Rep Markey says he believes in 676 in principle but he's not committed to voting for it. Don't ask me what that means - the staff person I spoke with couldn't tell me either.

I phoned Reps. Stupak and Dingell and urged them to vote yes. both aides assured me that they would pass my request on.

Rep. Engel (NY): Very much in favor of Weiner's amendment

Rep,Markey (MA)'s office said thanks, but no more.

They will let the Congressman know

Kathy Castor's office said she is still weighing her options...check her website for further info.

Waxman's staff person answering the phone said "I can't speak for the Congressman," and declined to put me in touch with anyone who could. She did, however refer me to the web site. Waxman has said nothing about 676 that I'm aware of, but in the deep path he is on record supporting single-payer. See
http://snipurl.com/nl5h0 .

More recently (http://snipurl.com/nl5rk) he said: "I have supported single-payer health care plans. I have supported medicate for all. I have supported pay-or-play plans. I might have my own views of which would be best if we could wave a magic wand and make it so, but the point is I can't."

This sounds to me a lot like Obama's line that single-payer might be the best if we were starting from a blank slate.

It's answers like this that make me a conspiracy theorist. A popular president with a new mandate and the pertinent committee chair both come from strong progressive backgrounds, have had an abiding interest in public health, and have been unequivocally on record for single-payer in the past when it wasn't possible. Now that they have the power to make it happen, they're not doing it.

My conspiracy theory is that it's not simply that they lack the nerve or the votes. It's not even about bribes from the insurance industry. I think they're being threatened by the same folks who were behind assassinations of the Kennedys, Paul Wellstone, and many more.

I'm here with my 8 month old daughter lighting up the phone lines as best I can.

Aide told me that Edward Markey, MA is a cosponsor.
Aides told me that they will pass on my comments to Henry Waxman and John Dingell, MI.

The aide to Kathy Castor, FL said that the congresswoman was still weighing her options.

I asked why on earth she would stand in the way of allowing people like me who haven't had health care in more than a decade the opportunity to have the insurance provided to the elderly. She said she'd share my comments with Ms. Castor.

OK, Lucy wont let me make any more phone calls. She needs her "dad-walker" to scamper about the house.

Jeff in West Palm Beach

His rep said that he would pass along the comment.

I called every one of the Reps on the list and spoke with a staffer each time. Each said they would pass along my request that they support the Weiner ammendment, some sounded happy to do so, some just said ok they'd let them know.
Schakowsky's staffer, since Rep S. is a co-sponsor of the ammendment, was particulary cheerful about my call.

Both completely non-committal. "We'll pass your comments along."

Mike Doyle from Pittsburgh is a committed "yes". The only one I've called whose staff person said "yes" with no qualification.

Called Energy & Commerce this morning (202) 225-2927. They said they had no idea what I was talking about-Weiner has not submitted anything? What am I missing here?
Thanks!

I am from North Carolina but not Butterfield's very rural district. I phoned and said where I was from and asked that the Congressman support the Weiner amendment to the healthcare bill for single payer coverage. The lady who answered said "thank you," and that was it.

I had nice conversation with his staffer. I told her this bill is so important because as the unemployment numbers continue to rise the number of uninsured will continue to increase. I also told her that I was worried that the comprising with the GOP too much will create a bill that is just useless and that the wind is at our back with a lot of help from President Obama so it is time to be bold.

called Kathy Castors(fl) office;staffer said he would pass the message on...

Staffer was friendly. Said Degette wants healthcare for all. He said she has not seen the details of the bill as yet.

I told him:

"We love Diana Degette and are very proud of her... but ... make no mistake. We are not frightened by the scare tactics of the right. We want single payer health care and we will show our displeasure at the polls if the democrats do not heed our message."

Jan Schakowsky, IL is voting for it. Bobby Rush's aides were totally "brush-off".

