So What Now?....The Repeal Pledge

During his mid-term election victory speech, John Boehner, Republican Speaker-elect of the US House of Representatives had this to say:

"The people’s priorities will be our priorities. The people’s agenda will be our agenda. This is our Pledge to America, this is our pledge to you!"

Now the hard work is upon us. Over the next two years we must make sure that John Boehner and the other Republican leaders in the House and Senate live up to Mr. Boehner's words.

We must hold their feet to the fire to ensure the will of the people, namely, to get government off our back and out of our pockets. We must ensure that out-of-control spending is reigned in, Cap and Trade is stopped, the power of the EPA is severly curtailed, and most importantly, to ensure that everything possible is done to stop ObamaCare.

We understand that outright repeal will be difficult with Obama's veto over the next two years, however, we do expect Congress to send repeal bills up to the president on a regular basis - in order to make him the party of no, in other words, to make him the one who goes against the will of the people. We also expect Congress to de-fund the various aspects of ObamaCare in order to chip away at it to make it as ineffectual and less onerous as possible.

Each of us needs to call our Congressman, as well as House Speaker Boehner and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnel, on a regular basis to find out what they're doing each day to stop ObamaCare.

Everyone should sign up for the "Repeal Pledge". The Repeal Pledge offers two goals: Number one, it shows solidarity among those who want ObamaCare repealed (59% of those who voted on Election Day favor repeal). Secondly, and more importantly, is to get members of Congress to go on the record that they will do everything possible to repeal ObamaCare. More than 116 politicians have already signed the pledge. We need to put pressure on those members that haven't yet signed it. Here's the link:

http://www.therepealpledge.com/


Here's contact information for all members of Congress:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt


Either the Republican Party becomes the Tea Party, or the Tea Party becomes a Third Party!



The American Small Business Partnership

LTC Allen West speaks about Islam

This is a great video that should be required for every American. Mr. West nails this on the head. Hopefully this will get passed around so that every American will see this - conservative, centrist and liberals.

The current crop of conservative candidates gives me great hope for the future of our country. In particular, LTC Allen West, who is running for Congress in Florida, and Marco Rubio, who is running for U.S. Senate in Florida.

Here's the video:




ASBP

Contract From America / Repeal of Healthcare Bill

I urge everyone to click-on and read the two links below, sign them if you agree with them, and forward to your email contacts.

We cannot just "Hope" for a return to normalcy - we need to make "Change" happen ourselves.

We must let our elected politicians know where we stand so that they know they have our support when they lead the charge in Congress.

#1) The first link leads you to Michele Bachmann's petition to repeal the Healthcare Reform Bill. The congresswoman from Minnesota has also introduced legislation to repeal the bill (HR 4903)

Here's the link to the petition:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/repealthebill/

And here's the link to the bill:

http://bachmann.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=177657



#2) The second link leads you to the Contract From America. The Contract From America is being driven by the Tea Party Patriot organization. It's a list of 10 core principles that were recently voted on by more than 450,000 people. These principles, free markets, limited government, and individual liberty, will be presented to politicians for them to sign and support each of the agenda items contains in the contract.

As they say on their website:

Get involved. Sign the Contract. Join the movement. Make sure your voice and your priorities are heard. Together, we can and will make a difference:

Here's the link: http://www.thecontract.org/


Again, please forward to your email contact.


ASBP

Fodder for those who still believe in America

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama - - but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the presidency. It will be easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to an electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails us. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."

-- Author Unknown - Whoever wrote this hit the nail on the head - knocked it out of the park! We freedom loving Americans need to reach out to those in the middle and teach them about the founders of this country, and the greatness that America has achieved due to our personal freedoms, our democratic-republic form of government, and our free market capitalism.

My friends, those principles are under assault. This country is in an ideological civil war right now.

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Here's your chance to drive the agenda for a Contract From America. Click here to submit your top ten items for a Contract from America, which is being organized by Tea Party Patriots.

