Phoned Congressman Jim McDermott’s office, Washington 7th district (Seattle) the intern was non-commital, saying that McDermott wanted to see the final bill before voting on it. (I’m guessing he wants to see what the possible abortion provisions are going to look like, next time I call I will ask about this.) I told the intern that I strongly supported the bill and mentioned that we might not get another chance at health reform for a long time if this bill fails. She said she would pass on the message.
I really encourage people to do this, it feels good when you make an effort.
Just got off the phone with Sheila Jackson Lee’s office (D-TX-18). I’ve been calling for weeks now and her office has been a bit vague about where she stands, although it’s been relatively clear she would vote for the Senate bill. Today, however, I got a straight answer. Her staffer told me she’d vote for the bill. Thank goodness!
After I explained to the staffer that I supported the Congresswoman’s vote for the bill, she (the staffer) became rather chatty and admitted that they were getting tons of calls where people were yelling at them about the bill and shouting that Congresswoman Lee shouldn’t vote for it and repeated rightwing talking points and lies. Apparently it gets pretty heated and unpleasant, according to the staffer.
So the staffer was pretty happy to get a call from someone supporting the bill. Said they aren’t getting tons of those calls. And we had a long conversation about why it should be passed, what the ramifications are of not passing it, etc. She really was happy to talk to someone who was for the bill.
I encourage anyone who has a Congressperson out there who is voting for the bill to phone them and let them know you appreciate their vote. If Congresswoman Lee’s office is any indication, the staffers are having to deal with some pretty irate constituents. It’s genuinely appreciated when they get a call in support. Plus, it’s a good idea to let your Congressperson know that those of us who support the bill really are out here.
House switchboard: (202) 225-3121
Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121
robertdsc
First ever call to my Rep, Linda Sanchez, CA-39. She hasn’t taken a definite stance and is waiting for final language. I asked that she give her vote to the Senate bill. The staffer was polite and said she’d pass on my request.
Corner Stone
It’s been mentioned before in other Call Your Peeps posts, but I just don’t get this.
If you’re a D congressperson and you’re getting angry calls about HCR, don’t you just conclude these are the people who would never, ever vote for you under any circumstances?
How does this alter their decision making process in the slightest? The D leadership wants them to vote Yes.
Either they know the demographics in their district or they do not.
patroclus
I called Mike Quigley’s office and the staffer said that, while he wants to know exactly what is in the bill, he is expected to vote in favor of health insurance reform.
mcc
@Corner Stone: I really don’t really know what happens in a congressional office, but one would think that even if they write off people calling in opposing something, they would take more notice of getting calls in favor of something– this says, here is a supporter who will maybe support you more if you do the right thing.
(OFA had a really interesting tactic, which they only used in one of their emails– not sure why it didn’t come back, not enough response? They asked supporters of HCR to list how many hours they’d commit to working for their rep/senator’s reelection if that rep/senator supported HCR.)
You do occasionally hear congresspeople talk about the calls they’re getting, though it seems like every time I have heard a congressperson do this they talk in terms of ratios. “Calls are ten to one against” or “calls were against, then after such and such happened switched to ten to one for…”
Kiril
Called Joseph Cao’s office (New Orleans). Told them I was happy he voted for the House bill and asked if he would be voting for the Senate bill and sidecar. Whoever answered the phone said he hadn’t decided, but that abortion was the most important issue this time around, and without the Stupak language, he would vote no.
demo woman
@Kiril: Would it be fair to point out that with proper pre-natal and health care that some might choose to carry their fetus. I can’t believe that a congressman who promotes life wouldn’t see the hypocrisy in voting against health care.
Kiril
And called Landrieu’s office and asked if she would vote for the reconciliation bill. Again, no decision. I made it clear I’m a lifelong Democrat, but that a vote against health care would be a deal breaker for me. Lady answering the phone said thanks and she would pass on the message.
Tim F.
@Corner Stone: It’s not their job to screen for supporters. Representatives are and should be responsive to the needs of their entire constituency. They obviously care a little more about their voters, but not to the point of disregarding the rest entirely.
Kiril
@demo woman: Well, you’re right, but he’s probably full of shit and just looking for some way to oppose it without looking like a big liar. You can get away with a lot in Louisiana by siding with the Catholic Church, but it’s probably just a load of crap. Then again, he was the only Republican to vote for it the first time, so you never know. It doesn’t matter, he’s toast in the next election.
Corner Stone
@Tim F.: That was my point about knowing their demographics.
Corner Stone
@Corner Stone: Let’s take my CD for example, CD-TX22.
If I convinced a network of 1000 like minded individuals to call R-Olson’s office once a day, every day and say that voting Yes would make them happy – what do you think would happen?
First he’d think his staffers were nuts. Then he’d back up a little and recheck where he was. Then he’d vote No for HCR and get re-elected in a 30 to 40 point drubbing of whoever the D’s put against him.
Andy
I suspect that a great many of Sheila Jackson Lee’s callers are not from her district, regardless of what address they give the staffer answering the phone. I also suspect she and her staff are well aware of that. While AFAIK her seat is safe, Lee is also a lightning rod for conservative anger in this area, having three strikes against her from the outset — being African American, a woman and an unabashed liberal.
Houstonian
Comment of the day! Cool!
@Corner Stone:
Probably. But as with most things, the Representatives probably take many things into account when deciding how to vote – phone calls, polls, general make up of district, pressure from leadership, pork, favors owed, personal feelings, etc. If I can influence one of those – the phone calls/what actual constituents really think and want – then that’s okay with me. I can’t make up their mind for them, but as they represent me I want them to know what I think. Polls aren’t everything.
