Category Archives: elections
Maine State Legislature Endorses HR 676 – Medicare for All
Both Houses of the Maine state legislature, on roll call votes, have endorsed a single payer healthcare system and HR 676.
Separately, a just released poll conducted by the Maine Medical Society, shows that a majority of the state’s physicians support a single payer
healthcare system.
The HR 676 resolution and vote in Maine, follows a similar roll call vote by the New Hampshire House. The New Hampshire House voted 192-150 on March 24th In favor of Resolution HCR2 which endorses HR 676 and a single payer health care system.
Below is the Associated Press story that ran in many Maine newspapers which also cites the recent poll conducted by the Maine Medical Society.
A copy of the Maine legislature’s Joint Resolution can be found at: http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billtexts/HP100401.asp
Submitted By The Associated Press
on Wednesday, Apr. 8 at 3:13 pm
AUGUSTA – Maine lawmakers have passed a resolution calling on President Obama and Congress to establish a single-payer health system that covers everyone. The Senate passed the nonbinding resolution by a 20-15 vote on Wednesday, a day after the House did the same by a 91-52 vote.
The resolution cites the high costs of the present system and says managed care, health maintenance organizations and other reforms have failed to contain health costs. The resolution was passed months after a poll of nearly 600 Maine physicians showed a majority in favor of a single payer or “Medicare for all” approach. The survey, conducted in November and December, showed 52 percent in favor and 48 percent against.
Plumbers and Carpenters Locals in Oregon Endorse HR 676 – Medicare for All
Portland, Oregon. Carpenters’ Local 247 has endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers
(D-MI).
An informal group of union members from different crafts, calling themselves Cross Trade Solidarity, has organized to push for endorsements
of the Conyers legislation in Portland area locals.
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290 has endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). The 4,000 member local has jurisdiction in Northern California, Southwest Washington and Oregon.
Eric Fanning, who introduced the endorsement resolution, said after it passed: “The membership of United Association Local 290, Plumbers and Steamfitters, is fully aware of the crisis in health care where profits trump patient care. The Massachusetts plan has proven to be a failure.
Senator Ron Wyden’s proposed plan would tax our health and welfare contributions, and this does not benefit organized labor. Health Care for
America Now (HCAN) would create a two-tiered health care system. HR 676, we believe, is the best solution to our health care crisis.”
Single Payer Testimony Before Congress by Dr. Himmelstein
Testimony of David U. Himmelstein, M.D.
Before the HELP Subcommittee April 23, 2009
Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee. My name is David Himmelstein. I am a primary care doctor in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard. I also serve as National Spokesperson for Physicians for a National Health Program. Our 15,000 physician members support non-profit, single payer national health insurance because of overwhelming evidence that lesser reforms will fail.
Health reform must address the cost crisis for insured as well as uninsured Americans.
Continue reading Single Payer Testimony Before Congress by Dr. Himmelstein
National Lobby Day for Single Payer Healthcare: Call Cong. Altmire on May 13th
Specter Staff Threatens to Trash Letters in Support of Employee Free Choice
by Seth Michaels, Apr 20, 2009
Pennsylvania union members have delivered tens of thousands of letters in support of the Employee Free Choice Act to Sen. Arlen Specter.
Is it common practice for congressional staff to throw away letters from constituents hoping to have their voices heard? That’s what some of Sen. Arlen Specter’s staff threatened to do to thousands of Pennsylvanians who support the freedom to form unions and bargain.
Specter, who once co-sponsored the Employee Free Choice Act before he flipped on the bill last month, announced he would support a minority filibuster to prevent it from coming to a vote. Despite once saying he was “delighted” to support it, Specter now is advancing falsehoods about the bill, parroting the extremist charge that it would take away the secret ballot process, which it would not.
Rallies asking Specter to support the Employee Free Choice Act have taken place across the state.
In response, thousands of union members, community activists, religious and civil rights leaders and other members of the broad coalition in support of the Employee Free Choice Act have taken action across the state to make their voices heard. In the past two weeks, they have held seven rallies outside of Specter’s offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, Erie, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. Supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act have gathered more than 50,000 letters, 35,000 postcards and 12,000 petitions from Pennsylvanians who support the freedom to form unions and bargain.
Specter’s staff grew increasingly aggressive at every event, Pennsylvania union members report. At Specter’s Wilkes-Barre office, where union members and allies delivered thousands of letters and petitions, United Steelworkers (USW) member Tim Waters reports that they were told by a staffer, “as soon as you leave, your letters will go straight in the trash.”
Hello? These are Pennsylvania residents whom the senator represents. This is the way you treat your constituents?
Hundreds of Pennsylvanians took time out this week to make their feelings known to their senator, bringing with them postcards, letters and petitions from tens of thousands of supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act.
They deserve a respectful hearing.
from AFL-CIO blog
Two More California Labor Councils Endorse HR 676 – the National Health Care Act
Two more California Labor Councils have endorsed HR 676, single payer health care legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).
One hundred and twenty-five labor councils and/or area labor federations have now endorsed the Conyers legislation. More than fifty per cent of the labor councils in California have endorsed HR 676.
In Merced, California, the Merced-Mariposa Central Labor Council endorsed HR 676, reports Council President John Stewart. Stewart said: “Our Council is supporting HR 676 because we believe this . will create jobs..” Stewart continued, “We believe this is morally right and that this bill will make huge strides in our ongoing fight for social and economic
justice.”
In Fresno, the Central Labor Council of Fresno, Madera, Tulare & King Counties has also endorsed HR 676, reports Randy Ghan, Council Executive Secretary Treasurer.
Butler, PA SEIU Workers, Citizens, and Nursing Home Residents Oppose the Sale of Sunnyview Nursing Homes
by Randy Shannon
March 31, 2009
SEIU members and Butler concerned citizens and nursing home residents held a march and rally to protest the proposed sale of the Butler County owned Sunnyview Nursing Home to private interests.
Bill Moyers Journal: The Credit Fraud, The Crash, The Bailout, and The Ongoing Coverup Explained
Bill Moyers interviews William K. Black, a professor of economics and law, an expert in criminal fraud, prosecutor of the S&L bandits, and the man who exposed the Keating 5, the Congressmen and Senators who took bribes to facilitate the S&L fraud. The straightforward and profound revelations by Mr. Black clarify the economic and political nature of the current financial crisis. And his solutions just make plain sense. Listen closely, read the transcript, and please pass this along to everyone you know. The knowledge shared here is very powerful.
Randy Shannon
go to the next page for the rest of the interview
OUR TROOPS AND IRAQIS ARE STILL DYING
An Open Letter to the Peace/Anti-War Movement from
Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out, and Veterans For Peace
After six years of war and the historic election of a new President, we as veterans, military and Gold Star families felt an urgent need to reach out to the larger peace/anti-war movements to make our position on Iraq clear during this time of political and economic uncertainty. Iraq Veterans Against the War, Military Families Speak Out and Veterans For Peace continue to stand together in our demand to Bring the Troops Home Now! We ask all those who have stood with us in the past to stay faithful to the cause.
President Obama has announced a plan to gradually reduce troop levels in Iraq. Many in the peace/anti-war movements are breathing a sigh of relief, and suggesting that it is time for us to scale back our efforts to bring an end to the occupation of Iraq. But for our troops on the ground, their families and the Iraqi people, the nightmare continues. They need all of us to stay in the struggle. IVAW, MFSO and VFP have been long united in our call for an immediate and complete end to the occupation of Iraq and will not shift our stance under any circumstances.
Beaver County Blue: Voice of the 17th CD of Progressive Democrats of America 