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The Patriot's Guide: What You Can Do for Your Country

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April 15 - 2nd Annual National Tax Day Tea Party

The 2nd Annual Tax Day Freedom Rally will take place on Thursday, April 15th from 11:00am-1:30pm on Jefferson Square (6th & Jefferson).

This year you'll hear Senate, Congressional & Mayoral Candidates speak, Motivational Speeches, Conservative Comedy, Patriotic Music and Sponsored Booths.

For those of you not in Louisville, similar Tea Party rallies will be occurring all over the country.

For more info, go to: http://www.louisvilleteaparty.org/

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A closer look: Side effects of ObamaCare.

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Sign a petition in support of VA Attorney General Cuccinelli lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the individual mandate contained in the "health care reform" bill. Please click here.

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Sign the petition: "Say No to the National ID Card" Please click here.

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"Stop the Internet Takeover" by Obama by clicking here.

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Check out coverage of the now famous ASBP billboard on I-65 - as well as the political marriage of John Yarmuth and Nancy Pelosi:





ASBP

Video: Cloward and Piven Strategy comes to Fruition

More information on Cloward and Piven. This video shows how the stategy of these two 60s radicals is coming to fruition today through the Obama administration.

You can read a much more in-depth analysis of the Cloward and Piven stategy of forcing the country into a socialist state by looking at yesterday's post (next post below).




The American Small Business Partnership

Visit the Virtual War-Room: Time to Take Action!

This is from the Freedom Works Foundation:

Earlier this week, the Finance Committee filed their version of ObamaCare. Clocking in at 1,502 pages, the bill contains cuts to Medicare and Medicare Advantage, fines on those who do not purchase their own insurance, taxes on many private insurance plans, taxes on medical devices and drugs, and new taxes on employers. This is a far cry from the campaign promise President Obama made when he said he would not raise taxes on those earning less than $250,000.

And that’s just the beginning. Visit our Virtual War-Room to Take Action!

ObamaCare supporters in the House and Senate are working on their strategies to include a public option and other heavy-handed, big government regulations into their final bills. In the end, it all adds up to the same thing…government-run health care.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid is attempting to hide the enormous costs of ObamaCare by breaking-out some of the more expensive measures like the Medicare Doctor Fix into separate legislation. The Congressional Budget Office has already estimated the bare-bones version of the bill will cost $800 billion, but the real cost is actually much higher when you add up all the things they are trying to move separately. Reid has also indicated he will circumvent the U.S. Constitution, which requires bills like this to begin in the House, by stripping the text of another unrelated bill already passed by the House and inserting the health care overhaul as an amendment.

As Obama and his cronies on the Left inch closer to bringing ObamaCare to a vote, Congress needs to hear from you now more than ever.

We’ve updated and improved our virtual war-room where you can call your Congressmen, Senators, as well as specific targets we feel will be critical to the final outcome. They all need to know that far from giving up and accepting their watered-down policies – we’ve only just begun.

Representatives and Senators need to hear from you not only on the phone, and via email and traditional mail – but in their own backyards. A district office visit doesn’t take long, and is a very important step that shows you are serious about preserving our freedoms. Many folks are having trouble getting through to their Congressmen on the phone – some offices are no longer answering, other lines are jammed. If they won’t listen when we call, then you need to show up on their doorsteps!

Take action and look at all the ways you can have an impact on this issue in our virtual war room.

Sincerely,

Dick Armey
Chairman, FreedomWorks.org

PS: If you haven’t done so already, be sure to purchase a copy of our 9/12 panoramic picture online here. This is a great reminder of the power the grassroots have when we come together!

Video: Proof Obama lies through his teeth

In one speech, in under 90 seconds, the Lier-in-Chief, Barrack Obama, looks you in the eyes and lies to you in a most convincing manner. Basically it is 6 broken campaign promises, and one gaff. He has made zero effort to follow through on these promises - ZERO!! He never intended to follow through, and the press just lets him go at it day after day after day.

Please pass this around:




The American Small Business Partnership

Is Obama Poised to Cede US Sovereignty?

