Congresswoman Betty McCollum is helping make this week a pretty big one for former State Sen. Steve Kelley's gubernatorial bid.
McCollum, who co-chaired Kelley's 2006 bid, is again supporting him in 2010, saying "Steve is the right candidate at the right time to take back the governor's office for the DFL. He combines solid policy credentials, sound decision-making, and a unique, proven ability to win independent and moderate voters."
She also represents a superdelegate endorsement, which will be updated on the Superdelegate tracker presently.
As we've noted more than once, Kelley faces a very different field in 2010 than he did in 2006, but claims that much of the support he won last time remains intact and ready to go in the caucus/convention tango set to happen early next year.
At the annual Bruce Vento Dinner, last night, Congresswoman Betty McCollum rocked the room with her speech on healthcare, with statements like:
Republicans in Congress are the party of profits, not working people. And when I say
profits, I don't mean Old Testament "prophets" -I am talking about corporate profits. They are fighting for the CEOs and the profiteers, notregular folks who can't afford to fill theirprescription or even go to see a doctor.
You know there is a lot of talk about how Democrats need to reach out to Republicans and work for a "bipartisan" health care bill. I am sick and tired of talk of a bipartisan health care bill - that's just a plan for less health care for people in need and more profits for corporations driven by greed. Since I've been in Congress there have been a number of historic bipartisan bills -historically bad!
Woohoo, my representative is getting tough! Full speech below the fold!
Congresswoman Betty McCollum's office provided me the text of Betty McCollum's opening statement at her health care forum. She speaks for me! She represents me and the fourth district very well! And she supports the public option! This excellent picture of Betty was taken by Craig Stellmacher.
There is a real possibility that this entire debate could result in nothing. Why?
Because opponents of reform are fighting to maintain the status quo. Fighting for the status quo is not about protecting people's health, it is about protecting billions in corporate profits. My Republican colleagues in Congress have made "killing" health care reform the center of their political agenda. Their reform proposal focuses on doing nothing - nothing to control costs, nothing to expand access, nothing to improve quality.
The same people who spent $1 trillion in Iraq, after misleading our nation into that war, now say it is too expensive to invest in the health of Americans here at home.
The same people who wanted to privatize Social Security are now labeling government sponsored care - Medicare and Veterans health care - "socialized medicine."
The same people who attack President Obama's goals for health reform are standing shoulder to shoulder with the insurance industry that dumps sick policyholders and collect billions in profits...
My principals for moving forward with health reform in Congress include the following:
Every child in America deserves to have access to health care when they need it.
If you love your doctor and like your current insurance - nothing needs to change for you. You keep what you have.
There must be a patient centered approach to health care in which quality care improves
outcomes with a greater focus on prevention and healthy behaviors.
I support a public insurance option that will increase competition in the marketplace, keeps premium costs down, and provides affordable insurance for all Americans.
We need to prohibit discrimination by insurance companies based on pre-existing conditions andend the use of annual or lifetime caps on payment to deny coverage. It is time policyholders get the coverage they paid for.
We need to strengthen Medicare by eliminating the waste, fraud and abuse that siphons valuable
health care dollars away from our seniors and into the pockets of crooks.
I support eliminating the Medicare part D "donut hole" to make prescription drugs affordable for all seniors and mandating Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for best price for taxpayers.
Regarding cost, we need to pay for reforms with efficiencies, expanded preventive care that saves money, and cutting the excessive profits out of the system, not more deficit spending.
Minnesota has been treated unfairly under Medicare with our doctors and physicians being paid less than half of what providers in Florida receive. The entire Minnesota congressional delegation support fixing the Medicare geographic payment inequities that penalizes our state and I am going to keep fighting to make that happen.
Finally, I support health professionals and clergy working together to provide patients and families information, counseling, and options that enhance human dignity and respect one's faith
at the end of a loved one's life.
My Representative Betty McCollum graciously provided a health forum, so more people could speak to her. She did this even when she had already done a forum on July 1st. I observed her staff handle a crowd of about twenty people, who even came equipped with a cowbell, just as graciously a couple of weeks ago.
It was very clear that Betty was listening to each person and taking notes. She very affirmatively pushed back on the description of "ramming" legislation. People were allowed to speak through randomly chosen numbers, with 2 minute time limits.
Consequently, I heard a more reasonable "Republican" plan - regulate insurance companies to allow at least 10 year plans with only individual plans, no employer plans. Now I know that would not work because insurance companies would cherry pick and lose payments to kick people off of plans. However, the plan did show consideration of the problem not just nay saying.
