Nataline Sarkisyan
Tomorrow the House will begin marking up the health care bill. Nancy Pelosi has said that there will have to be "amendments" added to buy support of the Blue Dogs.
Insurance industry lobbyists will be there working to pressure members of Congress into turning this into a bailout for themeselves. Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17 year-old girl who died because CIGNA would not approve her liver transplant, can’t be there. But her mother Hilda wants to sit in the front row holding a picture of Nataline so members of Congress can remember what’s at stake.
We asked several health care groups to pay for Hilda’s expenses, but they wouldn’t. She is flying in tonight to DC and will be there with us tomorrow morning.
Can you help us bring Hilda Sarkisyan to DC so she can speak for Nataline?
We also need people to volunteer to stand in line and sit in the committee meetings during markup, which should last from one to two weeks. One of the reasons it’s so easy for lobbyists to game the system is because Representatives think nobody but lobbyists is watching the the details of the sausage making process, and they are usually right. But this is too important to let that happen.
If you can volunteer to come to the hearings or help in any way, sign up here.
Slinkerwink led an amazing effort on Kos yesterday to get the names of staff members of every member on each of the committees. It was incredible. People on the Hill have no doubt that this is being watched closely. We’re dragging the process out into the sunlight.
As nyceve says:
It’s huge that Nataline’s parents have agreed to come from Los Angeles to sit in the front row during the markup. They are the living embodiment of this national catastrophe, and Hilda Sarkisyan will tell the Congresspeople that no other American family should ever lose a child to a murderous for profit insurance company.
I’m going to be there, nyceve, and Mike Stark, and Hilda Sarkisyan are going to be there, too. The hearings will be broadcast, we’ll be covering them here, and KagroX will be following them over at CongressMatters.
Please join us in any way that you can.
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Good morning!
Will hearings run into the evening?
Thank God for you, Jane. These people would sell their own grandmother for a quarter and they’d sell your grandmother for a nickel.
Not that I know of.
Eve has details here:
They say making legislation is like watching sausage being made. In the case of this Congresss’ attempts at “reform” it will likely be more like a pile of shit. NPR framed the issue of Dems presenting healthcare legislation as one to provide coverage for the uninsured, in other words how can they “buy” into private insurance. Buying into a flawed and broken system is insanity.
Wishing I was heading to DC – but my donation is!
Hope everyone else is chipping in too – such an important fight!
Noticed that the PayPal form says “Marcie Wheeler Fund”. A truly worthy cause, but will my donation be going specifically to this health care legislation effort?
Jane, I have been in awe over the FDL action alerts. The efforts to bring sunlight to the legislative process, pressing back with real people and grassroots/netroots efforts in order to counter balance the lobbying powers at play is impressive and inspirational. Add a tireless effort on the issue, with every possible update to your readers and coalition, makes it is clear, you have quite an effective team.
Thank you.
Quick question, I brought up the import of The Small Business Chamber of Commerce vs the National Chamber of Commerce in one of Christy’s posts. Has a post been written irt the conflict between the two regarding health care? The Small Business Administration has even made it clear that our national economic recovery will come from strong small business but that a national plan is needed to make small business thrive.
Yes.
This is a great way to counter those blackmailing Blue Dogs.
Is it just me or are their amendments simply more delaying tactics most likely written my insurance industry lobbyists? Let’s force them to place their insanity over the humanity of decent health care for all.
It’s like the Canadian woman says in Sicko about the least of us getting the same care as the best of us.
Count me in.
$25 in, sorry it can’t be more.
Might I add, the Whip count is vital now and in the future. With all the comments published by callers, going into any election year, you will have all this data to publish “report cards” on every elected official to show how they voted on issues and their responses. All this will be interesting to show who is “passing or failing” the people.
Yet, with this issue, it is not about political data. It is about human rights and dignity and preserving sustainable living.
Made my donation… wish like heck I could go to DC today… perhaps next week.
So glad Ms. Sarkisian is going to be there… what a tragic story… my heart goes out to her but I am very happy to see she is still fighting.
Thanks for your work Jane… I’ll try to get there next week to bump those guys from the lines… bastards.
We need to slow down on health care reform. It’s going to cost far more than they have let on thus far and I do not like rationing….I’m old and I’d be the first one they would unplug.
Just donated $’s. Good Luck at the hearings Jane & NYCeve!!
Wish I could volunteer; would love to be there.
Squeezing out a small donation. brb.
You need to turn off FAUX News.