On October 14, Lord Christopher Monckton gave a presentation in St. Paul, MN on the subject of global warming. In this 4-minute excerpt from his speech, he issues a dire warning to all Americans regarding the United Nations Climate Change Treaty that is scheduled to be signed in Copenhagen in December 2009.




A draft of the treaty can be read here:

http://www.globalclimatescam.com/documents/un-fccc-copenhagen-2009.pdf


Does this scare the hell out of you? It Should!

Send a letter to your senator to tell them to vote NO on this treaty.

Below is a letter a friend of mine used - you can modify this and mail (best), fax, call or email your senator, or better yet, send to as many senators as possible:


October 22, 2009

The Honorable James Webb
United States Senate
507 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219

RE: Copenhagen Climate Treaty

Dear Senator Webb:

“The 160-page “Copenhagen Climate Treaty”, which has been distributed to negotiators from 192 states, took some of the world’s most experienced climate NGO’s almost a year to write and contains a full legal text covering all the main elements needed to provide the world with a fair and ambitious agreement that keeps climate change impacts below the unacceptable risk levels identified by most scientists.” Actually, this description is the public face to an instrument of world domination.

The draft climate treaty to be presented this December in Copenhagen will be a disaster for all citizens of the United States. It will super impose a world government architecture subordinating our own Constitution and dramatically reduce/eliminate our freedoms and government processes.

As a US senator you will be a part of the advice and consent process (United States Constitution in Article II, Section 2, Clause 2) which is required before a treaty can be approved. I implore you to oppose this treaty with all your energy and resources. Please remember that you are not beholding to the party, President Obama or the world. You are an elected official representing the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Don’t let us down. Don’t find excuses to favor this treaty in any of its forms. I fear the approval of such a treaty will be the beginning of armed insurrection within this country, a genie that cannot be put back in the bottle.

Sincerely,

William A. H****

American Small Business Partnership: An Overview

American Small Business Partnership:

Who Are We?
We started as a group of 8-10 small business owners/supporters who met for the first time in July 2009 out of concern for jobs and growth. The group of small business owners and supporters quickly expanded to over 100 in early August 2009. We are not tied to any one party. Our only goal is to protect jobs and the economic conditions that allow for job growth and prosperity. We selected the name American Small Business Partnership in August and created a website as a way to communicate with the quickly expanding group of supporters.

Are We Partisan?
No doubt our group, by its nature, is more conservative fiscally (having to be to be able to keep people employed and paychecks in the hands of our employees). We share fiscal conservative values that have traditionally been prevalent in both our local Republican and Democratic parties.

What is our focus?
Jobs and Growth! We are not interested in political parties...unless they are interested Jobs and Growth first and foremost. We are disgusted with both political parties (as are most Americans if you believe the national polls). We have chosen not to focus on social issues that divide us for three reasons:

1) Both parties use social issues to divide us.

2) We believe that most Americans share a desire to solve social problems, to be charitable and to treat others like they would like to be treated. However, unless we have an economy that is robust, that provides high employment and that allows individual Americans to create their own wealth (improve their personal financial situation), there simply won't be enough money from taxes or from charitable contributions to solve any of the social problems that we all want to solve.

3) Our focus in on Jobs and Growth and a serious concern that two pieces of legislation currently being considered would kill job growth----and would be particularly devastating to our local economy.

Healthcare Crisis
A July USA Today/Gallup Poll showed that when asked what goals was more important, cost control or expanding coverage. The response was telling:

* Under age 30 said expanding coverage was most important.
* Over age 30 said controlling cost was more important.

Analyzing the Healthcare Problem
We agree that have a national healthcare problem, but do not agree that it is a crisis. A problem can be solved, a crisis means you need to act and act now. To find any solution, you first have to understand the problem. So is the problem cost or coverage?

Coverage
One of the stated goals of healthcare reform is covering everyone. Those 29 years old and younger (according to July 2009 USAToday/Gallup) appear to agree covering everyone is the most important goal of healthcare reform.