The numbers attending were large, for there was also a crowd outside listening to speakers. The surround picture does make the large space look smaller than it actually was.
My Representative Betty McCollum graciously provided a health forum, so more people could speak to her. She did this even when she had already done a forum on July 1st. I observed her staff handle a crowd of about twenty people, who even came equipped with a cowbell, just as graciously a couple of weeks ago.
It was very clear that Betty was listening to each person and taking notes. She very affirmatively pushed back on the description of "ramming" legislation. People were allowed to speak through randomly chosen numbers, with 2 minute time limits.
Consequently, I heard a more reasonable "Republican" plan - regulate insurance companies to allow at least 10 year plans with only individual plans, no employer plans. Now I know that would not work because insurance companies would cherry pick and lose payments to kick people off of plans. However, the plan did show consideration of the problem not just nay saying.
The numbers attending were large, for there was also a crowd outside listening to speakers. The surround picture does make the large space look smaller than it actually was.
My Representative Betty McCollum supports the public option (now the American option)! Representative Betty McCollum is using her leverage to ensure that Minnesota does not get "the Medicare effect", documented in the New Yorker article.
Here is the agreement that Rep. Betty McCollum achieved! Betty rocks!
U.S. House Agreement on Medicare Geographic Variations
July 24, 2009: Agreement between House Leadership and members from the Quality Care Coalition.
America's Affordable Health Choices of 2009 (H.R. 3200)
*This document describes the major agreed upon changes to be included in the House version of HR 3200. Technical aspects of the language are currently being refined and finalized.
THE AGREEMENT
• This agreement will move the nation to a system that will reward high quality, cost-effective care, rather than the current system that has focused on the volume of care. It will fix the existing Medicare geographic payment inequity that will help patients and cover both physicians and hospital payments. This agreement calls for a study of geographic variations and a value system which will be used as recommendations to be implemented for a system based on value that will be implemented by the Secretary of Health and Human Services into the Medicare system. This will help ensure better future for our patients, families, and seniors.
My Representative Betty McCollum supports the public option (now the American option)! Betty McCollum was fighting for universal health care and taking boldly progressive stands when all others were hiding more 8 years ago. She stood tall and strong when she stood alone. On the public option vote, she will be there for us like she has always been there for us. Just read or listen to what Representative Betty Mc Collum had to say at the DFL Health Care Reform Rally on Saturday:
"Access to health care ought to be a right for all citizens!"
"Healthcare has become unfortunately a luxury because we have a system that being driven by profits not driven by what is medically necessary for people!"
"I will work hard to create a public option so that there is real competition in the marketplace!"
"If you love you doctor and right now I love my doctor [holding up an injured wrist] If you like your insurance plan. You may keep what you have if you are satisfied with it."
"There are opponents of health care reform. There are opponents who say that the richest most powerful country on earth cannot afford to provide healthcare foe all of its citizens. There are opponents who want to put profits before the right of people to access healthcare."
"Now insurance had a skyrocketing quortor posted, They saw their profits go up. They want to protect those profits. I want to protect your right to access healthcare."
"I want to put an end to insurance companies rationing your healthcare."
Rep.Keith Ellison said this of Rep. Betty McCollum:
"I want you to know that I had the privilege of being behind closed doors when the Democratic caucus discussed health care reform. I only wish you could be there to watch Betty McCollum fight for your right to health care. Betty has been fighting behind the doors. Betty has been fighting in front of the doors. Betty has been fighting wherever she can find a audience to hear her!"
Looking for a way to speak up in favor of a viable public option and real reform in our health insurance industry?
Want to help make sure the deathers and screamers know how badly outnumbered they are among the rational, thinking American public?
Consider showing up to this rally on Saturday:
Congresswoman BETTY McCOLLUM Congressman KEITH ELLISON
St. Paul Mayor CHRIS COLEMAN
Minneapolis Mayor RT RYBAK
As Minnesotans, we know we need health insurance reform. We are sick of a few loud people dominating this debate. Please join us for a rally in support of reform.
The rally will be followed by a canvass, where we will hit the streets and talk to our friends and neighbors about the need for reform this year!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd
10:00am
DFL State Headquarters
255 E Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55107
We'll try to have some MPP coverage on-scene -- see you there!
Insurers, drug makers, doctors' associations and hospitals are spending more than $1 million each day on lobbying. Most of these groups oppose the idea of government-provided health care.
