"I’m here for my mom"

At the signing ceremony, the President explained how today’s bill fits into his broader agenda on job creation:

A consensus is forming that, partly because of the necessary — and often unpopular — measures we took over the past year, our economy is now growing again and we may soon be adding jobs instead of losing them.  The jobs bill I’m signing today is intended to help accelerate that process.

I’m signing it mindful that, as I’ve said before, the solution to our economic problems will not come from government alone.  Government can’t create all the jobs we need or can it repair all the damage that’s been done by this recession.

But what we can do is promote a strong, dynamic private sector — the true engine of job creation in our economy.  We can help to provide an impetus for America’s businesses to start hiring again.  We can nurture the conditions that allow companies to succeed and to grow.

And that’s exactly what this jobs bill will help us do.  Now, make no mistake:  While this jobs bill is absolutely necessary, it’s by no means enough.  There’s a lot more that we’re going to need to do to spur hiring in the private sector and bring about full economic recovery — from helping creditworthy small businesses to get loans that they need to expand, to offering incentives to make homes and businesses more energy efficient, to investing in infrastructure so we can put Americans to work doing the work that America needs done.

The President closed by highlighting the stories he hears from everyday Americans behind why creating jobs is so critical:

The jobs bill I’m signing today — and our broader efforts to achieve a recovery — aren’t about politics.  They’re not about Democrat versus Republican.  This isn’t a game that we’re playing here.  They’re about the people in this country who are out of work and looking for a job; they’re about all the Americans — of every race and region and age — who’ve shared their stories with me over the last year.

The single mother who’s told me she’s filled out hundreds of job applications and been on dozens of interviews, but still hasn’t found a job.  The father whose son told me he started working when he was a teenager, and recently found himself out of a job for the very first time in his life.  The children who write to me — they’re worried about their moms and their dads, worried about what the future holds for their families.

That’s who I’m thinking about every morning when I enter into the Oval Office.  That’s who I’m signing this bill for.  And that’s who I’m going to continue to fight for so long as I am President of the United States.

Spurring Job Growth in the Private Sector: President Obama Signs Jobs Bill

Arizona Daily Star:

The health-care debate is reaching an all-new decibel level.

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., at whom much of the noise is directed, has found her office telephone lines so constantly flooded with incoming calls that her staff can’t call out.

…Organizing for America staffers – and their deputy national director – will be at the Pima County Democratic headquarters this morning for a senior-to-senior phone bank to talk up what they say is the need a heath-care revamp.

With legislative mechanics still being worked out for a vote – perhaps by the end of the week – both of Southern Arizona’s congressional representatives appear to be moving closer to the "yes" side of the ledger…

Pennsylvania – Abington Journal News:

Along with the arrival of warmer temperatures, Tuesday afternoon, March 16, featured a rally staged at the offices of U.S. Representative Chris Carney at 233 Northern Boulevard in Clarks Summit. More than 40 citizens came out to voice their support for the passage of health care reform legislation in the United States Congress. Many of those in attendance were members of Organizing for America, a successor organization to the “Obama for America” citizen activist group that supported the current President of the United States during his 2008 campaign.

During the rally, which began at 5 p.m., several members of the group were invited into the office to meet with Representative Carney and staff members.

Ohio – NBC 4:

One day after President Barack Obama visited Ohio to talk about his health care plan, Central Ohioans displayed their opinions on the matter.

Several groups opposed to the President’s bill organized a rally Tuesday. But among the hundreds who showed up, supporters made their voices heard as well.

The two sides lined the entrance to the building where Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy has her office on Olentangy River Road.

Americans For Prosperity partnered with the Columbus Tea Party and the Ohio Freedom Alliance to host the Hands Off Our Health Care rally to urge the local representative to vote no on the Senate’s health care bill.

Nearly 1,000 people attended the rally. But they weren’t the only people vying for Kilroy’s attention. Many held signs for the group Organizing For America.

Columbus police officers patrolled the area to keep the rally under control.

President Obama has been asking Congress to take quick action and pass health care reform.

Ohio – 10TV:

The battle over healthcare reform brought protesters from all sides to a rally on Tuesday.

Hundreds of people lined Olentangy River Road, outside of U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s office, on the city’s northwest side, 10TV’s Tracy Townsend reported.

Supporters of health care reform, and those who opposed it, were making their voices heard, hoping to sway Kilroy’s vote, Townsend reported.

"Organizing for America Ohio" was in support of the proposed bill, while "Tea Partiers" and "Americans for Prosperity" were working together to protest it, Townsend reported.

Ohio – WFMJ:

Health care supporters gather to thank Wilson”: Supporters of President Barack Obama’s plans to reshape the country’s health care system gathered in Canfield Monday morning at Congressman Charlie Wilson’s office.

Members of Organizing for America, a volunteer project of the Democratic National Committee, made the stop as part of their "Final March for Reform," tour.