Scope of the problem:

US Population: 310,000,000 Estimate of 2009 US population
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Stated Uninsured: 50,000,000 Commonly stated between 47M-50M
Between Jobs: -22,000,000 Estimated 4 months-US Census Bureau
Non US Citizens: -10,000,000 Not American citizens
Personal Choice: -9,000,000 Can afford, but choose not to buy
Truly Uninsured: 9,000,000 Cannot afford >> need help now
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People That Need Help Now = 3%

* Between 85-87% of Americans have coverage and over 80% like what they have.
* Is it a crisis or a problem when you have 3-5% of the population at risk?
* Can this be solved without drastically changing what we have in place now?


Cost Control
Those polled over 30 (according to July 2009 USAToday/Gallup) appear to agree that cost control is the most important goal of healthcare reform.

The burden of rising cost on individuals and on business is a serious problem that will continue to have a negative impact on Jobs and Growth. This problem may become a crisis, if we don’t find some solutions over the next few years.

Solutions:
1) Tort reform is very “low hanging fruit”. It has always been there for the taking, but politics keeps getting in the way. Estimates are that up to $2,000/year in cost is attributed to malpractice insurance cost, legal costs, time away from a medical practice dealing with frivolous lawsuits and practicing defensive medicine.

a) We must take the “ambulance chasing” out of our healthcare system and still reward those who have truly been harmed by malpractice.

2) We have a health national health problem. The amount of care is directly related to the health of the population. We believe we need a national education program directed at teaching healthy lifestyles.

a) We live in a very affluent society but one of the drawbacks is that we have unlimited access to food that our ancestors never had. Our work is generally much less physical than our ancestors. Statistics are now showing that 50-80% of the cost of care could be avoided by a healthy lifestyle. Until we address this issue, no healthcare reform will work.

b) If we have a CRISIS, it is a health crisis. Our seniors are now healthier than many of our youth and there are predictions that the length of life may decrease in the next several decades despite increased healthcare services.

c) We must address the health of the nation.

3) Employers now carry the burden for almost 70% of the insured population. Federal and State governments need to remove burdensome legislation that prohibits employers from implementing programs directed at improving the health of their workforce.

4) Portability and Pre-existing conditions: HIPAA and COBRA now protect employees who lose their jobs. COBRA allows employees to keep their coverage beyond employment for up to 18-36 months). HIPPA removed any pre-existing conditions when a person takes a new job and has not had more than a 62 day break in coverage.

a) Simply put, if you lose your job you can take COBRA for up to 18 months. When you are enrolled on your new employer’s plan you won’t have to worry about pre-existing conditions (as long as you kept coverage under COBRA, or did not have more than a 62 day break in continuous coverage).

b) Therefore it is absolutely critical that we keep cost affordable so that people between jobs can afford to keep their coverage under COBRA until their new coverage (at their new employer begins).

5) Cost Shifting/The Uninsured: A joint government/private sector solution is needed to subsidize the 3-5% of citizens that cannot qualify and/or afford insurance coverage. This solution may take time but would eliminate some of the cost shifting that takes place by providing access to a primary care physician through the normal insurance marketplace.

a) This would provide preventive care and education to those uninsured.

b) There should be steerage away from emergency rooms except for life, limb or organ threatening emergencies.

c) This would provide them with prescription drug coverage to help them manage disease and illness.

d) There should be required to see their primary care physician twice each year (to receive the subsidized coverage).

e) Behavioral treatment would be included in the plan and would be an important part of keeping them healthy.

f) We are not opposed to requiring care (as under an HMO) that would be designed to keep these citizens as compliant and as healthy as possible.

g) The ultimate goals would be to have them healthy and working and eventually no longer part of the subsidized group.

6) We cannot afford to insure non-citizens and it is not the responsibility of the U.S. taxpayer to fund coverage for non-citizens. Car can be provided by local charitable groups in local communities (these decisions need to be local and not mandated).


Summary:
We want solutions to keep cost affordable so that everyone can have access to health insurance. It is important for Jobs and Growth and important for our society as whole.

