(Both of the CD3 congressional campaigns have posted entries on MPP in the past 24 hours -- Jim Meffert's recent entry can be found here. Feel free to connect with the campaigns and ask them questions! - promoted by Joe Bodell)
By Maureen Hackett
Next Saturday, as Jim Meffert and I lay out our visions for America's future at DFL conventions in Senate Districts 33 and 45, a coalition of right-wing interest groups will be fighting for the status quo on health care with a "Kill the Bill" rally in front of the state Capitol.
It's not clear at this moment whether Erik Paulsen will be attending that event. He generally tries to keep his ties to Michele Bachmann (a featured speaker) hidden and it's been nearly two months since his office even sent out a press release on health care. But make no mistake about it, this is what we'll be up against in the fall campaign.
Health care reform is long overdue. Each day that passes without progress another family risks bankruptcy if someone gets sick; another business has to put off plans to expand; and another parent is forced to make the painful choice between taking their child to the pediatrician and making a trip to the grocery store.
That's why I'm in this race. As a doctor who's worked in many systems, including Hennepin County Medical Center, I've seen the problems with the current health care system and insurance industry from the inside. As the wife of a small business owner, I've watched my husband deal with insurance costs that sky-rocket year after year. And as a candidate in this race, I've heard from so many people who are simply terrified about what will happen if they lose their job or when their COBRA benefits expire.
We can do so much better in this country and we must. President Obama's plans aren't perfect, but they do move us a big step closer to the day when we can finally relegate the phrase "health care crisis" to the scrapheap of history and begin rebuilding our economy so we can usher in a new era of opportunity for all.
When we move into the general election campaign, I won't back down when the Tea Party and related groups start attacking us. And when Paulsen accuses me in a debate of supporting reform efforts, I'll turn to him and ask "why don't you?"
Thanks, as always, for everything you're doing to help our campaign and our party. We've won seven of nine Senate District conventions and two-thirds of the total named delegates so far, but this is only the beginning. The next step is defeating Paulsen in November and then the hard work of moving our country forward begins.
If you have any questions, please feel free to visit our campaign Web site, e-mail us at info@hackettforcongress.org or call us at (952) 938-0510. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the weeks and months to come! |
