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I am both surprised and disappointed by this outcome. My biggest disappointment is not that a long-time incumbent lost a primary--overall, I think our party is stronger when we have contested elections--but that he lost it for all the wrong reasons.
Fourteen-term U.S. Congressman Alan Mollohan has lost his primary battle against state senator Mike Oliverio for the Democratic nomination in the First District.
Oliverio had spent much of the campaign attacking Mollohan's record and ethics, and that apparently resonated with Democratic voters, as Oliverio took an early lead when the vote totals started coming in on Tuesday night. That trend continued throughout the evening, and with all precinct reporting, Oliverio held a 12-percentage point lead.
Heavily aided by the conservative agenda of deep-pocketed media moguls (the Ogden/Nutting and Rease outlets), Oliverio has succeeded in running against a reliable Democrat incumbent.
To win the trust of West Virginia first district voters and earn a position in Congress, Mike Oliverio now needs run for something.
Updated: So, why did Rep. Alan Mollohan lose?
Here's what I think. There's lots of reasons.
Added: First off, If I had thought Rep. Mollohan was as corrupt as Oliverio and the press made him out to be, I would have wanted to vote him out, too.
1) Voters are angry because the economy in WV-01 still sucks
2) Unemployment is WV-01 is unacceptably high -- Congress bailed out banks, but isn't doing anything about 10% unemployment.
3) A politicized Bush DOJ left a time bomb that finally exploded. Even though every investigation was closed, Mollohan was tainted by further innuendo. Over the years, those expensive legal fees drained campaign coffers, too.
4) Having no opponent in 2008, Mollohan didn't have the campaign apparatus established that he needed to survive a close campaign.
5) Oliverio had enough money to get his message out. Unpaid media was very kind to him in building a distorted view of incumbent--this is rare situation for challenger vs. incumbent, esp. in a primary.
6) Where was Obama/OFA? Dean's 50 state strategy was much better at building capacity in every district. Obama/Kaine deserve some blame here, too.
7) Mollohan's votes this cycle were not the reason. Mollohan could have voted the same was as Republican Rep. Shelly Moore Capito (WV-02) on every vote and Oliverio could have still run the same campaign and received the same help from conservative quarters.
Another one from the comments 8) "WVinians are oddly susceptible to RW talking points." Rep. Mollohan has reaped a bitter harvest sowed by fellow West Virginia politicians. One reason that West Virginians are so susceptible to right wing talking points is because our own Democratic party leaders (see: Gov. Manchin) are prone to using them when they view coal interests as endangered. Live by federal government bashing, die by federal government bashing.
Update from Carnacki:
John Cole at Balloon-Juice has a good take on the corner that Oliverio has painted himself into.
There really isn't a whole lot there to fire up the Democratic base, and I just don't see how he tacks left heading into a general election. As it is, a lot of people in the liberal/progressive wing might look at this general election as a race between two Republicans. Again, I have never personally met the man, so I have no "feel" for him, but I know people who say he is a decent fellow.
snip
Whatever happens, it is going to be a close race. Any time before the last few years when the national GOP went completely teabag insane and drove me from their ranks, and I would have voted for McKinley without a second thought. I don't think I can vote for a Republican and give John Boehner and those clowns any power whatsoever, which really is a shame, because my gut tells me McKinley is a decent man. Having said that, Mike Oliverio has his work cut out for him to get me to hold my nose and vote for him. Considering I don't know much about him except for the things I don't like (the anti-choice stance, the anti-cap and trade, the willingness to sabotage leadership before even being elected), maybe there is something there I can rally around. I guess I have no other choice.
Supporting Oliverio because we feel we have no other choice is hardly a way to turn out the vote. It'll be interesting to see if Oliverio reaches out to this blog and to other Democrats or if he'll just try to appeal to right wingers who are going to toss him aside for a real Republican like McKinley.
We've had some questions about the voting records of Congressman Alan Mollohan and State Senator Mike Oliverio, battling in a tight race for tomorrow's Democratic primary election for West Virginia's first congressional district. We want to take a snapshot of the last year and highlight their legislative record on LGBT equality.
* Congressman Mollohan voted for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the first federal law to recognize sexual orientation and gender identity.
* Congressman Mollohan is a co-sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act that would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
* In stark contrast, State Senator Mike Oliverio was a co-sponsor during the 2010 legislative session of a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality in West Virginia. The legislation would've enshrined discrimination against LGBT people into our state's founding document.
