With the Senate poised to vote on health reform any day now, OFA National Political Director Addisu Demissie sat down to give an update on where were at and whats next. Learn more: my.barackobama.com… Related Product: Barack Obama Deluxe Framed Inauguration Washington Post with LogoOn January 20th, 2009 history was made as Barack Obama was [...]
From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:
Looking back at 2009, it turns out you were right.
Early this year, millions of you chose to keep working together and create Organizing for America, to build on the momentum of the Obama campaign, take on the defenders of the status quo, and make change happen.
Special interests thought they could steamroll you with hundreds of millions of dollars in lobbying and attack ads. Meanwhile, you built a massive organization, driven by local leadership, that reached out to millions of fellow Americans and made your voices heard to Congress in record numbers.
This has been a remarkable year for the movement you’ve built from the ground up, and I wanted to take a moment at year’s end to reflect on everything you’ve accomplished.
Beth Kimbriel, a mother of four from Richmond, Virginia, has no formal political experience. But every week, as an OFA "Community Organizer," she trains and manages other volunteer leaders to organize effectively around the President’s agenda. Hundreds of her fellow OFA Community Organizers around the country have already volunteered more than 200,000 hours doing similar work. Thousands more have taken on other leadership positions in every single state. And we’re still growing — nearly a million people who had never volunteered for the presidential campaign have signed up with OFA this year.
Supporters spread the word throughout our communities, with more than a million conversations with neighbors on the phone and at the doorstep, and 250,000 letters to the editor about how President Obama’s policies would help ordinary Americans.
And when Congress was making crucial decisions, you spoke out more powerfully than the special interests ever could. In the last few months, you’ve made more than 1 million calls to Congress — including more than 300,000 on one amazing day in October that created huge momentum for health reform. Thousands of supporters attended town halls to counter the shouting mobs and speak out in person. And you even held 37,107 events in every congressional district — bus tour rallies, phonebanks and forums to inform your neighbors.
These incredible efforts have powered victories on a wide range of issues. OFA volunteers provided a huge boost to help pass the Recovery Act, President Obama’s historic budget, an expansion of children’s health care, credit card and student loan reform. Your voices helped pass a historic green jobs and energy bill in the House, and the confirmation of the nation’s first Latina Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, in the Senate. And of course, you were instrumental in passing comprehensive health reform through both houses of Congress for the first time in American history.
With every phone call to a member of Congress, every door knocked on a rainy day, every event held in a town center, you’ve helped to push this country forward.
Thanks for making it all possible,
Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America
Here’s a look at just some of the incredible events that OFA supporters took part in this year:
For the first time in a weekly address, the President is joined by the First Lady as they celebrate Christmas. They both honor those serving overseas, those who have sacrificed for their country, and the families that stand by them.
You can find ways to lend our troops and their families a home through DOD’s Military Homefront, OurMilitary.mil, and of course the USO.
Shortly after the Senate vote this morning, President Obama sent out the following email to supporters:
Although it’s Christmas Eve, I wanted to share some exciting news: The Senate just passed a historic health reform bill.
In all the back and forth, it’s easy to lose sight of what this incredible breakthrough really means. But consider this: This Christmas, there are millions of Americans without health insurance who risk losing everything if they get sick.
There are mothers and fathers who wonder how they’ll provide for their children because an illness has wiped out their savings. There are small business owners who worry that they’ll have to lay off a long-time employee because the cost of insurance is rapidly rising.
If we finish the job, all this can change. We will have beaten back the special interests who have for so long perpetuated the status quo. We will have enacted the most important piece of social policy since the Social Security Act in the 1930s, and the most important health reform since Medicare in the 1960s.
In Decembers to come, millions more will have access to affordable coverage. Parents will have the security and stability of knowing their insurance can’t be revoked at a moment’s notice. And the skyrocketing costs plaguing our small businesses will be brought under control.
When you make calls, write letters, organize, this is the change you’re making — a better life for your family and for men and women in every state.
There is still more to do before I can sign reform into law — a last round of negotiations and final votes in the Senate and the House — and I’m counting on your help every step of the way. But for now, I hope that as you celebrate this holiday season, you remember that the work you are doing is making our union more perfect, one step at a time. For that, I am grateful to you.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays,
President Barack Obama
P.S. — Organizing for America supporters are signing a note of appreciation to all the senators who have worked so hard to make this possible. I hope you’ll join them.
Washington Post, “Senate approves landmark health-care bill”:
The Senate passed a landmark health-care bill Thursday morning that would provide coverage to more 30 million people and begin a far-reaching overhaul of Medicare and the private insurance market. Vice President Biden presided over the 60-39, party line vote. Thursday’s vote — which came on the first Senate session on Dec. 24 in more than five decades — brings Democrats closer than ever to realizing their 70-year-old goal of universal health coverage. For the first time, most Americans would be required to obtain health insurance, either through their employer or via new, government-regulated exchanges. Those who can’t afford insurance plans would receive federal subsidies. And Medicaid would be vastly expanded to reach millions of low-income children and adults.
