50 Voices – Congressmen Carry the Message of the People to Congress
A Call to Action
Led by Texas Congressman Lamar Smith (21st District), Republican Congressmen around the country have heard the deep concerns of their constituents on the current healthcare legislation and are working to take the people’s voice directly to Congress.
For the better part of the past year, the people’s voice – whether spoken at rallies and town halls, written in letters, faxes and emails or spoken in countless voice mails – has been ignored and even ridiculed by the Democratic power elite in Washington. The Republican members of the House have waged their fight against the proposed healthcare bills, but until now it has been a principled battle that has not captured the essence of the people’s intense worry that the proposed legislation will cripple the economy, rob citizens of freedom and dignity and result in a quagmire of limited healthcare resources that will harm the country for years to come.
Congressman Smith has listened and is willing to act and to encourage other Congressmen to do the same. Here is the plan:
- Congressmen have a limited opportunity each day to read into the public record – on the floor of the House – a one-minute statement. Perhaps 3 to 5 Congressmen each day (and 50 over the next two and one-half weeks) would have this ability.
- If local grassroots groups (tea parties, 9-12ers, local service groups, etc.) would select or encourage volunteers to write a 135-word statement (45 seconds of speaking) to their Congressman, then their Congressman could select one statement and read it on the House floor.
- These statements would need to be prepared in the next day or two; the vote for healthcare at the Senate level will likely occur by December 18.
- The statements should be personal, concise and passionate, and yet respectful and reasonable. The topic should be focused on healthcare.
- With the help of the Congressmen, Common Sense Texans will compile a running list of all statements that have been prepared and accepted, so that – over the course of 50 statements – most aspects of the healthcare legislation can be addressed.
- Why the House and not the Senate? Frankly, with Congressman Smith’s leadership, we know this program can succeed in the House and garner national attention. And the House will eventually need to vote on the final bill in any case.
- The statement that Congressman Smith read today (December 1) on the floor of the House is found on the next page. We will distribute the You Tube of Congressman Smith’s statement as soon as it is available.
- Questions? Call Greg Holloway of Common Sense Texans at 512.585.7631 (greg@teapartyconservative.com)
YouTube video of Congressman Smith presenting Greg's statement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfw3cZbCvKo
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