Spencer G. Wold, Jr.
I called both of the Ohio representatives, Sutton and Space on the committee to vote on HR 676 and asked them as my representative from Ohio to vote for me to pass this Universal Health Single Payer bill for US. The workers said they would give the message to their boss. When I attempted to call more than Ohio all circuits are busy, both the 800-828-0498 and the 202- 224-3121 I have for the switchboards. I'll try again later.Keep up the good work...thank you! God Bless You!

Congressman Welch's staffer told me "Thanks for calling. I will pass that on."

Congressman Doyle's staffer told me "Thank you for calling. I will let him know."

...would not tell me if Inhofe used the Federal healthcare plans and would not tell me if any office staff are enrolled in the Federal employee plan.

I called everyone on the committee, mostly got the feeling that my input wasn't even included as a hash mark on a list; however there were some who took my name and address, Barrow, Murphy, Baldwin, Gordon, Doyle, and Sarbanes. I was told Welch supports it but the aide was uncertain as to how he will actually vote, and Engel is co-sponsor. Interestingly enough the last call I made was yhe first number, the committee iyself, and I started my speech as I had been doing with I understand they are going to vote on HR 676 today...and was interrupted with a NO, they are not. It isn't on todays schedule, the woman seemed almost hostile hmmmm.....wonder why? I don't think they like to be bothered by the likes of us peons.

Spencer G. Wold, Jr. I am going to call other states representatives as well because if I am visiting another state I want to be covered wherever I am in the United States. This is long overdue and it is now time to right the wrongs of the past. Vote for this HR 676 amendment. I believe we should have free health care as a basic human right...work it out...we have the resources. God Bless US! It is time, now!

Spoke with Peter in Congresswoman DeGette's office. He said he would pass along my message in support of HR 676--and that any final package include coverage of abortion services.

Her staff member said she supports health care for all, but she's not decided on HR 676.

I called Baron Hill's office. I was surprised that they didn't want any information on me (like address). I guess they could tell from caller ID that I was not a constituent, although I am just across the river. Anyway, the staffer said she would pass on my request to Rep. Hill.

Called Waxman, Eshoo, Capps, Harman and Matsui. I was told by all who answered that my request to vote for this bill would be passed on the the Senator. Only one (Matsui's office) asked for my zip code.

I contacted my congressperson's (Jay Inslee) office and requested he vote for HR 676. Casey took my name and address and said he would pass the information on to Rep. Inslee.

"I'll be sure to pass that message along. Thank you very much!"

Rep Markey's aide said that Markey is behind the health care reform bill but needs to make sure that the ammendement is a good one. I asked if there was a way to review the ammendment before it went into committee but was told he did not think so. It would help if others would call

So reported a staff member in the Washington office to whom I spoke earlier today.

So reported a staff member in the Washington office to whom I spoke earlier today.

I called Gene Green and told his staffer to vote for the Weiner amendment. The staffer was not aware of it but said he would pass the message along.

said they appreciate my attentiveness on this ...bart is a republican in dem skin ....he isnt half the man/congressman that Dennis Kucinich is ...but i wish he was.

staffer says she's voting Yes on Weiners Amendment. Called 12 others: all seem glad to get call and will pass on.

Called all California congresspeople. Staffers in offices simply said they would pass on request to support amendmend.

I called them all. Markey, Engel, Schakowsky were strong supporters. Most of the others were "supportive" but not definitive. None were against, except perhaps Bart Stupak. His female "intern" was rude to me.

Even if the vote is not today, as some people are saying, please call today and explain as much of your position as you can. If the vote is happening later, that just gives people more time to consider and weigh all the comments they receive.

A staffer took the call, asked for name, address and e-mail, then promised to forward my request to the Congressman.

Don't know that he will be swayed by mere voters when the insurance companies are so "persuasive" (i.e., generous with campaign funds for legislators who vote their way), but if the rest of his constituents manage to call, it will help.

Tammy Baldwin was also an enthusiastic supporter! Diana DeGette and Frank Pallone were supportive.

Anna G. Eshoo: the congresswoman WOULD support single-payer IF we were starting from scratch.