.

...sends me flaccid email responses too. She carefully explains that she "shares my concern", that she will "monitor" the situation. Here's an example. It is a response to my query as to whether she supports DAPL or not. Fucking spineless.

Dear Mr. GLS:

Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me about this important issue.

The Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) is a 1,168-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline project proposed to ship crude oil from the Bakken and Three Forks production areas in North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa to refineries in Patoka, Illinois. This interstate pipeline would transport approximately 450,000 barrels per day with a capacity as high as 570,000 barrels per day. Notably, the pipeline would cross both private and government-held land that were once inhabited by several Sioux tribes.

On July 27, 2016, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe filed a civil suit against the Army Corps of Engineers challenging the use of Nationwide Permit 12 to approve the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The complaint argues that the Army Corps approved the project without fully considering the project’s impact on sacred lands and other culturally significant sites, and that the Corps violated the Clean Water Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Historical Preservation Act when it issued a permit to allow the pipeline to cross under the Missouri River at Lake Oahe. These critical laws require the federal government to assess the impact of federal actions on cultural and archeological sites, as well as on the environment. On September 9, the U.S. District Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. found that the Army Corps had completed the necessary assessments under both the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has since filed an appeal of this decision.

Despite the court’s decision to allow construction to continue, the Interior and Justice Departments and the Army Corps temporarily ordered a halt to the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The decision to pause construction will allow time for federal agencies to reevaluate the federal DAPL permit approvals in response to concerns that there was not adequate environmental review and tribal consultation. The agencies also noted that this conflict over the DAPL has brought to light the need to update tribal consultation in infrastructure projects. On September 23, the Interior and Justice Departments and the Army Corps invited tribal leaders from all 567 federally recognized tribes to participate in government-to-government consultations on how to improve the decision making process for infrastructure projects like the DAPL. These consultations are scheduled to begin on October 11 in Phoenix, AZ, and agency officials will travel to five other states from October 25 through November 21.

I believe these steps to pause and ensure meaningful tribal consultation are important. As this issue unfolds, I will monitor it with your concerns in mind.

Once again, thank you for contacting my office. It is important for me to hear from the people of Wisconsin on the issues, thoughts and concerns that matter most to you. If I can be of further assistance, please visit my website at www.baldwin.senate.gov for information on how to contact my office.
Sincerely,

Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator

Progressive
In
Name
Only

@Oldest Son Of A Sailor (R) 8th Congressional District:

Dear Beth,

Thank you for contacting me with your concerns about repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I greatly appreciate the opportunity to hear from you on this important issue.

I share your concerns for the wellbeing of all Americans, and the need for access to quality, affordable healthcare. I grew up around hospitals. I am the grandson, son, godson, nephew, and brother of physicians. I know first-hand the value high quality and accessible care--the kind we are fortunate to have right here in Northeast Wisconsin.

When President Obama came to the 8th District in 2009 to begin the rollout of the ACA he said "Here in Green Bay, you get more quality out of fewer health care dollars than many other communities across this country. That's something to be proud of." I wholeheartedly agree with President Obama in this regard. I believe we need to listen to the patients, physicians, providers, and specialists right here in Northeast Wisconsin to build on their successes and eliminate the unnecessary governmental burdens that stifle innovation, raise costs, and lower the quality of care.

We all agree our nation's healthcare system was broken before passage of the ACA, but this law has exacerbated some foundational problems with our healthcare system and created a number of new concerns that must be fixed. We have a duty to protect those with preexisting conditions who, through no fault of their own, had been previously denied coverage. I also believe we must find ways to better care for those who are struggling most under this unaffordable law.

A recent study showed insurance premiums for individuals rising up to 61% in Northeast Wisconsin while deductibles also continue to rise. In just one year, Brown County went from having six insurers to three. The ACA is making insurance unaffordable for the middle class, small businesses and anyone ineligible for significant subsidies, but not wealthy enough to cover the full cost out of pocket.

Recently, I spoke to a business owner from Waupaca who paid $128 per month in premiums before the ACA. After the ACA went into effect his premiums skyrocketed--he was told he would now have to pay $1,200 per month, a more than 900% increase--and he has opted out of having health insurance altogether. This is just one example of the many individuals, families and business owners who have suffered under the ACA.

