Their Pacifism Stops At The Water's Edge

Dems Declare War! After the "Health Care Summit" President Obama, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority leader Reid have declared that they will do whatever it takes to get the votes to ram the health care bill through Congress, despite the fact that most Americans don't want it. As we fight back, we need your support to help stop government-run health care!

Obama Goes All In. On Wednesday, President Obama gave his full-throated support to health care legislation even though most Americans oppose government-run health care as well as the Democrats' partisan approach. In his remarks, President Obama rejected calls for bipartisan legislation and endorsed the misuse of the budget reconciliation procedure, an arcane legislative procedure intended for revenue and spending measures. In poker parlance, Obama is betting the House on health care.

Pelosi's Partisan Push. As for bipartisanship, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi emphatically terminated bipartisan health care negotiations, saying that "[Republicans] had plenty of opportunity to make their voices heard." Pelosi made clear that she is moving forward on health care legislation and will rely exclusively on Democrats for the necessary 216 votes.

Reid Resorts to Reconciliation. By relying on a parliamentary device usually reserved for reconciling budgets, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid proposes to lower the Senate's requisite support for health care legislation, from a 60-vote consensus to a 51-vote simple majority. The Wall Street Journal explained the impropriety of Reid's use of reconciliation, calling it "an extraordinary abuse of traditional Senate rules" and "an unprecedented act."

Pelosi's Bid to Avoid an Easter Rebellion. March 26 is the Democrats' deadline for the House and Senate to pass health care legislation. The reason is simple: constituents. The end of March marks the beginning of a two-week Easter recess which will expose Congressmen to constituent frustration over health care. To avoid a rebellion among rank-and-file House Democrats, Pelosi must pass health care through the House before they release their members.

The NCPA Holds Firm! As you know, the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) has been fighting against government-run health care for the past year. What you may not know is that the NCPA has been publishing innovative public policy solutions since 1983! Without the NCPA, the American public would not have access to such cost-cutting, patient-protecting solutions like Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). Implemented by state governments like Indiana and adopted by businesses like Wal-Mart and John Deere, the reality is that NCPA solutions work everyday to help hard-working Americans like you!

The NCPA Fights for You! With the help of you, the Policy Patriots, the NCPA has so far been able to forestall government-run health care and deny Democratic attempts to control 1/5^th of the U.S. economy. In addition to the largest-ever policy petition to Congress, signed by more than 1.35 million Americans, the NCPA has helped Americans send 570,000 emails and make 11,000 phone calls to Congress.

The Stakes of the Health Care Battle. For the NCPA, the fight over health care isn't just professional, it's personal. Like you, we have family members in hospitals and friends who deserve the best patient-care in the world. Like you, we were terrified when President Obama suggested that Medicare patients take aspirin instead of receiving medical treatment. He may have been thinking about budgets, but we were thinking about our parents and grandparents.

Your Support Couldn't Be More Important! The fight over health care is a fight worth winning and a fight we can win. We're confident because we know how far your support has taken us and we have faith that your support will keep us going.

• Go to Free Our Health Care NOW!

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Contribute to the Cause! We appreciate your past support and know that without you this fight wouldn't be possible. You may donate online or mail a check to:

Thank you for your continued support of the NCPA.

Warm regards,

Jeanette Nordstrom
National Center for Policy Analysis
www.ncpa.org