This is an important election in the first district. Please consider all of the facts and PLEASE VOTE.
By a unanimous vote of the TWV Editorial Board, 14-term Congressman Alan B. Mollohan is the clear choice as the Democratic candidate based on a solid career of political service that has earned him a number of critical leadership positions in Congress - most notably that of the third ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. With the announcement Wednesday that Rep. David Obey, the current Appropriations chair, will retire at the end of this term, Mollohan, if re-elected, would rise to the number two position in Appropriations.
Voters in West Virginia need look no further than the accomplishments of Sen. Robert C. Byrd to realize what a powerful position that an Appropriations leadership position can be. Certainly, Mollohan has modeled himself to some degree after Sen. Byrd in this manner.
Alan Mollohan's record of economic development in the 1st Congressional District is unparalleled in terms of his vision, his ability to create private-public partnerships, especially in high tech, and his leadership that enabled him to steer millions of dollars in federal earmarks to diversify the economy in North Central West Virginia.
Following Sen. Byrd's success in relocating the FBI fingerprint facility and its 3,000-plus jobs to the region, Mollohan has followed suit by enticing other federal agencies such as NASA, NOAA, the National Energy Technology Lab and the Department of Defense Biometrics Center to locate along the I-79 Corridor.
Mollohan was instrumental in the creation of the West Virginia High Technology Consortium that has served as a hightech business incubator that currently employs more than 1,300 people- with hundreds more to come within the next year. As a result, the high-tech sector has attracted over 200 high-tech firms to the region that did not exist a little more than a decade ago.
Certainly Congressman Mollohan deserves much of the credit for transforming our economy from one dependent on extraction and manufacturing to one that has weathered the current economic recession much better than most. Otherwise, we could have much higher unemployment, foreclosures and permanent job loss than we have suffered. Our economy is still based on energy, but has evolved where health care, high-tech, higher education and government jobs represent an ever-increasing share of our diverse economy.
To those who accuse Mollohan of turning his back on coal during the vote on Cap and Trade, we think that his endorsement by the United Mine Workers speaks volumes as to his commitment to coal. It's much better to remain at the bargaining table and have influence on the final outcome of such policy than it is to create a standoff. In the end, Mollohan voted against Cap and Trade.
Finally, to those who continue to sling mud in an attempt to raise questions regarding Mollohan's ethics even though the Department of Justice closed the case without any formal charges filed against him following a detailed three-year investigation, that speaks for itself. In America, we are innocent until proven guilty - no matter how many times you call someone corrupt. We have great confidence that the Department of Justice completed its mission with professionalism and integrity and Mollohan was exonerated.
Mike Oliverio's Dangerous Plan for Law Enforcement
His "nice start" would slice funding from local law enforcement, other Justice Department programs
Morgantown, W. Va. - Congressman Alan B. Mollohan's campaign demanded more information from Michael Oliverio about his proposal to cut federal law enforcement funding in West Virginia.
"This is the wrong time to gamble on public safety," Pam Van Horn, Mollohan's campaign manager said. "We were all reminded this weekend that we live in a very dangerous world. Michael Oliverio's answer is to cut resources for the law enforcement professionals we depend upon to keep us safe."
Oliverio recently told a West Virginia newspaper he would slash $30 billion in an 'across-the-board' cut of all federal programs. The FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other Justice Department programs would shoulder approximately $285 million of those cuts. Oliverio called his plan "a nice start," implying he would support additional cuts in the future.
"How much would Michael Oliverio take from the COPS program, which has provided grants to each sheriff's department in the 1st District and police departments throughout the state?" Van Horn asked. "These grants have allowed law enforcement to upgrade equipment that has kept officers safe and have provided technology that has made it easier to catch criminals."
The COPS - or Community Oriented Policing Services - program is part of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, which provides financial and technical assistance to local law enforcement agencies.
"Alan Mollohan knows how important these grants are to local police and sheriffs, particularly in tough economic times," added Van Horn. "Alan Mollohan is working to deliver these grants to 1st District law enforcement. Michael Oliverio wants to cut them."
Mollohan has directed more than $5 million in COPS grants to local law enforcement agencies over the past five years. Oliverio, in contrast, said that he would have voted against a supplemental appropriations bill last year that provided COPS funding for Clarksburg, Fairmont, Morgantown, Wheeling and six other 1st District police departments to hire a total of 15 additional officers.
