Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, isn't waiting for Election '08 to get the Healthy Americans Act passed.

* Every American will have it

* Comprehensive - comparable to Congress.

* Portable - take it when you leave your job.

* Non-discriminatory - ban on "pre-existing conditions" and everyone gets a fair price.

Affordable - under $40,000 income? Pay less than now. Under $150,000 pay $1 a day more for guaranteed coverage.

The Act, his site says also saves s1.48 trillion through wellness and prevention.

And he says he can make it reality in only one year.

Here's the real cost:

Families between $40,000 and $50,000 would pay about $81/year more - about $7 a month. Families between $50,000 and $150,000 would average between $327 and $341 per year more - about $28 a month.

In return for this modest increase these families would have guaranteed coverage that they could never lose, not if they get sick, not if they lose their jobs, not for any reason.

We'd be crazy not to take that deal. Why wait for elections? I want to see Senator Wyden deliver on this right now. Read the details by clicking this link.

Email your own representatives by visiting Congress.org and entering your zip code.

I just posted on Blogher why I think Blogher should choose health care as our pet project for Blogher's Act, a bi-partisan initiative for women bloggers to influence government in a positive way. There is current discussion on what the pet topic will be.

All women deserve health coverage - breast cancer research does us no good if we can't afford the cure. It also does us no good to be diagnosed with post partum depression and get the help we need if it means we're uninsurable in the future.

If presented the right way I think all women can get behind access to health coverage for everyone.

For bloggers there are some really easy and tangible ways to effect the change.

* Carry around voter registration cards and hand them to people you talk to on the street, neighbors, people at church, other parents at school. There are MILLIONS of Americans who do not vote. We can seriously influence voter turnout by simply making it very easy to register. You can pick up voter registration cards for free and it doesn't even cost a stamp to send it.

* Bloggers can make an effort to report on the average persons health care concerns. Real people you know having real serious problems with their insurance companies or being denied coverage or receiving inaccurate and excessive bills from doctors. We've been silent long enough. This method illustrates that this is not happening to "others" it is happening to "us," good hardworking American citizens.

* Put links to organizations like Congress.org that makes it really simple for readers to sent letters to their elected officials letting them know that this is the American People's issue, not a partisan one and we expect them ALL, Republican and Democrat, to take it seriously and commit to a better plan.

To encourage Blogher to pick healthcare as its Blogher's Act issue please send an email to: cooper-emily@themotherhood.com or post a comment at Blogher's Community page.

by Tracee Sioux

I recieved an email is from MoveOn.org, a political action group monitoring healthcare. Right now Congress is deciding whether to a) take away healthcare from millions of children or b)allow millions more children access to healthcare.

No girl can be empowered if she can't even go to the doctor for her vacinations or minor injuries. No parent can be empowered if they feel they can't afford to take their kids to the doctor. Congress has until September to make a decision and they need to hear from you. As a citizen you have the right, and the responsibility, to make it known what you expect of them.

Sending petitions does send a message to Congress. They may not know your personal name, but they will know that millions of Americans are tired of seeing children go without healthcare.

Click on this link to encourage congress to vote to expand, rather than eliminate, healthcare for children.

If you're like me and you think perhaps signing a petition won't matter enough, you can also send a letter directly to your elected officials at Congress.org.

My letter said:

I expect you to vote in favor of expanding children's health care. We're a nation of Christians and Christians are supposed to care for others and help take care of others. There is no pursuit of happiness if you, or your children are sick. We, as a nation, are not designed to make sure insurance companies and doctors make more money. We, as a nation, are designed to take care of the people. A nation of the people, governed by the people, for the people is a nation that should take care of its people. Health care for the middle class is getting way too expensive, even for the insured. I expect you to pass the SCHIP resolution to expand coverage to more children. If you do not, you will lose my vote and anyone I can pursuade to join me.

Sincerely, Tracee Sioux

Feel free to copy and paste it into your own letter at Congress.org.