Divided We Fail Update - January 29, 2009

 

1/29/2009 With a new president and a new Congress, everyone at Divided We Fail believes we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make real progress on health care and financial security. And there's reason to be optimistic. More than two-thirds of Congress supports Divided We Fail's call to work across party lines to ensure that all Americans have long-term financial security and access to quality, affordable health care. Meanwhile, health care costs continue to skyrocket, squeezing families and businesses alike. The cost of doing nothing is simply too high.  That's why Congress and the Obama administration must act urgently to implement crucial health care reform. But nothing comes easy in Washington. Your voice in the coming months will be crucial in making sure our leaders keep their promises. |TAKE ACTION| Just days ago, we watched President Barack Obama take the oath of office -- and he is already on the verge of making headway on crucial health care reforms, quickly making their way through Congress: Ensuring more children have access to adequate health care; Advancing medical recordkeeping into the 21st century; and Investing in medical research to improve the medical care President Obama has repeatedly indicated his support for our efforts. But there are forces in Washington who have stood in the way of these reforms in the past -- and are bound to do so again. President Obama needs to know that you -- and the other 1.6 million Divided We Fail activists -- think these reforms are critical to the health care agenda. Make sure he knows you want him to sign these urgent health care reforms when they cross his desk. Show the new president that our coalition is as strong as it is broad, and help us pave the road for more comprehensive health care and financial security reforms to come. |WHAT DO YOU THINK?| Last month, Sen. Tom Daschle, Obama's pick for the Department of Health and Human Services, asked Americans to give feedback on what they wanted to see done on health care. And more than 13,000 Divided We Fail members took their seat at the table to respond. We'll be sharing your responses with Sen. Daschle very soon. In the meantime, you can check out the results of the survey and let us know what you think. |WHAT'S NEW|  Congress and the White House are hard at work on an economic recovery package that will help millions of American families get back on track during the continuing economic crisis. In the meantime, AARP has compiled helpful tools and tips for staying focused on your long-term financial goals as well as providing you with some places to go for help and ways to make ends meet in the short term. Visit the "Real Relief" site. |CHAMP(s) OF THE MONTH| You -- yes, you -- are the January champion of the month!  The successes of 2008 have put us in a position to achieve meaningful and long-needed reforms on health care and financial security this year. And they couldn't have happened if it wasn't for the 1.6 million Divided We Fail supporters, like you. With your help, we sent a strong signal to the Obama and McCain campaigns that Americans care deeply about everyone having access to quality, affordable health care and long-term financial security. You enlisted pledges from more than two-thirds of the 111th Congress that they will work across the aisle to make sure we achieve our goals.   These are pledges our leaders in Washington must keep. And we're counting on you to make sure they do. So take a look at a video highlight reel of our 2008 Divided We Fail efforts. And get ready for a busy, successful 2009.
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