Fact 1: A complete overhaul of the private system is not warranted, or even logical.

Fact 2: “Government solutions” have not proven to be cost effective.

Fact 3: Historically the cost of government programs escalate out of control and well beyond the original intent.

Fact 4: “Government borrowing” and the increasing national debt is bad for jobs and the economy.

Fact 5: Additional debt and spending now will harm jobs and growth for decades.

Fact 6: The government solution being promoted is causing great division in our country.

Fact 7: Only a solution that is acceptable by the vast majority of American citizens will work.

**Let’s Slow Down and Work Together to Fix the System We Have Now!**


Addendum: Facts and Myths
Aside for the issue of cost and affordability that affects jobs, growth and our competeiveness in a world market; we agree that there are other concerns that all citizens should have about a government controlled healthcare system. The following is a list of answers to the often quoted “assertions” about a government run program.

Concern for Privacy Rights:
* We all should have great concern about individual rights and privacy – keeping our personal heath information out of the political arena and out of the hands of government bureaucrats (be they Democrat or Republican).

* That “non-elected” government employees could someday be making decisions about our individual health.

False: Government Solutions/Lowering Cost:
* The term, in itself, is an oxymoron.

* When you have been harmed by the government there is no legal remedy (you cannot sue). You can sue your insurance company.

* When you have a problem, you can meet with your health insurance company and solve it. Who can you meet with when you have a problem with the government?

Cost Saving Facts:
* The administrative cost of handling a claim under Medicare is more than150% higher than the cost in the private sector (Anthem, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, etc).

* The average government worker earns $120,000 in pay and benefits compared to the average private sector workers at $60,000.

* A private company can fire a worker who cannot perform. When do you ever hear of a government employee being terminated?

* Government workers continue to get pay increases and healthy retirement benefits, while most private sector employees have seen their wages frozen, have no pension plan and have seen the employer match on their 401k plans vanish.

* The government negotiating with doctors and hospitals is not a solution. Many doctors cannot afford to accept Medicare now. The government negotiating with providers will reduce the level of care for all of us and the access to medical care.

* Look at how politics has created the largest class of dependents our society has ever seen (our seniors). Because Medicare is a government program it is almost untouchable politically.

* Welfare is another example of a government program that went uncontrolled for years due to politics.

* It should be very clear that when the government has charge of any program that two things happen:

1) The cost increases (more than what was projected or ever intended).
2) Bad government programs NEVER go away.
3) The tax revenue collected for the program ends up being spent on other programs (they never spend the money where you expect it to go).

* Whether bailouts or cash for clunkers, you end up with problems (and very little bang for the taxpayer).

* Governments are never frugal with OTM (other people’s money).

Impact on Jobs and Growth:
* The cost of government NEVER goes down and government programs NEVER go away. It is viral.

* The average American worker will have to labor 111 days just to pay for federal spending, which is now consuming 30.36 percent of national income."

* Nationalized healthcare will crush the private sector and kill jobs and growth.

False: It’s a CRISIS:
* 85% of our citizens have healthcare they like and they want to keep it. That IS NOT a crisis.
We have a health crisis, not a health insurance crisis. The cost of health insurance is directly tied to the utilization (our health).

* Technology is part of the cost (outside of utilization) but this is what makes our system great.
Frivolous law suites add significant cost (that is driving up the cost and not adding value for members). We need tort reform (before we tear apart a system that works now).

* We are concerned that the idea of “universal” anything will eventually expand beyond healthcare…to the next CRISIS…that could infiltrate all aspects of our lives and individual choice.
* We are concerned that they type of debate that is taking place now (that divides us all) will only increase unless reasonable people come together to solve the PROBLEM and to send a message to both parties that we want sensible solutions.

False: The Uninsured:
* The number of people who cannot afford healthcare is estimated (by the government) to be 3-5% of the population (not 50M people).

* These people have access to Medicaid (state plans) if they enroll. Shore up Medicaid to fix the problem.

* We don’t need to cover people who can afford coverage but choose not to buy insurance.

