The Honorable George Miller
2205 Rayburn House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Miller:

On behalf of the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party, it is my painful duty to inform you of a motion and vote taken on a resolution this past August as it relates to the current national Healthcare debate. My name is Karen Bernal and I am the elected Chair of the caucus. We apologize for the lateness of the news; we feel however, that it couldn’t be more timely and germane than for you to learn of the action now. The Progressive Caucus, comprised of over 700 active members, is the largest caucus in the State Party. At a statewide two-day summit this past August, the Caucus met to discuss and organize around issues that are of concern to us, both inside and outside of the caucus and Party. As you can imagine, the issue of Healthcare was a dominant issue the entire weekend.

At the closing session of our meeting, a motion and vote was taken to adopt a resolution to express our profound dismay about the way the votes occurred in the House Committee on Education and Labor in July. You will find the resolution attached here. There was not one vote in opposition to the motion. We were very aware of the impolitic nature of such an action, but it was a truthful expression of where we stood. We want you to understand that we are hardworking Party activists who have given untold hours, both in treasure and sweat in helping to build a Party, in the hopes that we might undo some of the grave injuries we have suffered as a people, as a consequence of the policies of the last Administration. Looking back on it now, we cannot help but to have the view that your vote in July, in particular, was a signal that was not lost on other Democrats in the House, and against fading optimism, on all of us.

Still, it must be said without reservation, that we are collectively stunned by the sheer audacity on the part of our Democratic leadership in the matter-of-fact way H.R. 3962, the latest bill on the matter, has been presented. It has been completely devoid of any expression of regret or contrition for the fact that not only has a promise been reneged upon, but that a committee vote was completely ignored and jettisoned without so much of an explanation. That after visit upon visit, having heard expressions both explicit and implicit from you for the State Option (the Kucinich Amendment), that we could now find ourselves without that which we had made ourselves crystal clear on, is incomprehensible. It hurts even more to know that someone who we looked upon to help us is silent on the matter.

No one need tell you that Single-Payer Healthcare has been a part of the State Party platform since 2006, or that twice, our own State Legislature voted for it, only to have a Republican Governor veto it; so to say there’s no mystery of where our Party, your constituents, and the State of California stands, is an understatement. Yes, we understood early on as we watched what passed for a public discussion, that the American people would not likely see the kind of reform they so deserved on a national level, but at the end of the day, we could stake our hopes on the fact that we had good people as leaders, and they would fight for the inclusion of the State Option.

The word ‘good’ is most appropriate here, for we know in you we have had a champion and hero for the struggles of Labor. We say good, because as Californians mindful of the Machiavellian politics in Sacramento on the issue of water, we have watched and admired your courage and leadership when it’s come to standing up to corporate greed and howling teabaggers. We are aware of those things, having shown our appreciation in word and deed. And since we know that historically, you have been a supporter of Single-payer, there is nothing we can tell you that you don’t already know. We assumed that implicit in your support for the State Option, was the understanding that it meant you would resist the intense pressure from within the Beltway bubble to capitulate and instead, stand with your constituents.

Please, as a member of the California State Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus, a CDP Executive Board member and someone recovering from cancer, I am asking that if the vote for the bill is postponed beyond next Thursday (November 8), that you will immediately request a re-insertion of the Kucinich amendment so that it may be voted upon on the floor. The times, being especially difficult as they are now, should remind you that there is no higher authority than that of the people who elected you to serve them. They, like all of us, need you now more than ever. On behalf of the Progressive Caucus and all Californians, we call on you to hear us and act.

Sincerely,

Karen Bernal
Chair, Progressive Caucus, CDP
24 Riverpebble Court
Sacramento, CA 95833

Single Payer Resolution of Censure, Disappointment & Applause for CA Congress Members

Whereas the California Democratic Party voted to support single payer healthcare for all, joining a statewide effort to successfully pass a single payer bill in both houses of the state legislature; and

Whereas Congressman Dennis Kucinich introduced an amendment in committee to protect state's rights to enact single payer health care regardless of what federal health care reform bill is enacted; and

Whereas Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey voted for the Kucinich amendment, while Democratic Party Congress members Susan Davis and George Miller voted against the amendment and Congresswoman Judy Chu passed during the committee vote;

Therefore be it resolved that the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party censure Davis and Miller, express disappointment in Chu, and applaud Woolsey for courageously and loyally supporting the will of the people of California and for affirming the right for states to provide health care for all; and

Therefore be it further resolved that the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party call on all members of the California delegation to vote for the Kucinich states' rights single payer health care amendment when the amendment reaches the floor of Congress.

Adopted on August 16, 2009