Here is the latest infor from SIIA on the healthcare debate.

Health Reform Supporters Duck ProtestersWASHINGTON REPORT FOR AUG 12             Some representatives are hard to find: Vigorous voter opposition to healthcare reform bills has put a damper on the August vacation plans of some in Congress. Many representatives and senators who support the bills are taking the unprecedented actions to avoid confrontation with their own constituents including refusing to schedule personal constituent meetings on healthcare, controlling access to town hall meetings or changing live town hall meetings to controlled telephone conferences. Meanwhile, some Congressional leaders have accused healthcare reform opponents of “manufacturing” disruptive demonstrations and seem to lean toward making free speech a crime.             Letters, phone calls, e-mail still work: Even without direct face-to-face access if that proves to be impossible, SIIA members can register their defense of the employer-based healthcare system, which is severely threatened by the bills that three House committees approved before the August break. Members of Congress count every comment that comes to their offices and are loath to vote against their constituents’ demands. It is important to let Members know that broad healthcare reform goals can be met without damaging the employer-based system that serves 160 million Americans – more than are covered by any other method. SIIA’s full position details are available in the Grassroots Toolkit at www.siia.org.             In a House floor showdown, Blue Dogs will be the key: The Blue Dog Coalition of Democratic House members from traditionally conservative-leaning districts could control the fate of a healthcare bill. The 52 Blue Dogs from 28 states would welcome expressions of support to exert their independence and fiscal prudence as others in Congress try to take control of the large portion of the U.S. economy that healthcare comprises, with untold future budget deficits. Following is the Blue Dog Coalition roster listed by states and districts. Their contact information is available at www.house.gov:             Alabama – Bobby Bright (2^nd), Parker Griffith (5^th).            Arkansas – Marion Berry (1^st).            Arizona – Gabrielle Giffords (8^th), Harry Mitchell (5^th), Mike Ross (4^th).            California – Joe Baca (43^rd), Dennis Cardoza (18^th), Jim Costa (20^th),Jane Harman (36^th), Loretta Sanchez (47^th), Adam Schiff (29^th), Mike Thompson (1^st).            Colorado – John Salazar (3^rd).            Florida – Allen Boyd (2^nd).            Georgia – John Barrow (12^th), Sanford Bishop (2^nd), Jim Mashall (3^rd),David Scott (13^th).            Iowa – Leonard Boswell (3^rd).            Idaho –Walt Minnick (1^st).            Indiana – Joe Donnelly (2^nd), Brad Ellsworth (8^th), Baron Hill (9^th).            Kentucky – Ben Chandler (6^th).            Kansas – Dennis Moore (3^rd).            Louisiana – Charlie Melancon (3^rd).            Maryland – Frank Kratovil, Jr. (1^st).            Maine – Mike Michaud (2^nd).            Minnesota – Collin Peterson (7^th).            Mississippi –- Travis Childers (1^st), Gene Taylor (4^th).            North Carolina – Mike McIntyre (7^th), Heath Shuler (11^th).            North Dakota – Earl Pomeroy.            New York – Mike Arcuri (24^th).            Ohio – Zack Space (18^th), Charles Wilson (6^th).            Oklahoma – Dan Boren (2^nd).Pennsylvania – Jason Altmire (4^th), Christopher Carney (10^th), Kathy Dahlkemper (3^rd), Tim Holden (17^th), Patrick Murphy (8^th).            South Dakota – Stephanie Herseth Sandlin.            Tennessee – Jim Cooper (5^th), Lincoln Davis (4^th), Bart Gordon (6^th), John Tanner (8^th).            Texas – Henry Cuellar (28^th).            Utah – Jim Matheson (2^nd).            Virginia – Glenn Nye (2^nd).

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