Are you tired? I am so tired. I am too tired even to be funny about why you should call your Senator, (202) 224-3121, and tell them that this is a bad bill. So I will, as usual, link to Indivisible’s thorough, comprehensible explainer and call scripts.
YOU: Hello! My name is [ ] and I’m calling from [part of state]. Can you tell me how Senator [ ] will vote on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill if it comes up for a vote?
COMBATIVE STAFFER: The Senator hasn’t reviewed the text of the bill yet and hasn’t taken a position on it. There is no vote scheduled on that bill though.
YOU: I want Senator [ ] to oppose Graham-Cassidy. The bill is just like other TrumpCare bills in that it destroys Medicaid as we know it by turning Medicaid into a capped system. This hurts children with disabilities, seniors, and even victims of natural disasters like Harvey and Irma. It also takes away funding to help people afford health insurance through the marketplace, and it hurts states that have expanded Medicaid.
COMBATIVE STAFFER: Obamacare is a failure. The Senator believes we must stabilize the market and lower premiums.
YOU: If that’s what the Senator wants to do, then supporting the bipartisan, transparent process that Senators Alexander and Murray are leading through regular order would be a better option than supporting the Graham-Cassidy bill. I expect Senator [ ] to respect regular order and reject the Graham-Cassidy bill if it comes to a vote.
COMBATIVE STAFFER: I’ll let the Senator know your thoughts.
YOU: Yes, please do. I will be watching this vote closely and I expect Senator [ ] to oppose. Please take down my contact information so you can let me know what Senator [ ] decides to do.
If your Senator has already come out against the bill, please call them anyway and tell them you support their decision. This may feel pointless, but it isn’t, because it provides them with necessary political capital, and also, it is nice for the staffers to be thanked and appreciated.
YOU: Hi, my name is [ ] and I’m a constituent from [ ]. I’m calling to thank Senator [ ] for her opposition to Graham-Cassidy and to reiterate that I and my community stand behind her as she fights against it. And I also wanted to thank you and the rest of the Senator’s staff for all the hard work you guys are doing!
BELEAGUERED STAFFER: Thank you. I’ll pass your thoughts along to the Senator.
YOU: Thanks, please do. Hey, incidentally, do you ever feel like just screaming? Just screaming and screaming and all the time screaming and never not screaming? Because I’ve felt that way for months and I don’t even have to answer phones for Congress! Haha. Whew.
BELEAGUERED STAFFER: Uh, I –
YOU: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahaha.
BELEAGUERED STAFFER: [nervous laughter] Well, thanks for your support, and –
just moving along like everyone else 