We're facing a national healthcare crisis with millions of Americans unable to afford to care for themselves and their families, yet the eighteen candidates running for President have taken a combined total of $5 million in contributions from the healthcare industry over the course of their political careers. Being able to write big checks to candidates gets these HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, and other interest special access to the people who will be directing policy in our country. Voters need to be assured that our next President has our interests at heart -- affordable health care, reasonable prescription drug policy, better oversight on what drugs go to market -- and we can't be sure of that so long as candidates are pocketing healthcare cash. Ask all candidates for the Presidency in 2008 to stop taking this money, and put the interests of voters first.
I am concerned about the healthcare crisis afflicting our country. Health care costs are rising, prescription drugs are priced out of reach of many people in need, and lax oversight sends drugs to market that are dangerous to consumers. The healthcare industry -- HMOs, drug companies, and other interests -- are able to use their immense profits to direct money to campaigns and gain access to candidates that regular voters who can't write big checks simply don't get. It's time to level the playing field when it comes to the national debate about health care by cutting off the pipeline between healthcare industry cash and candidates for the Presidency. I am asking all 18 declared candidates for President to swear off campaign contributions from the healthcare industry and in so doing demonstrate a committment to putting the interests of voters being squeezed by healthcare costs ahead of the interests of the healthcare industry's big money contributions.
Signed by:
[Your name]
[Your address]
