Dear Friend,

Sign our online petition today to show your support of Congress' work to reform America's health care system and create a public insurance option! Sign our Petition at CitizensForAPublicOption.com

To accomplish the health care reform this country desperately needs, everyone who has a stake in the current system is going to need to come to the table.

Earlier this year, the pharmaceutical companies struck a deal with President Obama to help cut costs. Shortly thereafter, the hospitals struck a similar deal.

The insurance industry could do the same but, instead, chooses to attack the public health plan option and everyone who supports it.

My colleagues and I working on health care reform in the Senate Committee on Finance aren't going to sit back on our heels -- we're going on the offensive. But the pressure on the insurance industry needs to come from the people, too.

If you haven't signed the petition Senators Leahy, Durbin, and I are circulating yet, sign it today and help put pressure on the insurance industry to come to the table.

Health insurance premiums have doubled since 2001. In case you're wondering where the extra money is going, industry profits have soared 428% in that same time.

My colleagues and I on the Finance committee are pushing for the major health insurers to pay their fair share by submitting to new fees that will help pay for a major chunk of the overhaul -- and eliminate the potential need to tax benefits.

Your signature on our petition will help give us the leverage to get what we need from the insurance industry and truly reform health care in this country.

Please sign the petition now.

Thank you,

Chuck Schumer
U.S. Senator