* We should not cover non-citizens.

Prove It: Fixing Medicare:
* The statement has been made that “we” must fix Medicare and healthcare reform will do that.

* Prove it: Let us have a look at how you fix Medicare….see if you can….before you take over our entire healthcare system.

* The government has had control of Medicare from the beginning….why should we trust them now. It is bankrupt. You spent the money on pork along the way, now you are upside down on Medicare and you want to take over 1/6th of the economy with that track record.

False: Pre-Existing Conditions and Portability:
* HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (1996) provides:

* No pre-existing conditions can apply to new coverage if you have been insured for 12 months without more than a 62 day break in coverage.

* If you change jobs, you can use COBRA to fill the gap between the loss of the old coverage and the start of the new coverage.

* If you have less than a 63 day break in coverage, there is no pre-existing condition penalty.

* If you lose your job, you can keep most employer coverages for up to 18 months or longer (29 months if disabled and 36 months for death, divorce, and other circumstances.

* The truth is that most of people get their health insurance at work and therefore do not have a problem with either pre-existing conditions or portability.

Death Panels:
* Technically, no death panels. However, there is proof that they would force doctors to counsel for alternative end of life measures (instead of expensive treatment like chemotherapy).

* Technically, no death panels. However, the VA has recently put out a pamphlet for veterans that helps them decide if they are a burden on their family, if they would have a quality of life when disabled, you get the picture.

* Technically, no death panels. However, when a government employee (not elected but appointed) is making decisions on the benefit limitations provide under the “single payor” system or an “exchange’; and you include what they have already said and inferred, then a reasonable person should have concern.

* Technically, no death panels. However, if you fix prices for doctors and hospitals to save money and there is less access (and outcomes are worse), then you can assume that there will be rationing and that will be a de facto death panel.

* We only have to look around at the countries that have public healthcare to see examples of rationing and death panels in action.

Summary:
The current administration has not earned the right to make sweeping changes due to their complete failure to recognize the world around them (in a very short period of time). This is not a problem created just by the Democrats, but by our government as a whole. It is clear however, that the current party in control of the House, Senate and White House is completely out of touch with how our economic system works and therefore cannot be in charge of something that is so critical to our wellbeing as individuals and as a society.

The American Small Business Partnership

Ronald Reagan Warns Against Socialized Medicine

This is from the Operation Coffee Cup Campaign against Socialized Medicine as proposed by the Democrats in 1961. As a private citizen at that time, Ronald Reagan spoke out against socialized medicine. There's no video in this clip because it's originally from an audio LP that was sent out by the American Medical Association.

Incredibly, the questions, issues and concerns that existed in 1961 are nearly the same that we face today. We are going down the same path today that the Democrats tried to lead the citizens of America down in 1961. Where is our version Ronald Reagan today?




The American Small Business Partnership

Understanding the Opposition

Please note – this is extremely important: you need to recognize and be prepared for attacks on the messenger. If you look closely, you'll notice that the opposition is avoiding real debates on the merits of the arguments against the Healthcare Reform and the “Obama-Pelosi Utility Tax Hike” (Cap and Trade) bills. Rather, they're attacking the integrity or the legitimacy of the messenger in some way. You need to understand that they are simply employing techniques inspired by Saul Alinsky from his book, Rules for Radicals.

I highly suggest you read this article, especially rule #5:

http://www.geocities.com/WallStreet/8925/alinsky.htm

Want to know a little more on who Saul Alinsky was:

http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=30778


The American Small Business Partnership

What else should YOU do?

1) Business Owners: All business owners should be communicating directly with their employees and customers with regards to how these bills will impact their jobs, and the price of your goods and services. We suggest creating pamphlets or handouts to give to your employees and customers.

2) Become an educator: Seek out two or three of your friends or relatives that are on the fence about these issues and educate them. Be patient, it may take several presentation of facts to convince them.

3) Sign these Petitions:

> Free Our Healthcare Now
> No Health Benefits Tax

4) Write a Letter to your local Newspaper Editor

In Louisville, you can contact the Courier-Journal by clicking here.


