From the Washington Post:
Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid scrambled Tuesday to lock down votes behind a health-care bill that he may present as early as Wednesday…
The leader was more outspoken in describing his measure, boasting to reporters: "Of all the bills we've seen, it'll be the best: saves more money, is more protective of Medicare, is a bill that's good for the American people."
Preliminary estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the legislation's official scorekeeper, have indicated that the Senate measure would cost far less than the bill the House approved last week, while lowering the federal deficit further over the long term, said several senior Democratic aides who have reviewed the CBO data…
From Talking Points Memo:
Last month Organizing for America solicited homemade health care ads from supporters, and today they released the winning video…
In an email asking for donations to put the ad on television, David Plouffe says the Organizing for America Health Reform Video Challenge shows "our supporters' creativity and passion is more than a match for the slick ads and partisan spin doctors on the other side…"
Plouffe said 3 million people watched the 1,000 ads submitted…
From the Santa Clarita Valley Signal:
Federal stimulus funds have saved nearly 350 jobs in the Santa Clarita Valley's five budget-strapped school districts.
"Our staff is much smaller than it was, but it would have been even smaller had we not gotten the stimulus money," said Sue Guthrie, chief financial officer for the William S. Hart Union High School District.
The Hart district this year has cut 68 certificated positions - employees who work with kids in classrooms, including teachers - this year by eliminating vacant positions, offering retirement incentives and increasing class sizes.
The stabilization funding that spared the districts from further cuts came from the $787 billion federal stimulus package. The money, which totals about $17 million for all five school districts, was designed to offset budget cuts and keep jobs in education…
From the Mesa Progressive Examiner:
...As a group here in Phoenix gathered at the Democratic headquarters downtown late Monday morning, the meeting got under way and the participants quieted down. The meeting started off by thanking the 15 or so people who had come from all over the valley to take part in this meeting and event. The speaker began by outlining the facts of the House bill passing with a 220-215 vote last Saturday. The plan was to split into districts and place calls to registered Democrats around the valley.
The objective of these calls were split into a few simple segments. First was to ask if the person was available. Once reached the caller was to introduce themselves by name and as a volunteer with President Obama's group Organizing for America and ask how the caller was doing today.
Once the initial pleasantries were finished, the caller jumped right to the point explaining that, as you may already know, the House of Representatives passed a health insurance reform bill with a public option. In District 5 our Representative Harry Mitchell supported this bill and we we're wondering if you'd mind taking a few minutes out of your day to call and thank Mr. Mitchell for his vote? The number for his local office was given and the volunteer reminded them that there is still one more vote that the House must take part in and encourage Mr. Mitchell to continue his support of the bill.
The volunteer then informed the constituent that neither Sen. McCain nor Sen. Kyl support the bill and that it is extremely important to let them know that Arizonans will not stand quietly by if they vote against health insurance reform. They were then given both senators numbers and informed that the senate debate may start as soon as tomorrow, meaning that it cold go to a vote with little or no warning to the public…