Meeting in Wheeling this afternoon with sheriffs and police chiefs from throughout the 1st District, Mollohan pledged his continued support for law enforcement officers and their work.
His "nice start" would slash billions from Social Security, Medicare and Older Americans Act programs
Congressman Alan B. Mollohan's campaign called on Michael Oliverio to release details about his plan to slash Social Security, Medicare, and other programs critically important to seniors in West Virginia.
"All we know is that he has indicated that he would cut billions from Social Security, Medicare and the Older Americans Act," said Pam Van Horn, Mollohan's campaign manager. "Clearly, this would cause tremendous hardship for West Virginia's seniors.
"Michael's plan would cut Social Security by more than $7 billion, but we do not know exactly what that would mean. Does he envision across-the-board cuts to every senior's monthly check?"
Oliverio's commitment to Social Security has also been called into question due to his role as State Chairman of the American Legislative Exchange Council, which backed President George Bush's attempt to privatize Social Security.
"Why is Michael Oliverio leading an organization that wants to gamble our retirement security on Wall Street?" asked Van Horn.
Oliverio's plan also would require a $4.5 billion cut from Medicare.
"Again, he doesn't tell us how he would achieve this drastic cut," said Van Horn. "Would it be an across-the-board reduction in doctor reimbursement rates which will make it even more difficult to find care in rural areas? Perhaps he would cut reimbursement altogether for some services? Would he decrease prescription drug benefits? He owes the voters, especially the seniors, of the First District an explanation."
Oliverio's plan would also cut millions from Older Americans Act programs that provide important nutrition, transportation and in-home services to seniors. Last year, West Virginia received $13.2 million for programs authorized under the Older Americans Act. Many senior centers would be unable to maintain services without the federal support.
Oliverio has suggested that these proposed cuts are, "a nice start", implying that he would favor additional cuts.
"We are all struggling in this economy and Michael Oliverio's plan would only make things worse for our seniors", concluded Van Horn.
Mike Myer, the illustrious incredulous editor of the Wheeling newspapers, has finally gone off the deep end. Now he is openly printing conspiracy theories about Congressman Alan Mollohan.
In his desperation, Mike Myer demands that Mike Oliverio be nominated in place of Mollohan for the WV-01 congressional election. From ACORN to "cap and trade", Mike Myer shows that he is no longer a rational or competent journalist. This degradation has steadily occurred over the past ten years, and he has finally hit rock bottom. From today's editorial:
Questions persist about ethics and campaign finance issues. A Justice Department investigation of him was ended earlier this year - in January, just as President Barack Obama's administration was working to gain votes for its health care bill. Mollohan voted for it.
Yesterday, there was excitement around the Internets as "leaked" Oliverio campaign polling numbers were discussed. I didn't post about it because the numbers looked unbelievable to me and, frankly, any campaign can leak a couple of numbers without any details anytime they want to generate a little bit of supporter buzz.
In response, Rep. Mollohan has done something that campaigns rarely do. He's released the entire details of a campaign tracking poll--the entire details including all of the polls questions, the poll methodology, and results. These are the essential details required to make sure the pollster isn't manipulating results through question order or question wording.
Congressman Alan B. Mollohan's campaign today released poll results showing that Mollohan is leading his opponent in the Democratic primary by 9 percentage points.
The poll shows Mollohan ahead of Mike Oliverio 45% to 36%, with 19% undecided. It was conducted by Frederick Polls, a highly-respected, national research firm. It was based upon interviews with 400 likely primary voters and was completed April 21-22, 2010.
The Mollohan campaign publically released the question, sequence and methodology used by Frederick Polls to conduct the survey.
"These results show that the voters of the First District are not buying what Mike Oliverio is trying to sell - a right-wing agenda to cut federal support for Medicare, Social Security, and veterans and pass even more 'free-trade' laws that have already sent thousands of our steel and manufacturing jobs overseas." said Pam Van Horn, Mollohan's campaign manager.
"West Virginians are looking for answers on jobs, health care, retirement security, education, and the other issues important to their families," Van Horn added, "and that's exactly what Alan Mollohan works for each day in the United States Congress."
