It appears that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is wavering on her promise to Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) to allow debate and a vote in the full House of Representatives on the Weiner Single Payer Amendment.

The Weiner Amendment would substitute the single payer language of HR 676 for the language of the proposed House Bill (H.R. 3962). This would be the first and only time that the full House would have an opportunity to debate and vote on single payer.

Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT), one of the seven co-sponsors of the Weiner Amendment in the Energy & Commerce Committee, is quoted in “The Hill” as predicting that the Weiner Amendment could get between 100 and 200 votes. He estimated it would be in the “mid-100s”.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/65675-congressman-sees-votes-in-mid-100s-for-single-payer

House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman publicly related Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s promise to allow Weiner to bring his single payer amendment to the House Floor. Pelosi, through Waxman, asked Weiner and the six co-sponsors to withdraw the amendment in Committee in return for being able to offer it in the full House. You can see Waxman making the promise on behalf of Pelosi here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0fA2DfwFn4

IMMEDIATE ACTION IS CRUCIAL—CALL TODAY!

We urge you to call Speaker Pelosi’s Washington, DC office (202) 225-4965 and ask her to keep her promise to Representative Weiner and allow him to offer his Single Payer Amendment.

Also call Rep. Henry Waxman’s Washington, DC office (202) 225-3976 to ask him to urge the Speaker to honor her promise which he publicly conveyed to Rep. Weiner.

Call Rules Committee Chair Rep. Louise Slaughter, (202) 225-3615, and ask her to report the health reform bill to the floor of the House with a Rule that PERMITS consideration of the Weiner Amendment.

Call your Representative in Washington, DC (202) 224-3121 and ask that he/she contact the Speaker’s Office to urge her to honor her promise on the Weiner Amendment.

Then take a look at Donna Smith’s appeal for the Weiner Amendment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHVANCSpnO8&feature=player_embedded