October 24, 2013

Dear Friend,

As you know, the Federal Government was partially shut down for 16 days earlier this month, and we came dangerously close to defaulting on our national debt. This irresponsible event took $24 billion out of the economy and hurt families across the country, including in San Diego.

In the agreement that ended the shutdown and averted default - an agreement that I supported - the House and Senate will now reconcile their differences on the budget for our country. It is my hope that Congress will use these next few months productively to get our fiscal house in order, replace sequester cuts with more targeted, mission-drive ones, and reduce waste and abuse in the Federal Government, while also funding the necessary investments to keep America competitive into the next century.

Scott speaking to San Diegans on a telephone town hall during the shutdown

"Seeking Lessons from the Fiscal Crisis"

I recently wrote a letter to the editor of The New York Times about an opinion piece that had run calling for a new dialogue about the debt ceiling and how Congress can avoid these paralyzing crises from recurring. The Op-Ed prescribed a plan similar to legislation that I have already introduced that would protect our nation's credit rating while also working to reduce the deficit and get our national debt under control.

Read my letter to the editor here, see the opinion piece I was responding to here, and click here for more information about my legislation to end the govern-by-crisis mentality around the debt ceiling.

Medicare Open Enrollment

If you are over 65, you most likely qualify for Medicare. The open enrollment period for Medicare started on October 15th and runs through December 7th. Have questions about plans and premiums? Click here or here for more information.

Affordable Care Act Enrollment

Don't have health insurance? Don't qualify for Medicare or Medical? Covered California has set up a health care exchange as a result of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that provides a portal for purchasing insurance. The enrollment period for the ACA is underway and runs through March 31st, 2014. For more information click here or here.

What has your experience been in signing up for coverage on Covered California? What does having coverage mean to you? Tell me by clicking here.

My San Diego office has been hosting workshops about the ACA and what it means for San Diegans.

An ACA workshop for students that my office hosted with guest speakers from Planned Parenthood and 2-1-1 San Diego, held at San Diego Mesa College

Contact Me

Please continue to let me know your thoughts on issues facing our country. Feel free to email me or call my office at 202-225-0508 or 858-455-5550 if you have any questions, suggestions, or issues with a federal agency. For updates on what I'm working on make sure to 'like' me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter at @RepScottPeters, or visit my website.

Sincerely,

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