AP, “Senate OKs health care measure, reaching milestone”:
Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill in a climactic Christmas Eve vote that could define President Barack Obama’s legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country’s history. The 60-39 vote on a cold winter morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no." The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.
Los Angeles Times, “Senate OKs sweeping healthcare bill”:
Senate Democrats this morning passed a sweeping healthcare overhaul bill, setting the stage for reconciliation early next year with similarly historic legislation passed by the House last month… The bill, which is President Obama’s top domestic priority, would extend insurance to about 30 million people who now lack it, expand the reach of Medicaid for the poor, and impose new rules on health insurance companies. It would cost about $871 billion over 10 years, but raise more than that in new taxes and fees and cuts in Medicare… The Senate bill would lead to the largest transformation of the country’s healthcare system since the creation of Medicare in 1965. It would require all Americans to have health insurance, either through their jobs, through the government or through the private market, and it would penalize those who do not comply.
Wall Street Journal, “Senate Passes Sweeping Health-Care Bill; 60-39 Vote Is Landmark in Effort to Expand Insurance Coverage”:
The Senate approved sweeping health-overhaul legislation on Thursday, a landmark moment for White House-led efforts to expand insurance coverage to more than 30 million Americans. The bill, approved by a 60-39 vote, would deliver on a long-promised Democratic goal of extending coverage to nearly every American, and would represent the biggest expansion of the federal safety net since the 1965 creation of Medicare, the health-insurance program for the elderly and disabled. Thursday’s vote was a victory for President Barack Obama, who made the issue his top domestic priority despite lingering divisions among Democrats and the fierce opposition of Republicans.
PBS, “Senate Passes Historic Health Care Reform Legislation”:
The Senate passed historic health care reform legislation in an early-morning vote Thursday, just making Democratic leaders’ self-imposed Christmas deadline after a marathon 25 straight days in session. ‘This morning isn’t the end of the process, it’s merely the beginning,’ Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor before the vote. ‘But that process cannot begin unless we start today.
Talking Points Memo, “DONE DEAL Senate Passes Health Care 60-39”:
Presiding over the Senate, in a rare appearance, was Vice President Joe Biden. As Senate chair, the Vice President can serve as the tie-breaking vote in the event of a 50-50 deadlock. But tonight’s victory for Democrats was never in doubt. Over the course of this week, Democrats have passed several test votes–set at a 60-member, supermajority threshold. The only question this morning was, would they keep all of their members united for the final vote. In the end they did.
Ron Brownstein, Atlantic Media, “Historic achievement…Largest Democratic legislative achievement since Medicare”:
Well I think there are two big points about it. First, this is – whatever you think about the underlying bill – an historic achievement. Up until this year no universal coverage bill had ever even reached the floor of the House or the Senate, much less passed it. It has defeated every other President who has tried it. Truman, Nixon, Clinton, FDR. This will be, as it now seems inevitable to reach the President’s desk, this will be the largest Democratic legislative achievement since Medicare in 1965 and it will be achieved in an atmosphere that is very difficult to operate in simply because you now need 60 votes to do almost everything. There have been more cloture votes in the Senate this year than there were in the entire decade of the 1960s.
Ezra Klein, Washington Post, “No previous health-care reform bill has come anywhere near this far”:
On December 24th, in an early morning vote, the United States Senate voted to pass health-care reform. It was the first time the body had been in session on the 24th since 1963. That’s fitting, as it’s arguably the most important piece of legislation the body has passed since 1963. It’s become difficult to write these milestone posts. Health-care reform, by this point, has had a lot of milestones. It has cleared five committees. It has come through the House of Representatives. It has been merged into a single bill in the Senate. It has passed through the Senate. No previous health-care reform bill has come anywhere near this far. But there are more milestones left to achieve: The House and Senate need to agree on a bill. That bill has to pass both chambers again. And then the president has to sign the legislation.
Politico, “HISTORIC VOTE”:
Before the sun comes up on Christmas Eve, Senate Democrats will gather to pass a sweeping health reform bill, then scatter to long-delayed holiday vacations with a victory for the party and President Barack Obama in hand.
Shortly after 7:00 A.M. this morning, the Senate passed its version of the health reform bill by a vote of 60-39, with all Republican senators voting against. We’ll have more details shortly.
UPDATED 7:48 A.M. President Obama is scheduled to deliver remarks on this morning’s vote at 8:45 A.M. You can watch live onine at WhiteHouse.gov/live.
UPDATED 8:12 A.M. The Associated Press reports:
Senate Democrats passed a landmark health care bill Thursday that could define President Barack Obama’s legacy and usher in near-universal medical coverage for the first time in the country’s history.
The 60-39 vote on a cold Christmas Eve morning capped months of arduous negotiations and 24 days of floor debate. It also followed a succession of failures by past congresses to get to this point. Vice President Joe Biden presided as 58 Democrats and two independents voted "yes." Republicans unanimously voted "no."
