If we want real healthcare reform and are intent on not letting the Right Wing take our beloved country over the cliff, it is time that we not just throw our arms into the air with futile disgust, but engage in winning policies and electing officials that will move us forward in a successful & sustainable direction.

As we head into an election year, the new strategy for killing reform is claiming that members of Congress who vote for it will suffer at the polls.
For months, our opponents have spread lies about reform to scare voters away. But the simple truth about what reform would actually do — save jobs, guarantee all Americans affordable, stable coverage, and significantly reduce the deficit — is something most Americans strongly support.
The question is, come November, will the voters know the facts?
OFA supporters have asked for a way to show every member of Congress that if they fight for reform now, we’ll back them up this election season.
That’s why we’re launching "You fight, we’ll fight" — a volunteer pledge bank where you can commit your time to back up candidates and officials who fight hard for health reform.
We’re shooting for 1,000,000 hours pledged to spread the word to fellow voters. And if we get there, we’ll publish the total hours pledged in USA Today, so there will be no doubt that health reform is both good policy and good politics.
Can you pledge right away?

President Obama has made it crystal clear that he has no intention of walking away from health reform — and this movement has made its desire to fight on just as clear.
And many members of Congress are already working hard by his side to get the job done. But for those on the fence about whether or not to proceed, knowing you are there to back up a courageous stand can make all the difference.
Your volunteer hours can have a huge impact no matter where you live. You can make calls into critical districts where health reform champions are in jeopardy, write letters to the editor, volunteer for nearby campaigns, or even just talk to friends, family, and neighbors to help cut through the special interest spin.
We’ll offer lots of ways to get involved between now and the elections in November, and you can decide which are right for you — the important thing right now is to publicly show your commitment to fight for those who make health reform a reality.
Please help us hit our ambitious goal of one million volunteer hours pledged:
http://my.barackobama.com/YouFight
We’ve certainly faced setbacks in this fight. But as President Obama told OFA supporters last week, that only means we need to work that much harder.
Thanks for making it possible,
Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

This will happen throughout the country unless healthcare reform is passed in the next few weeks.

Feinstein Blasts Calif. Insurer Over Rate Increase

By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN

Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, sharply criticized Anthem Blue Cross of California on Tuesday over its plans to raise health insurance premiums by as much as 39 percent, and she said that the move provided a vivid example of why major health care legislation is needed.

“It is unconscionable that Anthem Blue Cross would consider increasing health insurance premiums for Californians by as much as 39 percent, especially at a time when so many people are experiencing economic hardship,” Ms. Feinstein said in a statement. “I can think of no better example of why we need health insurance reform, and this kind of behavior is a stark reminder of why any reform plan should establish a rate authority to keep insurance rates affordable.”

Ms. Feinstein also called on Congress to repeal the limited exemption from federal antitrust laws that insurance companies have enjoyed since 1945. The House was supposed to vote this week on a standalone measure to repeal the exemption, but all votes were delayed because of weather conditions in Washington. The Senate did not include provisions to repeal the antitrust exemption in its health care bill.

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Feinstein Blasts Calif. Insurer Over Rate Increase – Prescriptions Blog – NYTimes.com