Health care events 2010

[eridani]

Speak Out Now for Health Care Reform!

Tell Rick Larsen and all of the Democrats in Congress, that
we’ve had enough

Attend the MoveOn Rally: Noon, Tuesday, Jan 26, 2010
119 N Commercial. Bellingham
. In front of Rick Larsen's Office

MoveOn invites all who want health care reform to join the rally.

You can sign up for the rally at http://pol.moveon.org/event/healthemergency/100640 (You may need to copy and paste this link into your browser) MoveOn prefers that you sign up, but you do not have to sign up to attend the rally.


Bring your single payer signs.


The lesson from the Massachusetts election is not that Congress should “scale back”! The lesson is: we want the change we voted for! We want Congress to stand up to corporate interests and fight for the rest of us—starting with passing a strong health care reform bill, fighting for working people, and taking on Wall Street. Congress has the ability to pass real reform and that's what we are demanding. Millions of Americans still lack affordable, quality health care and Democrats need to keep fighting for them, not scale back.

A message from Chris Lindberg, UNHC President:

Rachel Degolia from UHCAN (United Health Care Action Network) wrote the following in an email received today. Please read it and take it to heart:
___________________________________________________________________________
Re: Staying Together in the Fight

There is intense debate among health care justice leaders on both the inside and outside of the legislative process as the national health care fight continues its agonizing twists and turns.

Staying together and building unity in this kind of situation is very difficult, but incredibly important.

Different groups may come out of this fight having taken different positions at different points along the way. However, we all know that after this round, the fight will be far from over. Our opponents are hoping we'll splinter, weaken and/or walk away.

So, UHCAN urges folks to consider how to make space for different interpretations of the outcomes of the current health care fight, and to work in ways that does not undercut our ability to continue to work together for the next stage of the fight.


________________________________________________________________

Aileen Satushek
Board Member
United for National Healthcare


PO Box 2272 | Bellingham, WA 98225 US

[eridani]

1. MoveON health care rallies 1/26

MoveOn.org and HCAN are hosting emergency rallies this coming Tuesday, Jan 26.

Seattle, Port Angeles and Bellingham, all at 12 noon.

As the title of the Seattle event says - We will not back down! We need to keep fighting strong for health care and not give in to the opposition.

Please spread widely, attend, and bring a friend!

26 Jan 2010, 12:00 PM We Will Not Back Down - 5 miles away
Federal Building, Downtown Seattle
250 registered participant(s) (500 maximum)
915 Second Ave
Seattle, WA 98174
Directions: Federal Building, downtown Seattle, Second and Madison. You can't miss it!
Hosted by David Hirning, Janette Burk
Description What don't President Obama and the Democrats understand about "change" as it relates to our broken health care system? Apparently, they have misinterpreted the clear voter anger in Massachusetts and elsewhere--that we need BOLDER leadership and STRONGER legislation, not weaker. We are fed up with compromises and appeasement of Republican obstructionism. We want real health care reform, and we want it NOW. The only way to get our message across is to have everyone show up at the Federal Building on Tuesday and make some noise. This is a crucial point in the fight for a better tomorrow--to the barricades!


Tuesday, 26 Jan 2010, 12:00 PM Health Care or Bust - 66 miles away
E. 5th & Peabody, Port Angeles
29 registered participant(s) (100 maximum)
332 E. 5th Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
Hosted by Richard Gray
Description Healthcare Reform is stalled. The Democrats are running scared and considering scaling it back. This is the opposite of what they need to do right now. The Massachusetts Senate race was lost because the Senate bill is too weak. Let's get out in the street one more time and urge them to act boldly and to pass the bill including a public option!


Tuesday, 26 Jan 2010, 12:00 PM Fight For Healthcare Reform - 83 miles away
Tower Building Downtown
44 registered participant(s) (200 maximum)
119 North Commercial Street
Bellingham, WA 98225
Directions: Rick Larsen's Office is at the Tower Building, Downtown Bellingham. 119 N Commercial St, across from the Mt. Baker Theater.
Hosted by Ellen McDermott
Description The Democrats are caving on Healthcare because of the Massachusetts special election. Don't let them get away with that! Stand up and demand that our representatives do their job and pass a Healthcare Reform Bill now!

--
Lynne Nguyen
Organizer, Health Care for America Now! campaign
Washington CAN!
www.washingtoncan.org
office: 206-805-6676
cell: 310-622-5456

[eridani]

2. Health care forum in Olympia 2/2

1) Single Payer advocate to speak at Olympia health care forum
Dr. Donald Mitchell, chair of the Western Washington chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), will be among a panel of health professionals to address the status of federal health care reform and its impact here in our state.

When: Tuesday, Feb 2, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Where: First Christian Church at Seventh Ave and Franklin St.

Dr. Mitchell received his MD degree from Harvard Medical School and received post-graduate training at Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington. He retired after almost 30 years of private practice in internal medicine.

This presentation will be the fourth in a series of seven weekly forums which began on Jan 12.

Dr. Mitchell is the first, and possibly the only speaker scheduled in the series who will bring a much needed single-payer perspective to the discussion.

http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/1094350.html

[eridani]

3. Cool! Donna Smith of Sicko fame will be at the PNHP--WW annual meeting 2/27

Donna Smith, community organizer and legislative representative for the National Nurses United (US largest nurses’ union with 150,000 members)/California Nurses Association and the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care will deliver the keynote address. Congressman Jim McDermott and state health care reform activist Larry Kalbwill also speak.

Smith was recently honored as the National Organization for Women’s (NOW’s) 2009 Woman of Action and first came to the public’s attention in Michael Moore’s 2007 movie, “SICKO.” She is a founder of the health care advocacy group American Patients United and has appeared on PBS’s Bill Moyer’s Journal.

