Below is the Midsummer 2009 www.LaRoots.net grassroots bulletin, a communication tool for Louisiana Democratic grassroots activities since March 2004.

When illness strikes, the health care debate gets personal very quickly:

• Almost all of us know someone who has suffered a health meltdown - when illness or injury snowballed into lost coverage, lost wages, and even bankruptcy -literally adding insult to injury http://pnhp.org/new_bankruptcy_study/Bankruptcy-2009.pdf

• Coverage is often denied for a pre-existing condition

• Even with employment and health insurance, a major illness like breast cancer can mean personal debts of over $50,000 because of what isn't covered privately http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/business/01meddebt.html?_r=3&hpw

• OPDEC (Orleans Parish Democratic Executive Committee) member Karen Gadbois is a breast cancer survivor who filmed a commercial describing her circumstances and her request to Senator Landrieu to support the public option. She asks friends and other interested parties to call Senator Landrieu today..1.202 224 5824 to ask her to support the public option.

• Listen to Karen's comments on the DFA website http://www.democracyforamerica.com/6_26_landrieu

• Lafayette Parish Executive Committee member Mike Stagg and a few friends have drafted a letter to Senator Landrieu asking that she support the public option. It begins, Dear Senator Landrieu, We write you today as friends, long-time supporters, and concerned Louisiana citizens...

To download the letter for review http://www.louisianad2d.us/DearSenatorLandrieu.doc

• Please consider signing this letter or sending similar sentiments to Senator Landrieu Contacts for Senator Landrieu are here http://landrieu.senate.gov/services/offices.cfm

Make Us Proud Mary - Support the Public Option!

buttons and magnets online http://www.cafepress.com/Louisianad2d

Preventative measures are lacking in Louisiana:

http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/statehealthreform/louisiana.html

• 21% of our children are obese

• 20% of our women over 50 have not had a mammogram in two years

• 47% of our men over 50 have never had colon/rectal cancer screening

• only 68% of our adults over 65 received a recommended flu vaccine last year

Louisiana's status quo:

• Roughly 2.3 million people obtain health insurance through their work, and pay average family premiums of $12,491 annually

• Average family premiums have increased by 91% since 2000

• 19% of middle-income families spend more than 10% of their total income on health care

• Unless we act now, within 10 years, $1 in every $5 of our dollars will be spent on health care

• 18% of us do not visit a doctor because of costs

• 20% of our families are uninsured; 69% of them have at least one full-time wage earner

• Employer health coverage is declining - from 58% to 54% in 2007

• 73% of our businesses are small businesses; only 33% of them offered benefits in 2006

• Businesses and insured families pay roughly $900 per year extra on premiums because of the need to subsidize the costs of those who are currently uninsured

President Obama offers needed leadership:

• President Obama explains why America can't wait and must act http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Full-Video-A-National-Discussion-on-Health-Care-Reform/

• Health insurance premiums have risen three times faster than wages in the last 9 years

• Health care industries are already beginning to respond with self-imposed reform now that they face the public option. Its implementation will improve health care alternatives for everyone.

• America must invest in wellness and prevention, and use technology efficiently

• America's health care industry must deliver high quality care based on established best practices, not just high-priced care

• Providing health care for all Americans is both a moral and economic imperative and should include a public plan.

• 2/3 of costs of reforms will be reallocated within funds that are already being spent, such as the $177 billion currently spent on unwarranted subsidies to insurance companies

• 1/3 of costs will come from the increased revenues raised by capping the itemized deductions for those making more than $250,000 annually (that portion in excess of $250,000)

• additional savings will eventually come from future benefits due to the preventative care

Lobbyists and special interests support the status quo, but Americans can

• Support President Obama on health care reform http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hcreform?source=OM_LB_google_HC-search_O-search&gclid=CNPyvPHgxpsCFREeDQod1B6U_w

• President Obama is not proposing a government take-over of health care. He proposes reforming the system to include a public plan to compete side-by-side with private plans. Private insurance companies have nothing to fear from a public option if they deliver the care they promise.

OTHER NEWS:

DFA  Dr Howard Dean and Democracy for America are leading the fight for health care in our country. Please consider joining with 391,000 others http://standwithdrdean.com/ to keep the public option in health care reform.

FROM LOUISIANA LT.GOV. MITCH LANDRIEU: Rebuilding New Orleans is critically important to the state and the nation. However, I do not intend to run for mayor of New Orleans. There are many capable people who will make themselves available and who will serve well, if elected. I look forward to working with the next mayor and the people of the city to make New Orleans the great place we all know she can be.

JEFFERSON (Thomas) -JACKSON (Andrew) DINNER

Those interested in the substantive and entertaining comments of James Carville can hear him at the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner on Saturday night from 7pm-10pm at the Hilton Capitol Center 201 Lafayette Street in Baton Rouge tickets are $155 each or tables of 10 for $1,500. Tickets are available online at www.lademo.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: After just over a year in the job and hired originally as a field organizer, Louisiana Democratic Party Executive Director Britton Loftin resigned on June 5^th to pursue new career opportunities. At the time, Chair Chris Whittington said he'll announce Mr. Loftin's replacement soon. After losing Democratic Congressional, gubernatorial, and other statewide seats in recent elections, benefits of fresh leadership could be new insights and improving results. However, despite vocal requests from around the State, the chairman does not seem inclined to bring similar opportunity to his office.

OTHER UPDATES:

FRENCHMEN STREET CLUB STRUT: For those who want to see New Orleans as the residents do, plan to spend the night of Friday July 31^st at the Frenchmen Street Club Strut the 9^th annual hot summer night event in the 500 and 600 blocks of Frenchmen Street from 6pm until 2am all clubs are open to guests with $25 wrist bands, and a $75 VIP ticket includes Ellis Marsalis at Snug Harbor and 3 balcony parties with food and drink. For more info  www.jazzcent.com

Thank you for reading the LaRoots.net grassroots bulletin, which is privately published. The LaRoots.net grassroots bulletin is a volunteer project; data will not be sold or given away.

Sincerely,

The Alan Langhoff Family - New Orleans