The purpose of the visit was to thank Wilson for his support of the plans proposed in Congress to overhaul the nation’s health care system.

Minnesota – KEYC Fox:

Health care continues to be a hot topic across the nation, and this morning a group with Organizing of America voiced its opinion at Congressman Walz’s office this morning. The rally was part of the organizations "Final March for Reform". Those in attendance were encouraging Walz to support the health reform bill.

Pam Davis says, "I hope that we draw attention to the fact that people in the community and this area very much support Congressman Walz and getting all of this taken care of."Walz communications director Meredith Salsbery says it’s important that constituents both right and left come out to have their opinions heard.

Meredith Salsbery says, "Having 50 or more folks come by and let us know what they think of the health care bill is helpful and is something the Congressman will weigh as he makes his final decision on the vote."Congressman Walz did vote for the first health care reform bill but is waiting on the language of the new bill to make a decision.

Indiana – WTHR:

Gov. Mitch Daniels is weighing in on the Washington health care debate. He has sent a letter to each member of Congress from Indiana urging them to reject the bill. In that letter he is asking them to prevent what he calls a disastrous national mistake. The governor isn’t the only Hoosier weighing in on this debate.

The health care debate is simmering on the streets.

"I think most Americans do want to see reform. Poll after poll says Americans do want to see some kind of reform," said Nick Buis, Organizing for America.

Across the Country, the Final March Picks Up Strength as the Vote on Reform Nears

OFA supporters have been submitting photos to representatives to drive home the message about the personal reasons we need to pass reform. Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing some of them here.

You can send a personalized message to your representative with the name of the person who inspires you to keep up the fight, as well as check out more photos in our online display.

"I’m here for"

The Washington Post reported:

The House Rules Committee on Thursday posted the final element of President Obama’s health-care package, clearing the way for a climactic vote in the House, which will most likely occur on Sunday. The Congressional Budget Office reported earlier in the day that the legislation would provide health insurance coverage for 32 million people by 2016 at a 10- year cost of $940 billion. The CBO also said it would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over 10 years.

Some of the changes include:

• An increase in tax credits for middle-income families who buy insurance
• Closes the gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage by 2011 and gives seniors who fall into the gap this year a $250 rebate
• Covers 100 percent of the increased Medicaid costs of all states until 2016
• Requires that doctors that care for Medicaid patients be reimbursed at the full rate
• Invests $250 million to fight waste, fraud and abuse

You can view the bill online here.

House Rules Committee Releases Final Health Reform Bill

Numbers, numbers, numbers. Today’s release of the Congressional Budget Office report on the health reform plan turns our attention to how the numbers make the case for passing reform now.

Today’s CBO report projected that reform will reduce the deficit by $1.3 trillion dollars over the next 20 years, while covering 95% of Americans.

The White House also put out a new number earlier today, the next in its series of facts and figures that make the case for reform. The number of the day is 3. Health care premiums are rising 3 times faster than wages. And 3 million is the decrease in the number of middle-income earners who received health insurance from their employers from 2000 to 2008.

Learn more about previous Health Reform by the Numbers.

50/50. If you’re an American under age 65, you have a 50/50 chance of finding yourself without health insurance coverage at some point in the next decade.

1. One in every six dollars in the U.S. economy is spent on health care today. If we do nothing, in 30 years, 1 out of every three dollars in our economy will be tied up in the health care system.

41. That’s the number of leading economists — including three Nobel Prize winners — who sent a letter to President Obama and Congress yesterday urging swift passage of health reform to rein in out-of-control costs. It is also the percentage of adults under age 65 who struggled with medical debt, had trouble paying medical bills, or faced both during a recent year.

625. That’s the number of people who lost their health insurance EVERY hour last year.

8. That’s the number of people every minute who are denied coverage, charged a higher rate, or otherwise discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition. It’s also the number of lobbyists hired by special interests to influence health reform for every member of Congress in 2009.

$1,125. That’s the average premium for employer-sponsored family coverage per month last year. Annually, it adds up to $13,375 — roughly the amount someone earning a minimum wage makes.

Numbers of the Day

"I’m here for Natoma."

That’s what President Obama wrote us yesterday about Natoma Canfield, an Ohio woman whose story helped inspire the President and the nation to keep fighting for reform.

As we speak, each member of Congress is preparing to cast their last vote on health reform, while insurance-company lobbyists bombard D.C. with a million-dollar-a-day campaign of distortions and threats. To break through in these final moments, we must show Congress why we’ll never forget the choice they make: Because we’re fighting for the people who matter most in our lives.

So today, we’ve launched a new tool to help OFA supporters show Congress the names of the people who drive us to support reform. It might be a sick father. Maybe it’s a friend who lost her job. Or maybe it’s a daughter who simply deserves to grow up knowing that affordable care is always within reach. Whoever you know that’s inspired you to fight for reform, the time to act is now.