There is no doubt that the health sector is trying to buy influence:
Federal lawmakers collected about half a million dollars more from the health sector between April and June of this year than they did in the first quarter of the year -- a total of $15.3 million for 2009. This slight boost is likely the result of the increased intensity of the health care reform debate.
So how much influence is that money buying and specifically how much is our Minnesota senators and representatives being affected?
One way to look at financial influence is by selecting out the health care industry for both individual and PAC contributions. From being at health care forums, I can tell you that Al Franken, Keith Ellison and Betty McCollum are supported by many health care professionals who want the public option in health care. Note the John Kline gets most of his funding in health care from health care insurance and pharma, the "private wealth creation" focused industries. James Oberstar can not be said to be financially influenced by health care industries in any way!
Please help the public option health care option by calling the highlighted light gold contacts! A minute phone call helps. All detail contact below the fold!
Senator Al Franken, DFL Representative Keith Ellison and DFL Representative Betty McCollum are truly heroes in supporting a robust public option for health care. Please call them and thank them. They need cheering on!
Senator Amy Klobuchar is fence sitting as usual, she will have a tele-townhall on Sunday. Of all people, she is most susceptible to numbers, so contact her often. Representative Tim Walz did wonders with the health care issue, he seems favorable to the public option, however he is reserving support until the final bill. Representative Collin Peterson is running town hall meetings. Representative James Oberstar wants the public option with Minnesota medicare price fixes and no abortion funding, so he almost could be in the "supports public option" column.
The Republicans are totally supportive of maintaining the profit and the total control by health care insurance companies. Republican Representative Michelle Bachmann calls this support of "Private wealth creation". And Michelle Bachmann will give more tax credits for health care insurance payments, that of course does not help if you cannot get nor afford private health care insurance. Republican Representative Eric Paulson is for greater health savings accounts, which only supports more "private wealth creation" for health insurance companies. Republican John Kline is all about demonizing the government, while ignoring the fact that health care insurance companies already do all the bad things that he is accusing government of doing. So Republicans are all about the rich get to have good health care and the rest of us can just go bankrupt or just quietly die or both. Republicans will support the "private wealth creation" for health insurance companies, even when it is death by spreadsheet for the rest of us.
Today, about 40 protesters showed up to protest at Representative's Betty McCollum's office. The group said there were no leaders, even though two Republican candidates were there. For some reason, they wanted to pretend that this was not organized, saying "We are just a bunch of individuals." Even though this event is organized through the tea party website:
8/14/09 Health Care Freedom Rally
Step 1. Find your representatives in Congress at http://www.congress.org Step 2. Decide which office you will visit
Step 3. Write a letter or statement and bring it with you
11am - 12pm
Arrive at 11am and stay until noon if you can.
Bring a camera!....
Fourth District Betty McCollum (DFL)
165 Western Ave. N., Suite 17
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-224-9191
Fax: 651-224-3056
Although Betty McCollum is out of town, the staff had enough warning to prepare tea and handouts. Everyone had a copy of Betty McCollum's remarks at the Health Care Town Forum, articles debunking rumors, and a summary of the health care bill. Every person was able to fill out a form with their remarks and any requests.
The group demanded a health care forum. Then they were informed that Betty McCollum's health care forum had already been held on July 1. The group then asked how come they didn't know about the health care forum. All of Betty McCollum's forums, town meetings, actions and views are easily accessible by simply signing up for her newsletter. So it was really obvious that this group had just suddenly developed an interest in health care legislation. The staff had a tape of the health care forum ready to roll, which the group refused. So having been provided with a way to provide input and with multiple sources of Betty McCollum's information, it became really obvious that group's sole purpose was mostly disruption. One person actually brought a cowbell!
Health insurance is not health care, and we should not confuse the two. Health insurers have denied promised health care even onto death and yet we don't call them murderers. Health care insurers have made sick people fight for their insurance, fight for their choice of care and fight for their choice of doctors. Even after accepting the money for insurance, health insurers have been able to go back and disallow insurance. So even when one has insurance, one doesn't really know if one has insurance. Mainstream media has made this an invisible story.
Yet despite the lack of news coverage, people have figured out that health insurance is a very broken system. A NBC/Wall Street Journal Survey showed that 76% of Americans want both a public and a private option in our health care plan.
