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Health insurance reform opponents continue to spread myths about components of America's Affordable Health Choices Act. Their efforts to scare seniors have spared no myth, no method and no misrepresentation. It has gotten so bad, the Chicago Tribune's The Swamp blog wrote, "In political circles, there is a term for the tactic" Republicans are using to frighten seniors about the effects of health insurance reform: "Medi-scare.'' According to The Swamp, Republicans are "capitalizing on fears that Medicare will be undermined... and that the government will force 'end-of-life' decisions...

Any real change requires the inclusion of a strong public option to promote competition and bring down costs. If a vigorous public option is not included, it would be a major victory for the health insurance industry.

President Obama has said that a public option will keep the insurance companies honest. If someone has a better idea for promoting competition and reducing health care costs, they should put it on the table. But for the past month, opponents of health insurance reform have demonstrated that they are afraid of the facts. They have only offered distortions, distractions and misrepresentations to try to kill this historic legislation.

A bill without a strong public option will not pass the House. Eliminating the public option would be a major victory for the insurance companies who have rationed care, increased premiums and denied coverage.

"Our nation is closer than ever to achieving health insurance reform that will lower costs, retain choice, improve quality and expand coverage. We are committed to reaching this goal."

Health insurance reform opponents continue to spread myths about components of America's Affordable Health Choices Act. This time they are claiming the bill is a risk to the privacy of Americans' personal health and financial information. The facts disprove their distortions.

Myth #1: Under the House bill, federal bureaucrats will have direct, real-time access to Americans' individual bank accounts.

Fact: The nonpartisan FactCheck.org concludes that this prevalent myth is FALSE:

Today, Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent the following letter to President Obama inviting him to address a Joint Session of Congress on Wednesday, September 9, 2009:

September 2, 2009

President Barack Obama

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Our nation is closer than ever to achieving health insurance reform that will lower costs, retain choice, improve quality and expand coverage. We are committed to reaching this goal.

We would like to invite you to address a Joint Session of the Congress on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 on health insurance reform.

Thank you for considering this invitation to speak to the Congress and the nation.

Sincerely,

NANCY PELOSI

Speaker of the House

HARRY REID

Majority Leader of the Senate

Our concerns and condolences today rest with all of the families affected by the fires raging throughout California. Some have lost their homes. Many have been displaced and remain unsure of when they will be able to return or whether their house is still standing. Our hearts go out to every resident impacted by the flames.

The firefighters standing on the front lines of these blazes deserve our utmost praise and gratitude. Their bravery in the face of grave danger is preserving homes and protecting lives. Their willingness to put their lives on the line in order to save others is the highest act of heroism.

We offer our thoughts and prayers to the families of those who have fallen and who ran into the fire so their neighbors could flee to safety.