Blog for Democracy

Jane Kidd delivers healthcare insurance reform to Sen. Isakson

janeheadshot1007_2.jpgToday, the Democratic Party of Georgia (DPG) and Organizing for America (OfA) planned a press conference to deliver a healthcare insurance reform petition to US Sen. Johnny Isakson. The petition was signed by 40,000 Georgians who support health care reform.

But Georgia’s junior Senator, or at least his staff, seemed less than excited to hear the call for health insurance reform. Dozens of constituents, including Kidd were prohibited from entering the visitor’s parking in Senator Isakson’s office building, forcing them to park across I-75, over a mile away.

Sen. Isakson’s building management almost ruined the event by refusing to allow healthcare insurance reform supporters from parking in their parking lot. This would not have been a problem if Sen. Isakson’s public office was located in area with plentiful public parking. His office is in an isolated office park where the nearest public parking area is quite a walk away. After several dozen supporters were turned away, Jane Kidd, DPG Chair, called Sen. Isakson’s office and was told that it was building owner’s decision and that Sen. Isakson was not in the office.

Fifteen minutes later, Senator Isakson magically appeared in front of his building. Magic. Jane Kidd was able to chatise Isakson about the parking issue and deliver the petition. Sen. Isakson said he has read the bill and doesn’t support the public option. But, he is willing to keep an open mind. I’m not really sure what that means if he’s not keeping an open ear to those Georgians who really need the public option in order to have health insurance for their families. We’ll see how open Johnny’s ears and mind are as Congress heads back to DC.

This is video I captured of today’s event. Jane Kidd did really well as the voice of Georgians who support health care reform.

“As a U.S. Senator, Johnny Isakson has consistently ignored the million and a half Georgians who don’t have affordable health insurance, and the millions more whose premiums are rapidly becoming unaffordable,” said Jane Kidd, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “This is just more of the same.”

Kidd told Isakson, “The truth is, if we don’t act now, this health care crisis will affect all of us.”

Tomorrow, don’t forget to come to the Healthcare Insurance Reform Rally at the State Capitol.

Location: Georgia State Capitol – 206 Washington St. Atlanta, GA 30334

Time: 12 noon

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12 responses to “Jane Kidd delivers healthcare insurance reform to Sen. Isakson”

  1. J.M. Prince Avatar
    J.M. Prince

    Nope it was not really about Parking, any more than handicap parking is about parking. It’s about Access & being able to do what everyone else is able to. Being able to be greeted & accommodated as if you actually mattered. No snark about it, that’s part of his job description after all.

    Again, if Isakson is unwilling or unable to accommodate at least perhaps 45%+ of his constituents? He needs to get another job, and the MSM & press needs to report on his abject yet deliberate failures at accommodation & listening to his constituents. Not just pandering to the select few who ‘pay’ for his time with yes, handsome bribes. But the rest of us too, the Majority of Georgians who either don’t (or can’t) contribute to campaigns, and whom either don’t (or typically find they cannot) regularly vote, or voted for the opposition.

    “Still the owner/management has the right not to allow people there.” This would be easily argued in any court, given the fact that it’s a Public Office, open for Public Business. Perhaps for those being riotously unruly, but hey we’ve got Townhalls for that now, right? And no one Dared remove those Rethugs folks in mass, right? I wonder why the difference? I get it! Again IOKIYAR.

    So Presto! Magic!

    The problem of access to a Public Office of someone purporting to represent US here in Ga. is Suddenly a Private Matter! But Only after Isakson’s Senate office seemingly requested the ‘extra security’ for whatever reason or purpose for a Non Violent, requested meeting with the Chairwoman of the opposite party. It becomes a ‘pesky parking problem!’

    Yeah. That’s the ticket? Wanna Buy a Bridge in Brooklyn, Cheap? How about the exclusive quarry rights to Stone Mountain? Just asking… JMP

  2. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    Ah. Still the owner/management has the right not to allow people there.

