Stop the VA MISSION Bill

This is the first part of a fairly long post from former Wisconsin progressive and vet activist D Buzz Davis. This bill is another step toward privatizing the VA. The National Nurses Union opposes it as do many progressive vet groups. This Newsweek article gives background on which Koch brothers related astroturf groups are pushing it. ("in 2015 CVA received nearly $16 million in contributions and grants. Nearly all of that money, $14 million worth, came from the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, another non-profit group that doesn’t have to disclose its donors, but has been called the Koch network’s ATM because it has dispersed hundreds of millions of dollars to Koch organizations.")

Make some calls.

STOP THE VA MISSION BILL

Dear Citizens:  THIS IS NOT YOUR NORMAL CALL REQUEST.

Seven (7) million veterans are in trouble.  We use the VA hospital system for our healthcare and Congress and President Trump are privatizing the VA out from under us.

Already 40% of the vets using the VA are being pushed into private sector healthcare where the waits for doctor's appointments are just as long or longer than at the VA.  And we many time receive lower quality care that at the VA.  And you as taxpayers have to pay about 30% higher cost for vets using private care than vets getting their care at the VA.

Special interests, like the billionaire Koch brothers are spending hundreds of millions to destroy VA healthcare because it is a high quality, cost effective Single Payer Single Provider system.  The Koch boys can't stand a government program that works!

In survey after survey 70% to 80% of the 7 million of us using the VA say We Want the VA Fixed, Funded & Fully Staff -- NOT Privatized.

But who listens to vets - not the President and most of Congress.

Thank fully we had 70 Democrats who had the political courage to vote no in the House but the MISSION bill passed anyway.

Now as early as Tues. the Senate may vote on the MISSION bill.  Trump demands passage so he can sign it on Memorial Day.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO TRY TO BLOCK PASSAGE IN THE SENATE.

Can you give 7 million veterans a half hour of you time?

1.  HERE IS THE PLAN.  Each senator represents the millions of people in her/his home state.  But they also represent ALL Americans – that means you.

YOU have a right to call and urge/demand that each senator votes your way!

Here is what you and I need to do starting now.

Call each of the 47 Democratic and 2 independent senators and urge them to vote NO on the VA MISSION bill this week.  Just say:

Hello this is ______ and I am a veteran (or I have friends who are veterans).  I am calling to urge Sen. ____ to vote NO on the VA MISSION bill this week.  It is a terrible bill.  It will privatize the VA.  I urge the Senator to do what vets want.  We (they) want  the VA Fixed, Funded and Fully Staff.  Pls. vote NO on the MISSION bill.  Thank you!

That’s all you have to say.

2.  NOW HOW DO YOU DO THIS WITHOUT LOOKING UP 49 SENATORS' OFFICE NUMBERS?

A.  Use this number 202-224-3121 to call the Congressional operator in Washington 24/7.  You will get a recording.

B.  Before you call open this link: https://www.democrats.senate.gov/about-senate-dems/our-caucus

Now you have a picture of each senator and their name.

C.  Click on the picture and you have their name and state.

D.  Call the Wash. Operator 202-224-3121 say the state and then say the person's name.  E.g.  Wisconsin    Baldwin   Then her office will answer and YOU leave a recorded message urging her to vote NO on the VA MISSION bill this week.  Hang up.

F.  Click on next senator’s picture and repeat.  After one or two calls you will a pro.

THESE CALLS AGAINST THE MISSION BILL WILL BE REPORTED A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY TO EACH SENATOR.  IT WILL INFLUENCE HOW THEY VOTE.

Thank you for however many calls you can make before they vote.

TIP  If your last name starts with the letter A thru J START your calling with Baldwin and work downward.

If your name start with K thru Z start calling with Wyden and work up the list.

After the vote on the MISSION bill (which will probably pass) we will inform you how many Democrats you helped vote NO.

And IF THE SENATE BILL PASSED IS NOT EXACTLY LIKE THE HOUSE BILL PASSED, then a “Conference Committee” will be appointed, compromises will be made, the bill will be changed and report out to both houses.

THEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE WILL EACH HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN BEFORE THEY LEAVE THURS. OR FRI.  If this happens we will be back at you for another round of calling.

So start burning up those phone lines to D.C.  And you may wish to forward this message to your friends who you know want to help veterans.

Want more detailed information on this issue?  Here it is from a group of us working to Save Our VA.