Senate Finance Committee to Vote Today - OCT 13th!!!

[Whrlwnd13]

The Senate finance committee is scheduled to vote on the Baucus Healthcare bill tomorrow there is a list of finance committe contacts on the main page of the website. please call & fax these senators!!!

Focus on Lincoln and Snow. Hammer the bluedogs and GA Senators too!!

Don't let up on them!!

[Whrlwnd13]

Please get the word out we need to stop this healthcare fiasco before it's too late!!

[AndreaJoseph]

Ok, so it passed. What do we do next? We all know that they are just shoving in as much bulls**t as they can before they get the boot. What can we do to stop them?
Also, I heard that congressmen are paid a salary for their life time... even after they retire.... is there any truth to this? If that is the case, then why would they fear us come voting time? If this is true, something needs to be changed about it... thats just a load. I mean really, thats like winning the job lottery!

[Whrlwnd13]

from Resistnet:

A message to all members of Patriotic Resistance

Today the Senate Finance Committee passed the Baucus version of Obamacare. The bill was approved to go to the Senate floor now for more debate and merging with other prior versions of the Obamacare bills on the floor currently.

The actual text and bill will be introduced on the senate floor within the next two weeks then the work begins at an attempt by the Republicans to interject their idea of an acceptable bill while fighting off the Democrats adding on the public option and whatever else they can throw in.

The point is this fight and debate is NOT OVER. The house has to pass their version and then the Senate will have to pass their version and then the two will have to merge the versions for a final bill that will eventually go to Obama for approval and signature into law.

The word on the Hill is their goal is to pass the final bill prior to the Christmas break. This gives us time to continue to apply pressure and step up our efforts.

We will be introducing a plan over the next few days. This plan will involve a volunteer team of designated callers from each state to make daily calls. This will include visits to your lawmakers offices to meet with their staff, and fax campaigns. This bill did not have the public option and the penalties were greatly reduced they said due to public outcry.

Well they haven't heard anything yet!!!

So if you are intersted in being a part of the new State Call Group Volunteer Team contact your state Director or Regional Coordinator asap! If you can make appointments with your lawmakers offices do so now.

We will not let up! We are not done!

We want to encourage you all to step it up, and don't be discouraged. We expected this vote in favor of the Baucus Bill from the Senate Finance Committee. We all agree we need reform....we must continue to pressure lawmakers to remove the language the majority of Americans are against and add the language we all approve of.

Let's Make them Hear us!

Grassfire and Resistnet Team

Visit Patriotic Resistance at: http://www.resistnet.com

[Owl]

If there's anyone out there who isn't discouraged by this, let's hear why.


I wouldn't say this outside of this forum, but as far as I can tell the total impact we have made with all our efforts has been - zero.


They hear us. They ignore us. They march on toward statist utopia.


If we doubled our numbers....they might listen. 1-2 million people are apparently as easy to walk over as 20,000.

I'll fight on, but I feel like I'm swinging at windmills.

[Whrlwnd13]

Andrea here's what wikipedia says about Salaries & Benefits for Congress...

House of Representatives: As of January 2009, the annual salary of each Representative is $174,000. The Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Leaders earn more, $223,500 for the Speaker and $193,400 for their party leaders (the same as Senate leaders). A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it. Congress sets members' salaries; however, the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits a change in salary (but not COLA) from taking effect until after the next general election. Representatives are eligible for lifetime benefits after serving for five years, including a pension, health benefits, and social security benefits.

Senate: The annual salary of each senator, as of 2009, is $174,000; the President pro tempore and party leaders receive $193,400. In June 2003, at least 40 of the then-senators were millionaires.
In addition to their salaries, senators' retirement and health benefits are identical to other federal employees, and are fully vested after five years of service. Senators are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). As it is for federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Under FERS, senators contribute 1.3% of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2% of their salary in Social Security taxes. The amount of a senator's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. The starting amount of a senator's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary. In 2006, the average annual pension for retired senators and representatives under CSRS was $60,972, while those who retired under FERS, or in combination with CSRS, was $35,952.