Submitting your letter takes just a moment — please click here to join in:

As the President reminded us, reform is not just about helping those who struggle today — it’s about making sure that no American is ever just one job loss, accident, or illness away from going without the care they require. That’s why we’re committed to reform that ends insurance-company abuses, guarantees affordable choices, and brings down costs.

But it all depends on the upcoming vote in the House of Representatives — and with just a day or two left, it’s still too close to call.

Our new online tool makes it easy to tell your representative who you’re fighting for, and you can even submit a quick photo to drive the message home. Your words and images will be sent straight to your representative, and they’ll be visible to every member of Congress before the final vote is cast.

Together, we can send a unique message, powerful enough to break through when it matters the most.

http://my.barackobama.com/DayNine

Thanks for making it possible,

Natalie

Natalie Foster
New Media Director

"Tell them who you’re fighting for"

The Hill reported:

“… CBO told lawmakers that the health package would cost $940 billion over the next decade, reducing the deficit by $130 billion over the next decade. It will reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion  in the second decade of the plan’s implementation, according to those who have seen the score.

“That’s a larger deficit reduction than the healthcare measures passed by both the House and the Senate last year, though the CBO said the current bill would make larger reductions in the deficit…”

Ezra Klein writes:

"To put this in context, that’s more deficit reduction than either the House or Senate bill, and more coverage than the Senate bill."

CBO Report: Health Bill Covers 95% of Americans, Reduces the Deficit by $1.3 Trillion

At 11:20 a.m. ET this morning, President Obama will sign the HIRE ACT into law, a jobs bill designed to put Americans back to work.

The HIRE Act encourages job growth in several critical ways:

• Forgiving payroll taxes for businesses that hire someone who’s been out of work for at least two months.
• Encouraging smaller businesses to grow and hire by letting them write off investments they make in equipment.
• Encouraging job-creation by expanding investment in schools and clean energy projects.
• Maintaining investments in roads and bridges, keeping our infrastructure strong while encouraging construction job hiring.

Today’s bill is another step toward accelerating the process of rebuilding our economy and creating new jobs to get Americans back to work.

Watch Live: President Obama Signs Jobs Bill

I wanted to take a moment to thank you directly for the outstanding work you’ve been doing as part of Organizing for America’s Final March for Reform. I can tell you that your voice is heard in Washington every day. I see how your efforts are moving us toward victory.

But I also know that with just days remaining, the final vote is shaping up to be extremely close. Everything we’ve worked for is on the line, and your voice is needed now more than ever before.

Raise your voice today: We must all speak out together to finish the job.

In these final, crucial days, much more will be asked of us. Our resolve will be tested.

During moments like this, I believe it’s important to remember why we have worked so hard for so long. That’s why I spoke to the country Monday at a gathering in Ohio and said it plainly: I’m here for Natoma.

Natoma Canfield is like most of us: She works hard, and tries to do what’s right. Years ago, she had battled back from cancer, so she always maintained health insurance in case she ever really needed it again. But because of her medical history, the insurance company kept raising her deductible and her premiums.

Last year alone, Natoma paid over $10,000 in monthly premiums and co-pays, while her insurance company chipped in just $900. And then they hiked up her rates another 40%. She simply couldn’t afford it — she had to cancel her policy. That’s when she wrote to me. I read her letter, and shared her story with insurance company CEOs as another reason why the system has to change.

That was two weeks ago. Then, just last week, the unthinkable happened: Natoma collapsed, and was rushed to a hospital. It’s leukemia — the cancer has returned. Now she’s in the hospital, worried sick not just about her condition, but how she’ll financially survive.

So why am I still in this fight? Simple. I’m here for Natoma.

I’m here because of the countless others who have been denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions. I’m here for the small business owners forced to chose between health care and hiring. I’m here for the folks who are forced to watch helplessly as their premiums skyrocket with no reason or recourse.

And I’m here for my mother. She died of cancer, and in the last six months of her life, I saw her on the phone in her hospital room arguing with insurance companies instead of focusing on getting well and spending time with her family.

As I was finishing my remarks Monday, a woman in the crowd called out, "we need courage." She’s right.

The politicians in Washington need courage to face down the powerful interests who have held back progress for far too long. And all of us who share this cause need courage to speak up with persistence and clarity in these final days.

I’ve always found that courage comes from remembering that we fight for something and someone beyond ourselves. It comes from our faith. And it comes from our commitment to those we love.

So please take a moment to remember those who inspire you — those who give you the strength to march on.

There’s very little time left, and still much to do. But I believe to my core in the power of Americans to change history when we put our mind to it. And if you’ll stay with us in these final days, I know we can do it again:

http://my.barackobama.com/speakout

Thank you for making it possible,

President Barack Obama

"What you’re doing is working"