INDIVISIBLE North Coast Oregon: ACTION: FUND CHILDREN’S HEALTH INSURANCE NOW

From Indivisible Oregon...

**CALL TO ACTION**
Monday, December 11, 2017
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FUND CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE NOW
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#ProtectOurCare
#SaveCHIP

Last week, Democrats – including our own Senator Wyden -- helped Republicans pass a clean Continuing Resolution (CR). In doing so, they gave the GOP two weeks free-of-charge to work on their disastrous tax plan. And they missed another chance to address vital priorities for Americans – including funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for 2018. Time is running out to help these children.

The next Continuing Resolution must fund CHIP.
• It provides healthcare to 9 million children.
• It has been running on leftover funds since Congress failed to re-authorize it two months ago.
• Oregon will soon start sending out loss of insurance notices -- to children.
• 75% of Americans consider CHIP “extremely” or “very” important to pass
• States cannot plan and budgets will run in the red, since the federal government reimburses 88 – 100% of state costs.

CHIP enjoys wide bipartisan support—an easy win for the governing party. Despite this, Senator Hatch, CHIP’s original co-sponsor, complained CHIP funding will be tough because “we don’t have money anymore.” Then he helped to pass a $1 trillion tax cut.

Our MoCs are under pressure. We must let them know our priorities. The tax plan must be stopped and CHIP must be funded!
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**ACTION 1: CALL OR LEAVE VOICE MAILS BOTH OUR SENATORS and YOUR REPRESENTATIVE**

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio and Schrader:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. Thank you for voting “no” on last week’s continuing budget resolution. Today I am calling to ask you to keep doing all you can to stop the Trump Tax Bill and to promise me that you will only vote “yes” on the next continuing resolution if it has permanent CHIP funding. I will be calling again this week with my other priorities for the continuing resolution. Thank you.”

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Wyden:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. I was surprised you voted “yes” on last continuing budget resolution when it didn’t include permanent CHIP funding. Today I am calling to ask you to keep doing all you can to stop the Trump Tax Bill and to promise me you will only vote "yes” on the next continuing resolution if contains permanent CHIP funding. I will be calling again this week with my other priorities for the continuing resolution. Thank you.”

SAMPLE SCRIPT for Walden:
“My name is [--] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. The next few weeks will bring votes on the tax bill and a continuing resolution. Please think about your constituents and not your donors when you take these votes. Vote “no” on the tax bill and only vote “yes” on the next continuing resolution if it has permanent CHIP funding. I will be calling again this week with my other priorities for the continuing resolution. Thank you.”
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**ACTION 2: CHECK YOUR INSURANCE ENROLLMENT STATUS**
OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS DECEMBER 15!!
Do you or your friends wonder if health insurance is too expensive? Most can find a plan for $50-100 a month. Check out www.healthcare.gov for more information.
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**PHONE NUMBERS**

SENATOR MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129

SENATOR WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691

CONGRESSWOMAN SUZANNE BONAMICI [D1]
DC: (202) 225-0855, OR: (503) 469-6010

CONGRESSMAN GREG WALDEN [D2]
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646,
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400

CONGRESSMAN EARL BLUMENAUER [D3]
DC: (202) 225-4811, OR: (503) 231-2300

CONGRESSMAN PETER DEFAZIO [D4]
DC 202-225-6416, Eugene: (541) 465-6732,
Roseburg: (541) 440-3523, Coos Bay (541) 269-2609

CONGRESSMAN KURT SCHRADER [D5]
DC: (202) 225-5711, Salem (503) 588-9100,
Oregon City (503) 557-1324

** After you call, please comment below and briefly share your experience!**