    At the end of the day seriously though…PARKING is what you’re getting upset at Isakson about? SRSLY?

    lolwut.

  3. J.M. Prince Avatar
    J.M. Prince

    Yep, 2-3 cars does not a disruptive ‘convoy’ make. If you’re unable or in this case, unwilling to accommodate your constituents needs, you don’t need to be in public office. And that’s not even petulant either. It was planned that way. He was busy hiding out. SSDD.

    BTW? Most business locales Should be able to accommodate more than 4 cars in their lot @ 10.30AM. It’s part of the design & zoning requirements typically. See ya soon. JMP

  4. Bernita Avatar
    Bernita

    IRE: a little background for you. Yes, the DPG did call ahead and tell Isakson’s staff that they were delivering the petition and they would be holding a press conference. The parking garage was not filled at 10:30 in the morning. The building’s security team was jacked up on some serious testerone that morning and kept referring to it as a “protest” although it was not.

    Jane questions to Isakson “that he couldn’t allow 2-3 cars to even park there” was very relevant.

  5. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    No I’m saying parking would be adequate for the typical volume of visitors.

    Really? Parking was restricted because of the anticipated petition delivery? :facepalm: It is kind of arrogant to assume he’s that afraid of us first. Was he notified ahead of time that that many people were there?

    I honestly can’t believe we’re still discussing this…

  6. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    Sorry, IRE, you’re not making sense.

    “And let’s be honest. How often do people go to visit their Senator, especially a junior senator from a minority party in a state that is getting no love from the WH.”

    If you’re suggesting the Senator doesn’t get very many visitors – then why would parking be restricted?

    Oh, and by the way, a friend went to visit Senator Isakson recently and was able to park in the deck that was restricted yesterday.

    This was not a capacity question. This was restricting parking in anticipation of the delivery of the petition. Plain and simple.

  7. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    I would agree with you IF a) he was unresponsive to constituents which I can tell you with absolute certainty is not the case and b ) if all his offices were like that and c) he had some control over the parking situation around him.

    And let’s be honest. How often do people go to visit their Senator, especially a junior senator from a minority party in a state that is getting no love from the WH.

  8. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    The parking thing isn’t minor. It’s an indication of how he views his constituents, as people to be protected from, rather than citizens to be served.

    Great video Bernita. And awesome job Jane!

  9. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    The parking deal kind of makes us sound petulant. I don’t care who you are if you own a building and a convoy of cars far exceeds you lot’s capacity of course you’ll turn them away. For one–if nothing else–I believe it violates fire codes.

    At any rate the point of it is that this is such a minor thing to complain about. There is no need to mention it.

  10. J.M. Prince Avatar
    J.M. Prince

    Thanks again for the vid. You’d almost think well of him if you did not know him well enough. A true born Pol for sure.

    How about a suggestion for a follow up here? I’m betting dimes to doughnuts that most if not all of that huge 40K person citizen’s petition hits their paper recycling/trash bin either today or soon enough. Perhaps someone might look into it. Just a thought. JMP

  11. J.M. Prince Avatar
    J.M. Prince

    Thanks again Bernita, And I wanted to post on the rally tomorrow & I’ll be trying to make it too.

    But Johnny I? Coward. And a liar to boot it seems. Can’t even come out to take a simple petition from citizen constituents unless it was soon going to involve even More of the media to shame him into it. Yeah. Class act their Johnny! Geez. It’s the simple things. The ‘I’m busy, trying to look busy, trying to avoid my duty to my erstwhile constituents.’ Where are the real adults here? Evidently there’s just not enough of them supporting & representing us here in Ga. JMP

  12. CatherineAtlanta Avatar
    CatherineAtlanta

    Nicely done, ladies. Good job Jane for pushing the Senator on the bootleg parking situation. And, Bernita, thanks for capturing it and getting it up so promptly.

    I love the “we don’t have any control over the parking…” Riiiight! Just a US Senator, is all. Gimme a break.

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