I saw Representative Keith Ellison do a masterful performance of rallying people to be informed, to be active and to advocate. A summary of the forum is on a video below the fold. The huge forum was overfilled with people filling every seat, lining the walls and spilling into hallways. The first hour was filled with a number of short presentations that were well known to the audience. Then Representative Keith Ellison led the discussion:
Keith Ellison did excellent speech that you can see at the beginning tape where he set the expectations that this would a long process like the civil rights movement and that we would not get all we want the first time.
By allowing short one minute speeches (later half minute speeches) Keith Ellison is allowing people to take that first crucial step towards activism, speaking out. People spoke out and felt good about it.
The discussion evolved to how to campaign best for single payer health care, or the second option, a robust public option. Best facts, best persuasions, best words and best methods were shared. Some of that is captured on the tape.
Above all, at every step, Representative Ellison was encouraging, confirming and urging people on to more action. Several times, Representative Ellison made a mini-speech about the importance of writing and contacting the people who represent us. At the end, he asked for a commitment to write by raising hands. A storm of hands went up, captured in the video.
Al Franken spoke on the steps of the State Capitol to around 500 to 600 supporters today. Despite the overcast sky, U2's "Beautiful Day" blared over the speakers and perfectly summarized what today is like for DFLers across the state.
Norm Coleman is vanquished and we finally have a Democrat back in the seat that Paul Wellstone held.
Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Keith Ellison and DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez warmed up the crowd. Franni Franken introduced Sen. Amy Klobuchar who introduced Al.
More pictures after the break. Plus I hope to get my hands on the transcript of Al's speech.
Congress is currently considering supplemental funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Senators Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have introduced a pernicious amendment that would grant the Obama Administration powers of secrecy that the Bush Administration didn't even ask for.
The amendment would allow the Obama Administration to make any photo of detainees or prisoners captured in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere outside of the US taken between 9/11/01 and 1/19/09 completely secret.
It was one thing when President Obama reversed himself last month by announcing that he would appeal the Second Circuit's ruling that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) compelled disclosure of various photographs of detainee abuse sought by the ACLU. Agree or disagree with Obama's decision, at least the basic legal framework of transparency was being respected, since Obama's actions amounted to nothing more than a request that the Supreme Court review whether the mandates of FOIA actually required disclosure in this case. But now -- obviously anticipating that the Government is likely to lose in court again (.pdf) -- Obama wants Congress to change FOIA by retroactively narrowing its disclosure requirements, prevent a legal ruling by the courts, and vest himself with brand new secrecy powers under the law which, just as a factual matter, not even George Bush sought for himself.
The White House is actively supporting a new bill jointly sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman -- called The Detainee Photographic Records Protection Act of 2009 -- that literally has no purpose other than to allow the government to suppress any "photograph taken between September 11, 2001 and January 22, 2009 relating to the treatment of individuals engaged, captured, or detained after September 11, 2001, by the Armed Forces of the United States in operations outside of the United States." As long as the Defense Secretary certifies -- with no review possible -- that disclosure would "endanger" American citizens or our troops, then the photographs can be suppressed even if FOIA requires disclosure. The certification lasts 3 years and can be renewed indefinitely. The Senate passed the bill as an amendment last week.
(Glenn Greenwald)
Please call your Senator and all the DFL Representatives about this. Please tell them to vote against the war supplemental as long as it contains the Graham-Lieberman amendment.
Small businesses create 60 to 80 percent of new jobs. Congress and the Obama Administration have passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is expected to generate $21 billion in new lending and investment for entrepreneurs. My esteemed Congresswoman Betty McCollum is trying to get notice out to everyone:
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Access to Credit and Capital
The America's Recovery Capital (ARC) loan program was created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to provide small businesses with temporary financial relief. Through the program, viable small businesses can receive no-interest loans up to $35,000, backed 100% by the Small Business Administration. Repayment does not begin for a full year and businesses will have up to 5 years to repay the loan.
Small businesses will be able to use the proceeds of an ARC loan to pay virtually any existing debt. In this way, viable business concerns will be able to overcome temporary financial difficulties and keep their doors open. These loans allow entrepreneurs to fulfill their financial obligations and retain employees.
ARC loans are designed to help viable small businesses, which the SBA has defined as firms that have a demonstrated earnings history and a proven record of success, but need a little help to get through a short-term downturn.
At the annual Bruce Vento Dinner, last night, Congresswoman Betty McCollum rocked the room with her speech on healthcare, with statements like:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum's office provided me the text of Betty McCollum's opening statement at her health care forum. She speaks for me! She represents me and the fourth district very well! And she supports the public option! This excellent picture of Betty was taken by 
