It took bringing a man with a fresh diagnosis of brain cancer (for which he receives government-paid healthcare to fight) back to Washington, DC from 2,300 miles away in Arizona to do it but Mitch McConnell managed to open debate on Trumpcare this afternoon. It’s a bill that’s got only 12% support in counties that Trump himself won in 2016 but that doesn’t matter because stealing healthcare insurance from tens of millions of people is a small price Republicans are willing to pay on your behalf to give massive tax breaks to their wealthy benefactors.
We know where this is headed and it means a LOT of pain and suffering for millions of people.
But it can be stopped. Here are words of wisdom and strategy from the amazing Topher Spiro:
1: The Senate is now debating repeal of health care. We can still win. Here's what we need to do now.
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 25, 2017
2: There are two NO's right off the bat: Collins and Murkowski. We only need one more to win the final vote.
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 25, 2017
3: Several Senators who voted yes today only did so for procedural reasons – including John McCain.
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 25, 2017
4: The next 24 hours are critical. The public blowback must be immediate and overwhelming.
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 25, 2017
5: Senate Democrats can filibuster this bill by offering an unlimited number of amendments.
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 25, 2017
6: Call up your Democratic Senators and tell them: fight against this bill as if you're fighting for your life.
— Topher Spiro (@TopherSpiro) July 25, 2017
I want to re-emphasize one point Topher makes:
The next 24 hours are critical. The public blowback must be immediate and overwhelming.
To contact Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow or any other U.S. Senator, call (202) 224-3121 and ask to be transferred to their office.
In addition to these actions, take heed of the advice given on our podcast this week by the equally amazing Andy Slavitt. Governors wield an immense amount of political clout in this debate. If you live in a state with a Republican governor, NOW is the time to lean heavily on them to be vocal in their opposition. Here in Michigan, that means Gov. Rick Snyder’s phones must start ringing off the hook. You can call him at 517-373-3400.
This is do-or-die time, folks. Make those calls.
