Letter: Merkley's addition to health care slapped burden on small builders

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES/LETTERS, 12/29/2009 by Jean Nelson - "I'm shocked! In the midst of high unemployment and disappearing jobs, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon slipped another killer into Obamacare. ∴ Inserted into the "health care" bill as a "manager's amendment," so that there was no discussion and no vote, Sen. Merkley added a requirement that construction companies with more than five employees will be required to offer health insurance. ∴ Small construction companies in Oregon and in the nation will be devastated by this requirement. If this bill becomes law, every other industry with more than 50 employees must provide health insurance. ∴ Why were small construction companies singled out? That is a question that needs to be asked of Sen. Merkley. It appears to be another one of the payoffs that are so rampant throughout the health care bill. ∴ Please call Sen. Merkley's district office at 503-326-3386 and insist that this provision be removed."

Jean Nelson
Corvallis Read More......

Call Oregon's U.S. Senators [ASAP] - "Please Vote NO on HR 3590"

OREGON REPUBLICAN PARTY, 12/22/2009 from Bob Tiernan, Chairman - Oregon Republicans: The United States Senate is scheduled to hold a series of votes over the next three days on health care reform. In the rush to pass their massive health care reform bill before Christmas, Senate Democrats have inserted a last-minute provision into the bill which overtly targets the construction industry by mandating all construction companies over 5 employees offer health insurance. However, every other industry is granted an exemption if they have fewer than 50 employees. Clearly, this is payback for the unions and a potentially devastating issue for many small construction companies in Oregon and across the country.

Who is the Senator that introduced this outrageous last-minute provision? None other than Oregon's own Jeff Merkley.

Senator Merkley inserted this provision into the health care bill as a "manager's amendment" with no open debate on the concept, no vote taken and certainly no Senate hearings proceeding it. There is no logical rationale for singling out the construction industry to suddenly have to offer health care plans if they have five or more employees. If there was a logical reason for it, they would have openly discussed this issue and cast a fair vote on it. This narrow provision is an unprecedented assault on small construction employers and unjustly targets an industry trying to keep its doors open during the worst housing downturn since the Great Depression.

We're asking you to take a few minutes today to call the offices of Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Ron Wyden to express your outrage with this provision targeting small construction employers and ask them to "Vote NO on HR 3590" (the health care reform bill).

Senator Merkley's Oregon district office can be reached at (503) 326-3386.
Senator Wyden's Oregon district office can be reached at (503) 326-7525.

Click Here to get more background information about this urgent issue - and thank you for your help!

Bob Tiernan
Chairman, Oregon Republican Party Read More......

Merkeley to vote against Bernanke confirmation

REUTERS, 12/17/2009 - WASHINGTON: Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is likely to pass the first hurdle in winning Senate confirmation to serve another term on Thursday but will face unusually strong opposition as his nomination moves ahead. ∴ Bernanke and the Fed have become lightning rods for anger over financial excesses and government bailouts of Bear Stearns, American International Group, and support for the biggest U.S. banks during the worst crisis since the Great Depression. ∴ With unemployment rates in double digits for the first time in over a quarter century, public resentment over the taxpayer-funded rescue of the banking sector runs high.

"We need to have leadership that understands the goal is not Wall Street profits," Oregon Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley told Reuters on Wednesday. "The focus should be on how do you enable families to thrive and prosper." Merkley said he will vote against Bernanke, the first majority-party Democrat on the 23-member panel to express outright opposition to him. Read more at Reuters...

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Action Item: Call Sen. Merkley today

From Jean Nelson: OUR IMMEDIATE ACTION IS NECESSARY! This Wednesday morning Dec 9, Sen. Jeff Merkley will vote on the nomination of Chai Feldblum, a highly controversial figure, to serve as a Commissioner on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). ∴ According to Feldblum, a person’s religious beliefs (what she calls “belief liberty”) can be trumped by “sexual liberty.” When the constitutionally guaranteed right to the free exercise of religion and “sexual liberty” conflict, Feldblum has stated: “I’m having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.” ∴ Feldblum ignores the fact that our Founding Fathers came to America to practice religious freedom, not just “believe” it. The First Amendment in the Constitution was created to guarantee and protect this right to practice religious belief. ∴ Urge Sen. Jeff Merkley to vote NO on the Feldblum nomination.

U.S. Capitol Office: (202) 224-3753
State/District Office: (503) 326-3386
Send a pre-composed email through Traditional Values Coalition

Through her writings and speeches, Feldblum has expressed support for polyamory – sexual and non-sexual relationships among multiple partners – both male and female. She wants the government to treat these “relationships” the same as one man/one woman marriage. ∴ In addition to contacting Sen. Jeff Merkley, please ask at least 10 friends to contact their Senators.

Time is of the essence. Call Sen. Jeff Merkley NOW. ∴ We suggest that you tell Sen. Merkley you oppose Chai Feldblum’s nomination to the EEOC because of the threat she poses to your First Amendment right to the free exercise or practice of religion and her radical views on marriage.

Additional Resources:
CBN Interviews Andrea Lafferty on Bizarre EEOC Nominee Chai Feldblum
President Obama's Nominee to EEOC May Cause Stir
Chai Feldblum Is Long-Time Supporter Of Polyamory – Multiple Sex Partners
Obama's radical choice causes commotion
EEOC Nominee Chai Feldblum Hides Bizarre Views
EEOC Nominee Ghostwrites New Liberty Into the Constitution Violates the Free Exercise of Religion
Yet Another Radical Obama Nominee Read More......