Congressman Massa – do you support health care reform?

Diana Cihak August 4, 2009 6

Today we held a press conference at Congressman Eric Massa’s Pittsford, NY office.  Congressman Massa is one of the freshman Democrats that has effectively slowed down and possibly stalled the passage of HR3200, the bill being debated in front the House of Representatives for health care reform.  Frankly we were shocked when we found out Massa was attempting to slow down the process because he has always been an advocate for health care reform – he ran on a single payer platform during his campaign.

So, we went to his office to ask him to tell us why he was stalling the bill and what it was that he was looking for in order to fully support HR 3200.  After a good press conference that was attended by many different individuals from the Western New York region we met with his Chief of Staff.  It seems that maybe we are not as far apart as we thought – according to his staff Congressman Massa is just on the fence right now about supporting the bill.  But then again he is not willing, yet, to come out and say he will vote for it when the Congress reconvenes in September.

Massa’s office is being flooded with mail and phone calls against health care reform and HR3200.  That makes it hard for him to enthusiastically support any reform legislation.  Now, we know and his staff implied, that there is a hard line right wing theme to many of the letters and calls against reform.  They realize that the pushback on health reform is a coordinated and well funded effort by the Republicans to make Obama and the Democrats look bad no matter what the cost to the average American.

But still, he needs to hear from his voters that support reform.

So, if you are reading this we need you to call Congressman Massa and ask him to support HR3200.  You can call his Pittsford district office at:  (585) 218-0040;  or his office in DC at:  (202) 225-3161

At the end of the long meeting with his staff there was a light in the darkness when his staffer said “well maybe you should meet with the Congressman yourself”.  So we are doing just that, we are going back to meet with him tomorrow and see if we can’t get him to commit to supporting HR3200.

But in order for us to get him to say yes, he needs to hear from you.  So please call his office right now.

And on Thursday there is a town hall meeting in Honeyoe Falls that Massa is holding about health care reform.  So please try to attend if you live in his district – it starts at 7:30 at the Mendon Community Center.

There is hope – we just have to keep working!

Cheers,

Diana

POSTED IN » Campaigns, Health Care, Regions, Rochester, Western New York
About the author: Diana Cihak View all posts by
I am an Organizer at the Western New York office of Citizen Action where my main work is on health care reform. I also love to get involved in elections, train volunteers, and try to push for Green Jobs. I have 3 kids who are 10, 8 and 3 and between them and my crazy job I don't have time for any hobbies or other activities. My family is happy to tell you that I am obsessed by politics and not much else - but I would defend myself by saying I'm pretty obsessed by my amazing kids as well! Follow me on twitter at cdcihak. I do a daily Twitter the Truth for health care - you can help it become viral by passing it on with your twitter or facebook profile!
  • Dawn Kessler

    You are shocked that Massa slowed down the process??? Have you read any of the versions of the bill??? There are lots of “bugs” that need to be worked out and this is NOT something that should be passed with out VERY SERIOUS debate and looking at other options (which there are, they are just not telling you)! I don’t know what the extreme rush is except for the fact that the liberals will be out of a job come the 2010 elections, so they HAVE to do it NOW!

  • Dawn Kessler

    You are shocked that Massa slowed down the process??? Have you read any of the versions of the bill??? There are lots of “bugs” that need to be worked out and this is NOT something that should be passed with out VERY SERIOUS debate and looking at other options (which there are, they are just not telling you)! I don’t know what the extreme rush is except for the fact that the liberals will be out of a job come the 2010 elections, so they HAVE to do it NOW!

  • Andrew

    Massa should know full well that delaying at this point plays right into the hands of the insurance lobbies and Republican Party. We know what the options are, we know what the need is; heck, we’ve known it for 50 years! A strong government-run public healthcare option linked to Medicare costs and funded by modest tax increases on America’s most wealthy! We could have this if we fight for it!

  • Andrew

    Massa should know full well that delaying at this point plays right into the hands of the insurance lobbies and Republican Party. We know what the options are, we know what the need is; heck, we’ve known it for 50 years! A strong government-run public healthcare option linked to Medicare costs and funded by modest tax increases on America’s most wealthy! We could have this if we fight for it!

  • Robin Wilt

    I am not a Republican, and I am calling Rep. Massa’s office today to urge him to vote against HR 3200. The public option in HR 3200 is not only not available on day one (it will be made available through the Exchange in 2013), it is weak. Eligibility is not only limited to those who do not currently have employer-provided insurance (so it really does not represent a legitimate “choice” for those dissatisfied with their private insurance plans), it is funded through premiums, as opposed to through the government (other than initial seed money of $2 billion).

    This bill offers massive subsidies to the private insurance companies from the government, funded in part though cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, so that private insurers will insure those that they were unwilling to insure before. Medicare still will not be able to bargain prescription drug rates under HR 3200. Instead, we will have to rely on the good will of the pharmaceutical industry to slow increases in costs to the tune of $80 billion. Moreover, it will not offer universal coverage, and existing employer-based health insurance plans have a five-year grace period within which to come into compliance with new conumer protections offered in the Exchange. Is that meaningful change? No to me. It is robbing the poor (Medicaid and Medicare) to give to the unfortunate (the uninsured).

  • Robin Wilt

    I am not a Republican, and I am calling Rep. Massa’s office today to urge him to vote against HR 3200. The public option in HR 3200 is not only not available on day one (it will be made available through the Exchange in 2013), it is weak. Eligibility is not only limited to those who do not currently have employer-provided insurance (so it really does not represent a legitimate “choice” for those dissatisfied with their private insurance plans), it is funded through premiums, as opposed to through the government (other than initial seed money of $2 billion).

    This bill offers massive subsidies to the private insurance companies from the government, funded in part though cuts in Medicaid and Medicare, so that private insurers will insure those that they were unwilling to insure before. Medicare still will not be able to bargain prescription drug rates under HR 3200. Instead, we will have to rely on the good will of the pharmaceutical industry to slow increases in costs to the tune of $80 billion. Moreover, it will not offer universal coverage, and existing employer-based health insurance plans have a five-year grace period within which to come into compliance with new conumer protections offered in the Exchange. Is that meaningful change? No to me. It is robbing the poor (Medicaid and Medicare) to give to the unfortunate (the uninsured).