Email to Hank Johnson Regarding Healthcare Reform and Stupak Amendment

Hello,

I would like to congratulate you on all the great work you have done to fight for healthcare reform so far. I have supported your reform efforts and I attended your healthcare townhall as well as David Scott's. However, I'm very upset right now at the current House bill.  Here are just a few of my problems:

- fines for people who refuse insurance
- lack of coverage for undocumented immigrants
- The Stupak-Pitts "coathanger" amendment

I understand that compromise is necessary in politics.  I understand that if we pass halfway reform now, we will be able to augment and improve on it in years to come. I am willing to compromise quite a bit on healthcare reform. But we can't compromise away everything.  We cannot actually TAKE A STEP BACKWARDS. Any healthcare reform legislation should improve on what we have, or at the very least, continue SOME of the same injustices at the same level... not actually make those injustices worse!

I have never had an abortion. Like you, I am a Buddhist, and although I do not know your opinion on the subject, I have some moral reservations about abortion when it comes to me personally. But I believe every woman has the absolute right to make that decision for herself. If the Stupak amendment is included in final legislation, that means that only women above a certain income level will have that choice anymore! It goes far beyond refusing federal funds for abortion by not even allowing private insurance companies to include abortion.  The Stupak amendment equals FORCED CHILDBIRTH for lower-income women. It is disgusting and unconscionable.

I heard that a letter has been sent to Nancy Pelosi with the names of at least 40 Democrats who have promised to vote against any final reform that includes the Stupak amendment.  I hope your name is on that list. I do believe in compromise and negotiation, but at some point we have to stand strong and hold the line. Thank you.