TAKE ACTION

Have you heard about the six senators who are out to kill health care reform?

Of course, that's not how they'd phrase it. Sens. Baucus, Bingaman, Conrad, Enzi, Grassley and Snowe say they're striving for "bi-partisan compromise." But what they're actually doing is working to make sure reform won't include a public option or mandatory employer-based insurance - two key policies needed for effective reform

.There are 100 members of the Senate, but these six, inexplicably, seem to be holding all the cards when it comes to health care.

So you probably won't be surprised to learn that all six have taken a huge amount of money from the health insurance industry and pharma.

Senator	Lifetime contributions from Insurance/Pharma
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT)	$1,203,205
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)	$206,297
Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND)	$442,165
Sen. Mike Enzi (R-NV)	$342,228
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA)	$702,595
Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)	$161,706
TOTAL:	$3,058,256

These six senators -- who, by the way, represent only 2.74% of Americans between them -- are writing bad policy, and they're doing it while they take money from the very companies who stand to benefit the most.

Please read over this petition and if you agree, send it off and share it NOW.

Howard Dean with Rachel Maddow

This is worth the time to watch.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Take Action on Health Care

Here are a few links to visit and take action on health care reform:

Democracy For America wants to thank those who helped craft the Affordable Health Choice Act with a choice for a public health insurance option for all Americans, including local area Sen. Patty Murray-WA and Sen. Jeff Merkley-OR. Click here.

Add your name to the list of those supporting the President's health care reform here. You can even post it to your Facebook page and let everyone know you support health care reform. If you are like me, your Facebook Friends include people with all points of view. It's important that we come forward at this time and publicly declare our support if we want this issue to stay on the front page.

Women's health is at stake in this debate. There are legislators who are threatening to block health care reform if it includes reproductive health care in a public option. National Partnership for Women and Families has more on this issue. Planned Parenthood has issued a call for action. This is for real, people. We can't go backwards on women's health.

We'll try to keep you up to date on action items. Check back often.

Unsustainable

Democracy for America Ad Campaign

Democracy for America has teamed up with the Progressive Change Campaign Committee to run tough ads pressuring Democratic Senators who've taken millions of dollars from health and insurance interests while standing in the way of real health care reform.

The ads don't pull any punches, to make sure Democratic elected officials feel some heat if they're on the verge of opposing the President and 76% of Americans who want the choice of a public healthcare option.

If you are interested in more information about this ad campaign click here

Washington Families Standing Together

On May 18, Governor Gregoire signed Senate Bill 5688, a law ensuring that all Washington families are treated the same, with the same protections, the same rights, and the same obligations as their neighbors. Under this law, registered domestic partners (same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples over age 62), and married couples, are treated equally under the law in all parts of the state.

Key rights and obligations in the law include death benefits for the partners of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty; pension benefits for the partners of teachers and other public employees; victims' rights, including the right to receive notifications and benefits allowances; and the right to adopt a partner's child without paying for a home study.

These rights and obligations for domestic partners were passed following those adopted in 2007, when the Legislature established a domestic partnership registry and granted registered couples rights to make health care decisions for a sick partner, visit a partner in the hospital, and consent to an autopsy, along with some property rights. In 2008, registered couples gained community property rights, probate rights, joint responsibility for debts, and other protections.

A group has filed a referendum - Referendum 71 - to try to repeal the law. They have until July 25 to collect 120,577 signatures to get it on the ballot. We - and many, many people across the state - worked together to get this law passed. We are now working together to keep it from being repealed.

As was the case in 2006, strategic, early action may help avoid yet another costly campaign battle, which is especially important with all of the needs facing our citizens in these tough economic times.

So many people have asked how they can help, that a coordinated campaign has formed to help keep the law from being repealed. It's called Washington Families Standing Together - a coalition of community partners committed to working together to protect Washington's families.

Please visit their website to find out more about WFST and how you can help. You can start by signing the 'decline to sign' petition!

Support Clean Energy

Want a FREE sticker supporting CLEAN ENERGY?

MoveOn's partnering with acclaimed artist Shepard Fairey — who designed the iconic Obama "Hope" poster — to offer a FREE "Clean Energy for America" sticker.

Click HERE to order.

How Qualified is Judge Sotomayor?