Reply #103: Yes, Prism, I agree, this bill is the status quo.

[4gabriella]

And we will remain stuck in the status quo with healthcare until we eliminate the influence of money in DC. We know this. Maybe we should focus, above all else, on the passage of the Fair Elections Now Act. Currently there are 139 cosponsors in the House; this is up from 114 on 11/14/09. The Senate has a paltry 9 cosponsors.

A group of over 200 religious leaders wrote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and "blasted the Supreme Court's ruling that allows large corporations unlimited financial support of candidates during elections." They urged "Congress to pass the Fair Elections Now Act."

41 business executives "sent a letter to House and Senate leadership urging them to pass the Fair Elections Now Act in response to the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United."

In recent opinion polls Americans show support for changing the way campaigns are financed. One poll "found that nearly two thirds of Americans (65%) disagree with the Supreme Court's recent decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which allowed corporations and unions to spend without limit from their treasuries to influence elections." And another poll showed a "larger percentage of voters favor public funding 'strongly' (44%) than those who are opposed or undecided combined. What’s more, every major demographic and political group solidly favored the proposal, including 69% of Democrats, 64% of Republicans, and 66% of independents."

If we are to have true healthcare reform we must end the status quo. The corrupt influence of money in our politics is felt across the political spectrum. It is time to end this nightmare.

This is my first post at DU; I hope my comment is appropriate for this thread.

Sources:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1826
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-752 http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2010/02/clergy-blast-supreme-court-rul.php
http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/businessleaders
http://youstreet.org/node/148