Rep. Grayson’s “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act”

Activists are disappointed (to put it lightly) that health insurance legislation, and not health care reform, passed after a year of intense debate and discussion at the highest levels of government.  A few solidly progressive items made it through the process; many more did not.  Among those that did not is a public option, to say nothing of single-payer.

Flying somewhat below the back-and-forth arguments of whether or not a public option should have been a part of the legislation and what form it might or might not take is an effort that should be lauded.  Rep. Alan Grayson (D,FL-08) has a piece of legislation that accomplishes many progressive goals: H.R. 4789, the “Medicare You Can Buy Into Act”.  Rep. Grayson has done what many activists wish our elected officials would do: show some leadership.

H.R. 4789 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.  It has already garnered 80 co-sponsors.  In answer to complaints in the Colorado blogosphere, I would point out that both Rep. Jared Polis (D,CO-02) and Rep. Diana DeGette (D,CO-01) are among those co-sponsors.  Notably, Rep. Polis was an original co-sponsor, another sign of progressive leadership.

This likely isn’t going to be the sole effort to keep the public option discussion going as we move forward.  However, it is concrete and it is available to us right now.  The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has a tool up so people can ask their Representatives to join as a co-sponsor to the bill.  While CO-01 and CO-02 have been taken care of, there are plenty of other representatives who could sign on and I’m sure we all have friends and family in other states to point this to.  I am unaware of similar action coming out from the Senate.  It would be refreshing to see a Senator present something fashioned closely to H.R. 4789.

Cross-posted at SquareState.

CO Politics: HHS Refusal Rule & Wildfire Protection Plan

Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO-1) and Rep. Louise Slaughter have re-introduced legislation to stop the Bush “administration’s” last minute attempt to permit health care workers to interject their ideology into their jobs by refusing service to patients they find objectionable, regardless of patients’ rights and needs.  So many pieces of legislation and so many executive orders are needed to undo the Bush Disaster.

In the Colorado legislature, the Community Wildfire Protection Plan passed out of committee unanimously.   It will establish guidelines for local governments to follow to respond to wildfires so officials are not making that decision on the ground in emergency situations. As more areas continue to suffer from drought and pine beetle kill, guidelines for wildfire response are wise to implement. I expect additional wildfire-related legislation to come out of this session.

Prevention First Act & Environmentalists CO Agenda

There’s plenty catch up on as I was out of town and blog-less all week.  Here are a couple of items that caught my eye:

Rep. Diana DeGette and Rep. Louise Slaughter have introduced the Prevention First Act.  Democrats put their money where their mouth is: instead of denying women access to health care like Republicans have done for eight years (and more), Democrats want more health care made available to women.  That will in turn allow women to reduce unwanted pregnancies.  That will in turn reduce the number of abortions and abandoned babies.  Right-wing extremists have unfortunately been very successful in closing health clinics that actually deliver care and introducing clinics that distribute right-wing propaganda, especially in neighborhoods with lower-income and predominantly minority populations.  I don’t see how they can be labeled “pro-life” when they do so.  It remains to be seen how the final bill looks when it comes out of Congress.

Environmentalists in Colorado are working to convince the state legislature to make rural utilities pay for energy efficiency programs, just like urban utilities already do.  The reason is simple and works to utilities’ benefit: it is far cheaper to implement energy efficiency programs than it is to build a coal plant or a natural gas plant or a wind farm or a solar farm.  Any opposition really just doesn’t make sense.  “It’s our neighbors – farmers, ranchers – that own the rural electric utilities,” Rep. Gardner said.  That’s not under dispute, Rep. Gardner.  It will be cheaper for them to run the utilities when they implement efficiency programs.  The math and economics is simple and has been proven time and time again.  Why does Rep. Gardner want those farmers and ranchers to have to pay more to run their businesses?  How is he tied to the oil and gas industry?  Stay tuned.

Roan Plateau Update: BLM Schedules Auction

55,000 acres could be opened up for auction to oil and gas companies, as assigned by the Bureau of Land Management. Approximately 34,000 acres are on top of the plateau, identified as sensitive areas for wildlife.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management, which will offer the leases in an Aug. 14 auction in Denver, has said that efforts by Sen. Ken Salazar and Reps. Mark Udall and John Salazar to modify the management plan for the Roan Plateau wouldn’t stop the agency from offering the leases.

Every community level, from the smallest town to the entire state, Democrat, Undeclared and Republican alike, have all expressed their desire not to allow drilling on top of the Roan. This of course hasn’t stopped the Bush administration and their cronies that have continually ignored the will of the people since they took control of our government.

Rep. Udall said a few months ago that he might introduce federal legislation that would reflect the proposal brought up by Gov. Bill Ritter. It would open up the Roan in phases with some oversight enacted during the entire process. This step might be necessary because the BLM, despite approval of Ritter’s plan by elected officials from both parties, rejected the plan. Sen. Ken Salazar has also said he might introduce similar legislation in the Senate. The BLM has said that news won’t stop the auction. Rep. DeGette introduced the Colorado Wilderness Act in April. It would protect the Roan from this kind of development.

Rep. Udall, Rep. Salazar and Sen. Salazar: this is the time to introduce your legislation and or get on board with Rep. DeGette’s legislation and get it passed. You have two months before the auction starts. The will of the fossil fuel industry is being carried out over the will of the people. This is not acceptable.

Cross-posted at SquareState.net.  There are a large number of diaries written about the Roan over there too.