The American Small Business Partnership

How to influence Congress

This is an article from the Newsvine:

It seems that very few American citizens understand that Congress works for us, not the other way around. They are our employees and should be treated as such. They represent you and I and so they darn well better understand that.

Here is the post that I did that explains how your communication with them is handled. This comes from several years of citizen lobbying that I did while in college. I got to know a lot of staffers and met with a few congress critters while doing this and learned how they consider and rank communications from their constituents.

There is a hierarchy based upon the amount of work that a constituent puts into the letter.

From lowest to highest. Divide by 10 if it comes from out of the district (house) or state (senate)

5) Mass emailing: Lowest form and is immediately deleted if it is the same email sent by hundreds of people.

4) Single Personalized Email: Looked at by staffers and if it is a subject of immediate interest and if multiple emails that are clearly not copies or near copies, then they are considered, depending on how many received.

3) Fax: A fax, if it is not a spam (meaning the same text sent by many people) are considered at about the same level as a single personalized email. They are recorded and if enough come in that are clearly not copies or near copies, then they might make it to the congress person.

2) Letter: Clearly recorded and considered by staffers. Again the rules for personalized versus copies applies (your own words, no matter how angry, illegible, or good) meaning that if you took the time to write it, it probably means that you would vote with the item in mind next time. Multiply by 2x if hand written. Use a live stamp!

1) Express Mail, Fedex, etc: Highest consideration. Means that you really care/pissed but means that you really are engaged on the subject. They consider you an influencer and that you will probably talk ten people into your position, and that means votes for or against.

(Note: the article doesn’t mention it, but picking up a phone and calling is certainly effective as well!)

Another Rule

Multiply negative mail by a factor of ten (usually if one person is pissed, that ten others are as well). Multiply positive mail by factor of 100. People usually don't go out of their way to write positive stuff unless it is really good.

These are generalized rules to use with communicating with your congress person.

If you follow up any of these with a phone call, then they are really taken seriously, especially if you ask if they received it and what the staffer thinks.

Another general note - Almost none of your mail goes directly to the target without first going through the staff. The staff is a filter and many of them will formulate the reply from the congressperson, if not a form letter. Depending on the issue, you MIGHT get a response from the congress person, the more junior the member, the higher the likelihood of a response.

At the very top of the list is a personal visit. I encourage each and every one of you to visit your congress person and senator's office at least once in your life. They are YOUR EMPLOYEES and you have a right to check up on them. You might even remind them of this when you visit. Tell them that you are there for a performance review and that your vote is contingent upon a passing grade. Do it respectfully, but with sincerity as this is exactly what it should be.

There’s some additional great advice in this power point presentation:

http://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/uploaded_files/Arnold_Slides.pdf


The American Small Business Partnership

Blue Dog Coalition

The so called “Blue Dog Democrats” are the guys from conservative districts in the House of Representatives that are sitting on the fence on both the nationalized healthcare and global warming tax bills.

They can be influenced towards voting against both of these bills - with some help from citizens like you!

Please take the time to contact some, or all of these Congressman. Particular focus should be spent on local congressman within your state, as well as the four members in positions of leadership:

* Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration

* Rep. Baron Hill (IN-09), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy

* Rep. Charlie Melancon (LA-03), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications

* Rep. Heath Shuler (NC-11), Blue Dog Whip

Use the Blue Dog Coalition link to find out who’s on the list, and then use the Congressional Directory to find their contact information.


The American Small Business Partnership

Congress contact information

Please click on the link below to find all contact information, including email, phone and street addresses, for all Senators and House members of Congress.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

We recommend that you contact all of your representatives in Congress - both U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative.

More importantly: We also ask that you contact the Blue Dog Democrats, and the Senators in the Key Senators Campaign. The congressmen in both these houses, for all intents and purposes, hold the keys to the Healthcare Reform and the Global Warming Tax bills being passed. We must focus our efforts on these two groups.


The American Small Business Partnership