I make sure I mention money every time I call. As in, “I donate to candidates, and I’ll be happy to donate to the Congresswoman’s re-election bid if she votes for health care.” That kind of thing. If my Congresswoman votes for the Senate bill, I’ll donate and be sure to to let her know why I did.
Andy
Corner Stone, WTF happened in your district with this person winning the Dem primary outright? I’m next door in the TX-14, and never heard of this person before the primary. To borrow a phrase from JibJab, she’s nucking futs. I mean, seriously — this was her press release on Sunday:
You got any insight on this? Was there another “Operation Chaos” going on here?
Corner Stone
@Andy: And SJL’s CD is another good example from the D side.
No matter her coy stance to date on HCR, she will vote Yes when it comes down to it. And next election she’s not going anywhere.
Doesn’t matter how many angry calls she gets. She’s voting Yes.
If you’re an R then you’re going to vote No.
If you’re a D then unless you’re one of less than three dozen in specific spots you’re going to vote Yes.*
*And it’s IMO that it will be far less than that when it gets down to it. IMO Pelosi let a dozen or more off the reservation to vote No last time.
IM
Andy,
Larouche, larouche. It has happened before in democratic primaries in hopeless districts.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
I called Rep. Jan Schakowsky and Sens. Durbin and Burris and they are all supporting the President and healthcare reform.
Schakowsky’s office took my name and zip code. Burris’ office sounded like they had just woke up from a nap. Durbin’s office was very busy and just answered my question and thanked me for calling.
skippy
called last week. henry waxman.
Corner Stone
@Andy:
I commented briefly on this in another thread but to sum up – this result means less than nothing about nothing.
If I had wanted to waste the filing fee I could’ve received the same number of votes she did – 1000.
She has no money, no infrastructure and no one who wants to listen to her.
As for the D’s in that district, the national party basically gave the local D part the middle finger and said we want nothing to do with running a candidate in that district.
Olson is going to cream whoever else is on the ticket.
Tim F.
@Corner Stone: I’m not asking you to call Republicans about HCR. Call your Rep and ask him whether he supports the Ryan plan to privatize Social Security and Medicare.
Andy
@Corner Stone:
She got almost 7,500 votes, according to the Chronicle. I agree that she’s going nowhere, but still, it’s pretty damned bizarre. She would represent Clear Lake, after all, and you don’t have to be a rocket sci. . . oh, never mind.
me
@Tim F.: Probably not gonna bother with this one, my rep is Ryan. I suppose I could tell his staff he’s an idiot and his plan sucks.
Keith G
@Andy: But as we already know, some of those rocket scientists are bloody freaks.
BTW, I do love TX GOP NASA yoga. “Reduce spending. Cut taxes. Fly to the Moon!”
mcc
As far as I know the words “British Empire” are usually the calling card of Team LaRouche. They’re actually serious, or if they’re not it’s the largest collaborative satire project since the founding of Scientology. I’m not 100% sure why they always try to run within the Democratic party.
Zuzu's Petals
I agree. I called Matsui’s office the other day and was told she wants to see HCR pretty much in whatever form it can take. The staffer told me how nice it was to get supportive calls rather than the GOP talking point robocalls…just expressing support means something to them.
Keith G
@mcc:
Maybe because they know the Republicans would cut out their hearts and sell their families into slavery.
Andy
@Keith G:
As a friend (sarcastically) commented to me about that very phenomenon, “it’s not welfare if it supports the whole town.”
AnotherBruce
@Kiril:
I know that it’s probably futile to argue with a staffer, but if abortion is the most important issue, when do other issues get any attention? This is a health care bill, and it’s disingenuous to make it into a referendum on abortion. Gah!
Corner Stone
@Tim F.: I understand Tim. I was just using HCR as the example to my post.
Elia Isquire
Called Scott Murphy (D-NY) for like the 4th time in the past few weeks. I was told that he wants to see the final proposals before he votes – his concern is that the subsidies are more substantial, in the end, than they were in the Senate bill. I told the staffer/intern (whoever) that I wanted the Congressman to understand that, despite whatever amount of Tea Party BS he’s hearing, there’s a lot of us out here who want to see him vote the right way – Yea. The vibe I got is that he just doesn’t want to look like a lock-step Dem (he barely won the seat last year, remember) but that he’s going to vote Yea when all’s said and done.
And to echo what others are saying – Yes, this absolutely will make you feel at least a tiny bit better.
Do it!
liberty60
@robertdsc:
I am also in her district, and I have called both her offices, about once a week for the past month.
What I have found is what I expected, which is she is reluctant to commit to a bill, until the final wordsmithing is done.
Which actually seems reasonable. What I was surprised to find, is how wary staffers are on the phone. I guess since they don’t have a flashing red light signalling “JAMES O’KEEFE” they are careful about what exactly they say, to whom.
I joined my local MoveOn group in a rally and sign-waving protest on the street by her office, and later a staffer came out and had a very friendly chat with us.
From what I can tell, she is genuinely comitted to getting something done.
Part of the frustration, though, is we have 535 Senators/ Congressmen all playing eleventy dimension chess with their own personal campaigns; when Dennis Kucinich says he will vote no on anything without a public option, is he serious, or is it a fakeout to the Progressive Caucus?
At this point, the GOP are actually the easiest to figure out. NO pretty much means the same thing, no matter how you approach it.