Mollohan is not only solidly ahead of Oliverio in the head-to-head match-up, his favorable rating is also 10 points higher than Oliverio's. Pointing to his high favorable rating among the undecided voters, Keith Frederick, president of the polling firm, said that, "Mollohan is also in good shape to gain enough of the undecided voters to achieve victory."
Van Horn dismissed poll results recently released by Oliverio's campaign as "just the latest sign of Mike Oliverio's shaky grasp on the truth. First, he broke his promise that he was running not 'to tear Alan Mollohan down.' Then he pretended that he doesn't chair an organization working to privatize Social Security and restrict workers' rights - when his group's agenda has been well documented in the public record. And now he releases results from a self-serving poll conducted by his campaign manager."
Van Horn emphasized that Keith Frederick's poll was carefully structured to eliminate poll information bias.
"There are many ways a pollster can ask a question to get whatever result he wants," Van Horn said. "He can sample some parts of the District more heavily than others, he can fail to limit responses to likely Democratic primary voters, or he can bias the responses by providing false information before asking the head-to-head match-up question. Keith Frederick is a nationally-respected pollster, and he is not going to attach his name to anything less than an honest poll."
For those interested, I've uploaded the PDF file the Rep. Mollohan campaign released from Keith Frederick's poll. The details show that Rep. Mollohan is in good shape, but cannot let up in the final two weeks of the primary campaign.
There are a small opening here for Oliverio -- Mollohan is below 50% and Oliverio still has room to improve his name recognition. But, that's a nearly impossible opening to exploit via negative campaign advertising. Oliverio will have to present an alternative positive vision for WV-01 to win over undecideds and make a name for himself. He's running out of time to do that.
Meanwhile, Mollohan needs to close the deal with those undecideds and make sure to get out the vote.
In order to help better acquaint readers who may be out of the news cycle, I have put together (to the best of my ability) a bit of a preview for the district congressional elections that will occur in the fall.
The primaries will be in early May, and there hasn't been a lot of buzz (at least to my knowledge) about them. I only found out a month or so ago that The first district was receiving a democrat to challenge.
So here we go
Let's start with the First Congressional DIstrict.
Current seatholder: Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
The long-time serving Democrat, Mollohan, first got elected into the house in 1983, meaning he has served roughly 27 years at this position. In 2008, Mollohan ran unopposed. Mollohan has seen his share of controversies, and will also see a democrat contending for his seat in the primary. This will be his first Democrat to challenge him since Harley Staggers Jr. in 1992.
Challenger: Michael Oliverio II
Oliverio has worked his way up from the bottom. He was elected student body president at WVU. Eventually, Oliverio ran for a seat in the house of delegates and was elected in 1993, and in 1995 assumed office in the West Virginia State Senate where he currently remains representing the 13th district.
Oliverio has had a tendency to focus hard on the national debt, and how to attend to and fix it.
It should be interesting to see how this one plays out, although I would predict a Mollohan victory given the difficulty of unseating a 14 term incumbent.
Other Challengers on the republican side include Mac Warner, Cindy Hall, Tom Stark, Sarah Minear, David McKinley, and Patricia Levenson. Further information will be provided in the coming months.
WV Second Congressional District
Current Seatholder: Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Captio is the daughter of the infamous Arch Moore Jr. and has held the seat since 2001. She was elected after Former Governor Bob Wise vacated the seat for the governor position She is the only Republican Congressional representative for the state and she intends to keep her seat. Capito is running for re-election during a good time for Republicans, polls show democrats are favored to lose more than they gain this November. She is considered safe in her district. Last time around, Capito won by a comfortable margin against Byrd state director Anne Barth.
Challenger: Virginia Graf
35 year veteran as an educator who has served as a school principal and is focused on improving education in the district. Graf is very active in volunteerism and political organizations throughout her community. Graf has a steep hill to climb if she wants to take this seat. Democrats are not the most popular delegation, she is facing an incumbent Republican, and the district is considered safe for Capito.
WV Third Congressional District
Current Seatholder: Nick Rahall (D-WV)
Rahall is heading into his 33rd year in the House, being elected in 1977. He succeeded Ken Hechler when he ran for governor. Rahall and his district are considered by CQ Politics to be a safe democrats, and him being a 33 year incumbent will very much improve his chances.
Challenger:
Rahall could be facing opposition from any of the following
Bruce Barilla (D)
America's Christian Heritage Week Founder & Hotel Worker
Lee Bias (R)
Nurse Anesthetist
Marty Gearheart (R)
Sign Company Sales Executive, Ex-Teacher
I saw this link on Justin Williams' Facebook (WVYD President) and thought it was pertinent for these rough times of opposition towards healthcare.