The tally far exceeded the simple majority required for passage.
With a vote of 60-39 (with all Republicans against), the Senate cleared the final procedural hurdle this afternoon to set up an up or down vote on health reform tomorrow morning. Tomorrow’s vote will be the first vote held on Christmas Eve since Dec. 24, 1895.
From David Plouffe:
Any day now, health insurance reform will come up for a vote in the Senate.
We’re hearing a lot about what’s at stake with this vote for President Obama, the Democrats who are fighting alongside him, and the Republicans who have lined up in opposition.
But let’s talk about what’s really at stake for America. The Senate health reform bill will:
— Extend coverage to 31 million Americans, the largest expansion of coverage since the creation of Medicare.
— Ensure that you can choose your own doctor.
— Finally stop insurance companies from denying coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
— Make sure you will never be charged exorbitant premiums on the basis of your age, health, or gender.
— Guarantee you will never lose your coverage just because you get sick or injured.
— Protect you from outrageous out-of-pocket expenditures by establishing lifetime and annual limits.
— Allow young people to stay on their parents’ coverage until they’re 26 years old.
— Create health insurance exchanges, or "one-stop shops" for individuals purchasing insurance, where insurance companies are forced to compete for new customers.
— Lower premiums for families, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office — especially for struggling folks who will receive subsidies.
— Help small businesses provide health care coverage to their employees with tax credits and by allowing them to purchase coverage through the exchanges.
— Improve and strengthen Medicare by eliminating waste and fraud (without cutting basic benefits), beginning to close the Medicare Part D donut hole, and extending the life of the Medicare trust fund.
— Create jobs by reining in costs — fostering competition, reducing waste and inefficiency, and starting to reward doctors and hospitals for quality, not quantity, of care.
— Cut the deficit by over $130 billion in the next 10 years.
It’s a long list. But that’s only because this bill represents the most significant health reform our nation has seen since the creation of Medicare.
And it’s important that every American knows what’s really at stake this holiday season.
So please pass this email along to friends, family, and neighbors today — or click below to share this list on Facebook and Twitter, or print out a copy to share with others:
http://my.barackobama.com/SenateReformBill
We wouldn’t be this close to enacting these powerful reforms without all your hard work. Now, we’re in the final stretch — let’s keep it up.
Thank you,
David Plouffe
With the Senate poised to vote on health reform any day now, OFA National Political Director Addisu Demissie sat down to give an update on where we’re at and what’s next.
“We have a long way to go, but as you’ve seen, we’ve made it really far. Now we need you to stay active, so as you go home with your families this holiday season, tell them a little more about what this bill’s actually going to do for them.
And then come back in the new year, we’re going to have to talk to our members of Congress, both on the House and the Senate side, and let them know that we’re behind them and we thank them for getting us this far, and we need them to get us across the finish line.
So that’s where we are, and that’s where we’re going. I want you all to have a happy holidays, and hopefully we’re going to be delivering the gift of health insurance reform to this country this holiday season.”
Earlier tonight, President Obama sent out the following email to supporters:
Early this morning, the Senate made history and health reform cleared its most important hurdle yet — garnering the 60 votes needed to move toward a final vote in that chamber later this week.
This marks the first time in our nation’s history that comprehensive health reform has come to this point. And it appears that the American people will soon realize the genuine reform that offers security to those who have health insurance and affordable options to those who do not.
I’m grateful to Senator Harry Reid and every senator who’s been working around the clock to make this happen. And I’m grateful to you, and every member of the Organizing for America community, for all the work you have done to make this progress possible.
After a nearly century-long struggle, we are now on the cusp of making health insurance reform a reality in the United States of America.
As with any legislation, compromise is part of the process. But I’m pleased that recently added provisions have made this landmark bill even stronger. Between the time when the bill passes and the time when the insurance exchanges get up and running, insurance companies that try to jack up their rates do so at their own peril. Those who hike their prices may be barred from selling plans on the exchanges.
And while insurance companies will be prevented from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions once the exchanges are open, in the meantime there will be a high-risk pool where people with pre-existing conditions can purchase affordable coverage.
A recent amendment has made these protections even stronger. Insurance companies will now be prohibited from denying coverage to children immediately after this bill passes. There’s also explicit language in this bill that will protect a patient’s choice of doctor. And small businesses will get additional assistance as well.
These protections are in addition to the ones we’ve been talking about for some time. No longer will insurance companies be able to drop your coverage if you become sick and no longer will you have to pay unlimited amounts out of your own pocket for treatments that you need.
Under this bill families will save on their premiums; businesses that would see their costs rise if we don’t act will save money now and in the future. This bill will strengthen Medicare and extend the life of the program. Because it’s paid for and gets rid of waste and inefficiency in our health care system, this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade.
Finally, this reform will extend coverage to more than 30 million Americans who don’t have it.
These are not small changes. These are big changes. They’re fundamental reforms. They will save money. They will save lives.
And your passion, your work, your organizing helped make all of this possible. Now it’s time to finish the job.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
