Dingell Explains Decades-Long Quest for Health Reform, and Other News
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Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) has been fighting for health care reform for more than 50 years, and he’s seen the situation become even more dire over the past decade. In a great new op-ed, he explains the hard truths of our broken system and why we can’t wait any longer for health care reform:
This is not a time to give into fear….Reform is neither easy nor cheap, but the cost of inaction is far greater—in terms of lives lost, quality of life, and dollars. Make no mistake, if we don’t reduce costs we face certain economic disaster.
I will tell my fellow members, when you explain a vote like this one to the generations that live with the consequences of these decisions there is no poll, not even an election result, that can justify your decision. You will be asked about this vote until the day you die. Years from now, none of these things we put so much stock in now will matter. All anyone will want to know is: did you do the right thing when history called on you? It is time for health care reform. We can’t afford to wait. We can’t afford to think small. We can’t afford to fail.
Join Web Briefing on Health Care Town Halls
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Tonight, you can get facts about health care reform, find out what you can do and get the inside story from a U.S. House member who has confronted the disruptive crowds at town halls around the country.
Join a special Web briefing at 9 p.m. EDT with Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Richard Kirsch, national campaign director for Health Care for America Now! (HCAN!), Edie Falco, actor and health care reform advocate, and Dan Heck, a Working America and HCAN! canvasser who talks daily to working families about health care reform.
The call is designed to give you tips on how to get the facts out about health care reform, spread the word and help activists prevent town hall hijackings. Earlier this month, extremist zealots disrupted one of Doggett’s town halls, but he has since held several orderly and peaceful meetings and will share his experiences and lessons.
Are You Taking Part in the June 25 Health Care Rally?
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Union, health care and community activists from around the nation are set to converge on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., this week to tell Congress there is no time to waste in passing health care reform legislation that provides quality health care for all.
As a congressional hearing revealed last week, health care reform must also rein in the most outrageous and abusive practices of the private insurance industry.
The June 25 rally and lobby day sponsored by Health Care for America Now! (HCAN) is expected to be the largest ever health care rally. Click here for more rally information from HCAN and text “HEALTH” to 94553 to receive updates on fast-moving health care reform activities throughout the summer.
House Passes Children’s Health Insurance Extension
With President Bush’s veto pen just days away from running out of ink, the U.S. House of Representatives today passed (289-139) a four-and-a-half year extension of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The bill will provide health care coverage to an additional 4 million low-income children, along with preserving coverage for the nearly 7 million already enrolled.
In 2007, despite bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, Bush twice vetoed similar bills. But President-elect Barack Obama says providing health care coverage for the nation’s children is a top priority and will sign the bill.