Modernizing our healthcare system for the 21st century, addressing the root drivers of rising costs, restoring the primacy of the doctor-patient relationship and reforming the perverse incentive structures currently shoehorned into our healthcare system remain critical objectives. We can't solve these issues and make progress without thorough, deliberative and respectful discussion, and that is what I have been working on since taking office a few weeks ago.

Once again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue. Please don't hesitate to contact me on this or any other topic in the weeks ahead. I value your thoughts and believe the respectful exchange of ideas is important in representative government. I also invite you to visit my website at Gallagher.House.Gov to sign up to receive updates from me, or follow me on Facebook and Twitter at @RepGallagher .

S/F,

Mike Gallagher
Member of Congress

I just called his Green Bay office again today to support single payer and vote against AHCA. The staffer didn't even bother to take my name, zip code or anything! So figured they don't even register that I called. I'm sorry but I feel profanity is in order here: fucking assholes.

April 28, 2017
Dear Mr. #########,

Thank you for contacting me with your support of the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act. I appreciate that you took the time to express your views on this issue.

As you may know, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act, H.R. 676, on January 24, 2017. This legislation would create a single-payer health care system for all U.S. residents. The health care system would be publicly-funded and would attempt to cover all medically necessary procedures. H.R. 676 has been referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Natural Resources for further consideration.

I firmly believe that every American deserves the right to access affordable, high-quality health care, and I share your support for working towards improving access to and the quality of care in our country. The Affordable Care Act has made significant progress in making health care more accessible to all Americans, including prohibiting insurance companies from discriminating against patients with pre-existing conditions, protecting women’s access to affordable or free reproductive health services, and enabling young people to remain on their parents’ health insurance until the age of 26.

However, despite this progress, there is much work to be done. I am working with my colleagues in Congress to find ways to lower the high cost of premiums and deductibles that so many families face. I am also committed to eliminating the Cadillac Tax, which disproportionately hurts people living in high cost states like Connecticut. To ensure access to care for some of the most vulnerable members of our community, I am working to ensure Medicaid reimbursement rates are sufficient to attract providers who serve the Medicaid population of Connecticut. And I am working to support and fully fund our Comprehensive Care and Community Health Centers, which provide patients with the full range of primary, specialized, and mental health services at one location to coordinate and simplify care. Rest assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as the 115th Congress reviews health care legislation, and I will continue to fight for comprehensive, quality, affordable health care for all.

Thank you again for contacting me about your concerns. Your feedback is essential for me to effectively serve as the Representative for central and northwest Connecticut. I hope that you will consider sharing your views with me again in the future in order for me to better represent you and our neighbors. For additional information on my work in Congress, please sign up for my e-newsletter at https://esty.house.gov/contact/newsletter.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth H. Esty
Member of Congress

My Reply:

Well Elizabeth, I wrote you asking why you aren't Co-Sponsoring Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act, H.R. 676 yet. I fully understand what this bill does and what it will do for your constituents.

You fail to answer why you aren't Co-Signing this important legislation, that will correct the glaring deficiencies that exist in the ACA, mainly where "We Continue to be Raked Raped Over the Coals by the For Profit Insurance Industry." We are truly in a bind where many of us seeing only more expensive unaffordable premiums each year, as we are faced with choices of dropping health coverage, paying rent, paying utilities, buying groceries, while you twiddle your thumbs, thinking this will not be a factor when you are facing a progressive primary challenge in your next election.

Lead, Follow, or Get The Hell Out Of The Way!
We need Single Payer Healthcare...
It is the Issue that will decide your next election!

@MrWebster http://www.ibtimes.com/political-capital/dianne-feinstein-takes-money-he...

It many times seems to me that Rush really has no political opinions but that he realized he could make a name and money for himself as a "right wing entertainer". My theory is that he was in some bar and ranted about something liberal, and he saw how people reacted and say "there's money in them hills".

So too with Hillary. How did a person who was grounded in the republican party become a democrat? My theory is that somewhere she gave some church inspired speech about the sanctity of children, and saw the democrats and not the republicans cheered her on. "Dang, there is money in thar hills"

And so too with many democrats in office. Apolitical opportunists on the make who realized that they could make it mouthing certain platitudes.

It was interesting when a recent CA rep. gave a shit answer on supporting single payer or medicare for all that David Sirota exposed the contributions the health care industry to this rep. Forgot which one. It is in this tweet history.