I'll post the link at the end of this but here is a few examples of how healthcare will help us here in the mountain state. This list was compiled by the Democratic Policy Committee.
Provide tax credits for up to 20,000 West Virginia small businesses to help make coverage
more affordable.
Prohibit insurance companies from excluding coverage of pre-existing conditions for the
386,449 children in West Virginia, starting this year.
Close the donut hole and improve other Medicare benefits for 372,000 West Virginia
seniors.
Reduce Medicare premiums for the 300,400 West Virginia seniors who are not enrolled in
Medicare Advantage and will no longer subsidize these private insurance plans.
Ensure affordable coverage options for 256,000 West Virginians who are uninsured and
41,000 West Virginians who purchase health insurance through the individual market.
Ensure immediate access to affordable insurance options for as many as 35,466
uninsured West Virginians who have a pre-existing condition.
Provide tax credits for up to 204,000 West Virginians to help make health insurance
more affordable, bringing $3.3 billion in premium and cost-sharing tax credits into
West Virginia during the first five years of the health insurance Exchange.
Reduce family health insurance premiums by $1,750 - $2,510 for the same benefits, as
compared to what they would be without health reform by 2016.
Provide access to Medicaid for 161,355 newly-eligible West Virginians, and provide
$3.7 billion in federal funding for the cost of their coverage.
Create 1,700 - 2,700 jobs by reducing health care costs for employers.
If Democrats and independents needed any more reason to get behind our guys, Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan, the wildly careening Sarah Palin has targeted them on her "hit list."
Palin, who dropped out of being governor of her state in order to cash in on being a reality TV star and occasional Faux News commentator, apparently wants to "fire" them.
Considering Sarah Palin couldn't bother to finish a single term of the job the people of Alaska gave her to do, Palin is in no position to tell other people in other states how to conduct their affairs.
It's funny how Palin's type of "populism" is intended to hurt working class people and help big businesses. Also.
The bill is the most sweeping piece of federal legislation since Medicare was passed in 1965. It aims to smooth out one of the roughest edges in American society - the inability of many people to afford medical care after they lose a job or get sick. ...
Right wingers like Palin claim Mollohan and Rahall went against the will of the people despite the fact polls show only 24 percent of the public approve of the way the Republican Party handled the healthcare reform issue.
But the truth is Mollohan and Rahall listened to the people. The people denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. Young people unable to afford insurance yet not able to be covered by their parents' insurance. The people pushed into bankruptcy even though they had insurance. The people whose premiums are skyrocketing.
Every working class man, woman and child is going to benefit from this reform passed into law.
Update
The West Virginia Democratic Party has responded quickly:
Former Vice-Presidential candidate and tea party darling Sarah Palin has named twenty congressional races where she will be helping Republican candidates. Among the races that the former Alaska Governor intends to use her resources to flip are those of our Congressmen Alan Mollohan and Nick Rahall.
It's time to send a message to out-of-state politicians and special interests that there tactics will not work here. Please donate to your State Party to help fight the attacks today!
Never the most emotionally mature or stable of people, Sarah Palin is going off the deep end.
The words and the rifle scopes used on the map say a lot about "violence is not the answer."
Sarah Palin may not be a serious, viable candidate for anything, but her coded words and inflammatory rhetoric are very dangerous. She derailed the debate on the HCR with her "death panels", divided the country with her "Real Americans" speech and now appears to be calling for an armed retaliation against elected representatives of the people.
I'll be waiting for Insurance Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, in her role as a member of the Civility Caucus on Capitol Hill, to denounce the uncivil words and illustrations from Palin.
Rep. Nick Rahall and Rep. Alan Mollohan had our backs on the healthcare reform vote and we need to remember that as they campaign against Republican opponents this election season.
The corporate interests are aligning against them because Rahall and Mollohan stood up for the people of their districts.
Nearly 20 percent of the people in Mollohan's WV-01 and more than 20 percent in Rahall's WV-03 are currently uninsured. This measure will help the vast majority of them obtain healthcare coverage as well as make life easier for the elderly on Medicare in addition to lowering the deficit for all of us.
This isn't the healthcare measure many of us wanted and think Democrats should have worked for, but it is a step in the right direction to improve the lives of many people.
