The Corporate-controlled members of the Democratic House Caucus released their list of demands given to them by their corporate handlers today:
The "Blue Dog Democrats" group released a list of demands on the eve of House Democratic leaders' planned unveiling of their final bill Friday. The bill release was pushed back to next week and Democratic leaders spent part of Friday meeting with the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs to work through their concerns.
"The message that was sent was heard loud and clear," Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., a member of the group, said Friday. The group's concerns were the need for more cost containment measures, protections for small businesses and a focus on rural health care.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200...
Now, they are holding the House, and the 70%+ of the American people who support Universal Healthcare hostage:
"We cannot support a final product that fails to" address these issues, members of the group wrote to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Opposition from the 52-member group could imperil House passage of a bill.
Unfortunately, their move while disappointing was predictable. These DINO lawmakers simply cannot serve two masters and they have chosen the master they will serve, Corporate America over the American people yet again:
But the move by the Blue Dogs scrambled the equation. It was unclear whether Democratic leaders would be able to satisfy the group's demands since in some cases they're far apart from draft language produced by the three House committees writing health legislation.
With House leaders scrambling to address moderate Democrats' concerns, business groups increased the pressure on House leaders with letters objecting to pivotal parts of the evolving plans.
The National Coalition on Benefits, representing major business groups and companies like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AT&T, told House leaders that business would be hurt by requiring employer coverage of workers, creating a public insurance plan and other proposals.
"The proposal in its current form needs serious revision," their letter said.
The National Retail Federation wrote leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee to say the House plan would cost jobs and shift health costs to employers.
This legislation will require sacrifice from all the American people, yet Corporate Democrats are scrambling to make sure Corporate America sacrifices nothing, even if it is on the backs of millions of Americans. Did they not consider that the low wages paid by these businesses are a direct contributor to the problem??
These Bluedogs have chosen their side. If they will side with Corporate America over the American people who are working harder and falling further and further behind, then they deserve NOTHING from any Democrat anywhere. Why don't they just switch parties since they are obviously Republicans??
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration
Rep. Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy
Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications
Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip
Altmire, Jason (PA-04)
Arcuri, Mike (NY-24)
Baca, Joe (CA-43)
Barrow, John (GA-12)
Berry, Marion (AR-01)
Bishop, Sanford (GA-02)
Boren, Dan (OK-02)
Boswell, Leonard (IA-03)
Boyd, Allen (FL-02)
Bright, Bobby (AL-02)
Cardoza, Dennis (CA-18)
Carney, Christopher (PA-10)
Chandler, Ben (KY-06)
Childers, Travis (MS-01)
Cooper, Jim (TN-05)
Costa, Jim (CA-20)
Cuellar, Henry (TX-28)
Dahlkemper, Kathy (PA-03)
Davis, Lincoln (TN-04)
Donnelly, Joe (IN-02)
Ellsworth, Brad (IN-08)
Giffords, Gabrielle (AZ-08)
Gordon, Bart (TN-06)
Griffith, Parker (AL-05)
Harman, Jane (CA-36)
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie (SD)
Hill, Baron (IN-09)
Holden, Tim (PA-17)
Kratovil, Jr., Frank (MD-01)
McIntyre, Mike (NC-07)
Marshall, Jim (GA-03)
Matheson, Jim (UT-02)
Melancon, Charlie (LA-03)
Michaud, Mike (ME-02)
Minnick, Walt (ID-01)
Mitchell, Harry (AZ-05)
Moore, Dennis (KS-03)
Murphy, Patrick (PA-08)
Nye, Glenn (VA-02)
Peterson, Collin (MN-07)
Pomeroy, Earl (ND)
Ross, Mike (AR-04)
Salazar, John (CO-03)
Sanchez, Loretta (CA-47)
Schiff, Adam (CA-29)
Scott, David (GA-13)
Shuler, Heath (NC-11)
Space, Zack (OH-18)
Tanner, John (TN-08)
Taylor, Gene (MS-04)
Thompson, Mike (CA-01)
Wilson, Charles (OH-06)
Look hard at the members of this coalition because they, every bit as much as Republicans are our enemies in achieving progress and fairness for the American people. They have chosen their side, and it is not with us. We need to find, and fund primary challenges for as many of these members as possible, and in the case where a primary challenger cannot be recruited we need to contribute to the REPUBLICAN that runs against them.
Yes, you heard me right. As much as it curdles my blood to say so, if these members are going to be Republican we might as well have Republicans in their place. We are accomplishing nothing with them in office. At least with Republicans we will get stabbed in the front, not the back.
The time has come to draw a line in the sand and step on one side or the other. These Bluedogs have come squarely down on the Corporate-controlled Republican side of the line. They hold no loyalty to the Democratic Party, the American people, their constituents, or anyone but their Corporate masters. Lets fight to defeat them.
Here is the email address to the Bluedog Coalition. We need to let them know that their idiocy and cowardice will no longer be tolerated. Not one red cent for red Democrats!!:
BlueDog@mail.house.gov
|
