In August, the members of the Dean Democratic club unanimously approved the text of a letter to the White House expressing our strong support that in any health care reform legislation, giving Americans the choice of a public option in the pool of choices was essential. The letter was sent in the wake of multiple reports that the White House no longer considers the public option essential to health care reform. Here is the text of our letter to the President:
Dear President Obama,
As an active Democratic club working hard since 2004 to elect candidates who support universal health care in this country, we were very dismayed to hear Administration spokespersons tell the nation yesterday that the public option was no longer an essential part of health care reform. Co-ops are not an acceptable substitute.
We worked hard last year and in 2006 to get a Democratic majority in the House and Senate and are proud of our efforts to win back the White House. Put the public option back into any bill in the House and Senate, and keep it there.
Yours for a continuing Democratic majority,
The Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley
PO Box 1083
Mountain View CA 94042
cc:
Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Dianne Feinstein, Barbara Boxer, Anna Eshoo, Sam Farr, Mike Honda, Zoe Lofgren, Jerry McNerney, Pete Stark
As the president prepares to give a speech to Congress on the health care, we remain committed to passing meaningful health care reform, and health care reform will not be meaningful without a robust and immediately-available public option. We need you in that fight with us. Call your member of Congress today and tell them to stand firm on the public option.