On June 25th, 2009, Health Care for America Now put on a huge rally in Washington, DC, Health Care '09-Health Care Can't Wait. Over 10,000 people from all across America attended to show support for the public health insurance plan known as the Public Option. Sorry folks, Oprah was a no show.
Over 200 people from West Virginia attended, including folks from the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, WV Citizen Action Group,WV National Association of Social Workers, WV Nurses Association, religious organizations, social activists, and even Del. Dale Martin joined in on the fun.
Actress Edie Falco of "The Sopranos" and "Nurse Jackie" fame and former Vermont governor Dr. Howard Dean addressed the crowd. People lacking health care or being victimized by the health insurance industry spoke as well, giving people a glimpse into their real life health care nightmares.
The whole point of the rally was to raise public sentiment towards the Public Option in health care reform through the media. However, on that day, two horrific things happened: the King of Pop and one of Charlie's Angels died. Needless to write, the health care rally didn't get as much attention as the two pop icons' deaths did. Not that we're mad or anything.
After the rally, folks met with their Congressional reps. West Virginians met with reps from Rahall and Mollohan's offices (both were busy), plus were given an audience with Sen. Rockefeller.
The Public Option was pushed big time by unions and organizations all across the state. Rallies and town halls (with some booing from our FOX News loving Tea Party friends)were held with great success, despite what negative stories some media outlets ran. WV-CAG, along with its State HCAN coalition partners, petitioned for the Public Option as well, collecting thousands of signatures.
Right now America has the chance to pass serious reforms in health care. The Public Option might be dead at the moment, but it may very well pop back up after this legislation passes, or even better, Single Payer (Medicare for All) might become the new IT-word in health care reform. Who knows?
It is important West Virginians contact their House reps ASAP and tell them to support the current health care legislation before them.
Sen. Rockefeller Addresses West Virginia Constituents
If either Rep. Rahall or Mollohan are still giving serious consideration to a no vote to the healthcare insurance reform bill, here's something that should give them pause.
The folks who might be happy with them voting "no" aren't the folks who are all that likely to vote for them anyway. Voting "no" is the wrong thing to do on the merits and it's the wrong thing to do on the politics, too.
Alabama Democratic Rep. Artur Davis thinks he's earning brownie points back home by voting against the health care reform bill. You see, he's running for governor in a tough state, and so he needs Republican and conservative independents to win.
But he won't get them and will lose by 20 points, minimum.
There is no politician more stupid, than those who think that pretending to be Republicans will earn them points with conservative voters. Given the choice between a fake and the real thing, the real Republican will win every time.
This healthcare reform bill is the largest deficit reduction bill since 1993. This is a bill that has support from a broad range of groups from the Catholic Nuns to AFL-CIO to the AMA.
This is a bill that any lifelong Democrat can be very proud to vote for.
After extensive deliberation the AFL-CIO Executive Council, with my strong support and recommendation, agreed this afternoon to support and fight to pass the president's health care reform bill.
This was not a decision we made casually because we know this bill is not perfect. But it is the best opportunity we have had in decades to begin fixing America's broken health care system.
If you need proof this bill is worth fighting for, look no further than the swarm of insurance company lobbyists all over Capitol Hill trying to stop it!
Today I'm asking you to join us and do everything you can to help pass this bill. Call your representative now: 1-877-3-AFLCIO and tell your representative to support the health care bill before Congress.
Together we have fought to improve this bill every day for more than a year, and our actions made it far better. The president's health care reform bill will:
* Immediately stop the worst greed-driven insurance company abuses-like denying care because of pre-existing conditions;
* Toughen penalties on employers that try to run from their responsibilities;
* Put the burden of paying for health care where it belongs-on the wealthy; and
* Get life-saving health coverage to 30 million more people.
This is our moment. We can't miss this opportunity. The long-term health security that will result from this bill is the most important thing we can do for our future-for our children and their children.
Today I'm asking you to do everything you can to help pass this bill.
Call your representative today: 1-877-3-AFLCIO, and tell your representative: Pass heath care reform.
Join me as the labor movement helps make history again.
In case you're having any problems getting through to DC (using the 877 number above or the handy calling tool advertised in our side bar) here's the numbers for the regional WV offices, too.
Rep. Nick Rahall
Beckley Office
301 Prince St.,
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 252-5000
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