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Send a Letter Today Urging Congress to Pass Quality Health Care Reform
Local unions, central labor councils, state federations and national unions are redoubling their efforts to ensure health care reform legislation—which could be on the Senate floor as early as Oct. 13 and in the full House later in the month—is real reform that
- Controls costs.
- Provides guaranteed coverage.
- Holds insurance companies accountable.
- Includes a public health insurance plan option.
- Requires all employers to pay their fair share.
- Rejects new taxes that would hurt working families—who already are being crushed by soaring health costs.
Please join union members across the nation in writing your senators and member of Congress to tell them to pass real health care reform. It’s critical working families speak up and provide a loud counter voice to the health insurance industry’s money and influence. Congress needs to hear from people who can tell their lawmakers about their personal struggles with a broken health care system and why we need real health care reform.
Letters from union members, many of which will be written during breaks on the job site, at local union meetings and via special letter-writing events, will be delivered to lawmakers next week when activists and union leaders travel to Capitol Hill to meet with them or during the Columbus Day recess when union activists meet with the representatives in their home districts during the Columbus Day recess.
Contact your local central labor council or state federation for more information on actions in your area. Union members also can go to the Working Families Toolkit (www.WorkingFamiliesToolkit.com, registration required) for sample letters, fact sheets, fliers and more information on health care reform.
We’re also planning a national health care call-in day to Congress on Oct. 7. Union members can urge their representatives and senators to back health care reform that includes a strong public option. Call 1-877-3-AFL-CIO (1-877-323-5246).
Other actions will include worksite leafleting, letters to the editor and op-ed pieces and other grassroots actions.
The health insurance industry has spent millions to block inclusion of a public health insurance option. That paid off yesterday when the Senate Finance Committee voted 15-8 to kill an amendment by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and another by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to include such an option in their version of health care reform.
But the Finance Committee’s bill is not the only player in the game. Both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension’s Committee (HELP) and the House bill (H.R. 3200) contain public option provisions and many other improvements over the Finance bill.
This is your chance to make your voice heard and tell Congress “Health Care Can’t Wait!“
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5 Comments
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As of 9-17-09, 572 unions have endorsed HR 676, single payer health care. Where is the AFL-CIO. It has been over a week since the National has endorsed it finally, where are you on this “reform”? So far their is no legislation that lowers premium prices, lower costs on medications, so what exactly are you asking us to call congress about? The publis option has been shot down by the Senate, those members in Baucus’ district need to remember this. The DNC needs to strip ALL “demos” affiliations with the Party who are balking on real reform. Single payer is real reform!
Democratic “label” politicians are not democrats. Uniquely, U.S. parties have few powers other than raising $$ – by law!! SEE: “What is a Political Party?” http://bit.ly/117M0o. :::: The next time you vote for a candidate in a primary election consider – “Modern U.S. attempts @ party platforms” http://bit.ly/jHbON
We need to have a parade right up and down Pennsylvania Ave for Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL). He is a hero for standing up and calling it the way it is with the Republicans in the House. I just wish some of the Dems in the Senate would listen to him and bang some heads over there. Rear ends for kicking, not kissing and Grayson has made it clear he is favor of the former where Republicans are concerned. Maybe some of our guys in the Senate will start to see it that way!
I have a pathetic health care. I can no longer work and now so I’m stuck with what I can get. In MA we have to have it or pay a heavy penalty. Kind of like what Baucus wanted for his health care.
I would love to travel to DC and protest, but the expense is too great. It’s a shame we can’t hire buses to transport us on a designated day. But give us advanced notice. Three or four days isn’t long enough to make plans.
The only way to get this done is SINGLE PAYER. Any talk of reform is all about the Insurance Companies GOUGING us as they have always done. Lets be crystal clear about this, there is no such thing as a Public Option other than Single Payer. To better understand this, check out Bob Frankens column at
http://www.northstarnational.com/2009/09/16/health-plan-isn't-possible/#more-589 It’s time for the AFL-CIO to “step up” and for President Obama to use the “bully pulpit.” If the President can’t get this “done,” as well as Employee Choice to Unionize then its time to start a US LABOR PARTY.