Rep. Jim McDermott has represented Washington’s 7th Congressional District since 1989 and has been a leading advocate for health care reform. He is the sponsor of HR 1200, the American Health Security Act, which would guarantee health care to every American through universal, single-payer health care. Rep. McDermott will deliver an insider report on health care legislation in Congress.

Larry Kalb will address the moral imperative of universal coverage for guaranteed access to comprehensive, timely health care. He is a Democratic candidate for Congress in Washington’s 2nd District and has been Chair of the Progressive Caucus for the Washington State Democratic Party. Larry also served as the National Coordinator for the Health Care Working Group for the Progressive Democrats of America. He has been a board member of Health Care for All - Washington for six years and its President for the past two years. You can follow Larry’s campaign at http://kalbforcongress.org

The speakers will each make presentations and take questions from the audience. In his State of the Union address on January 27, President Obama asked, “But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and top insurance company abuses, let me know.” The presenters at this event will have answers to the President’s challenge.

Also on the program, a representative of the Mad as Hell Doctors will introduce a short video of their caravan trip across the country advocating for single payer Medicare for All. The Bob Wickline Family will provide musical entertainment. The PNHP Western Washington Chapter will present its 2010 John Geyman Health Justice Advocate Award to a worthy activist.

We also plan a workshop for activists with Donna and the Mad Docs on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. If you are interested in participating, stay tuned.

[eridani]

8. Real change writeup

http://www.realchangenews.org/index.php/site/archives/3893/

People are mad. This was the feeling at “Health Care Reform? What’s Next?” – the annual public meeting of the western Washington chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHPWW), a reform advocacy organization. Among the speakers were U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-7th District) and a health care activist who was featured in Michael Moore’s documentary “Sicko.”

The Kane Hall lecture room at the University of Washington was packed with people who came to listen to politicians and reformers discuss the need to overhaul the national health care system and create a single-payer program. The audience was composed mainly of middle-aged to senior citizens who above all else expressed anger at the current state of the health care industry and the political ineptitude around reform.

Don Mitchell, M.D., chair of the physicians’ group, quoted a New Yorker Magazine article: “At present the United States has the unenviable distinction as the only great industrialized nation without compulsory health insurance.”

McDermott, who is also a medical doctor, spoke about his experience in the current debates in Congress on health care. He summarized the opposition to a single-payer system, stating, “It has nothing to do with health care, nothing to do with the American people or the common good. It has to do with power and maintaining power. The opposition isn’t about any single policy.”

This drew cynical laughs and hisses from the audience. McDermott finished by talking about the feasibility of a publicly funded single-payer plan, relating it to the struggles of legislation during the Great Depression.

[eridani]

9. Larry Kalb speech on video

http://www.edmaysproductions.net/webvideo/kalb.wmv

[eridani]

4. United for Single Payer to meet 2/24 in Seattle

Join us to keep the Single Payer, Medicare for All mojo rolling. We know we have the answer people are looking for, so let's get out there and give it to them!

7 PM to 9 PM

Swedish Medical Center, Cherry Hill Campus

James Tower Conference Center, Room B

Please forward agenda items to Linda Jansen at jansen.l12 {at} gmail.com.

Among other things, we will discuss last minute publicity efforts for the exciting PNHP NW annual meeting (taking place on Feb. 27th at 7 pm).

_______________________________________________
UfSPblastlist mailing list
[e-mail]
http://unitedforsinglepayer.org/mailman/listinfo/ufspblastlist_unitedforsinglepayer.org

[eridani]

5. United for National Health Care meeting in Bellingham 2/25

This week we are holding a meeting to update our supporters and discuss future directions. Also check out the health care reform events, beginning with a film this Sunday. We are moving ahead to win health care for all Americans.


United for National Healthcare Meeting


Thursday, February 25, 2010, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

Meeting Agenda:

* Update on national health care reform legislation
* Discuss what needs to be done to win health care for all
* Report on UNHC incorporation and tax status
* Carpooling to Feb 27 PNHP meeting (Item #6, this newsletter)

[eridani]

6. "Money Driven Medicine" film in Bellingham 2/21

Film: Money Driven Medicine – February 21 –
Fairhaven College - Bellingham

The current "medical-industrial complex" has turned
health care in the U.S. into a profit-hungry system,
with billions squandered on unnecessary tests,
unproven and unwanted procedures, and
overpriced prescription drugs.

We can do better!


Facilitators:
Larry Kalb, Community Health Advocate;
Liz Mogford, Asst. Professor (WWU Sociology Dept.); and George Rofkar, MD

United for National Healthcare will staff an information table.

Admission to all venues is free. WTA serves Fairhaven College, and parking in front of the college (Lot C) is free after 5pm and on weekends.

FOR MORE INFORMATION and a complete schedule of films being shown from 2/18 through 2/27at the Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival, please contact:
bellinghamhrff {at} gmail.com
Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies http://wwu.edu/fairhaven (Under events)
Whatcom Human Rights Task Force http://www.whrtf.org/
ON FACEBOOK: “Bellingham Human Rights Film Festival”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________



Healthcare Not Warfare Vigils

These vigils take place every third Wednesday in front of

Congressman Larsen’s Bellingham Office.
Join the vigils in front of Cong. Rick Larsen's Bellingham Office to call attention to misplaced government spending priorities. This is an "every third Wednesday" event until the troops are home to protest what seems to be limitless spending for endless wars. We can pay for warfare but not healthcare, for bombs but not books, for weapons but not windmills, for occupations but not jobs.

As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq labor on, with no end in sight, it's become alarmingly clear that they have exacted a staggering human and financial toll on the Iraqi, Afghan, and American people. Something is terribly wrong.

Specifically, we are calling on Congressman Larsen to support HR 2454, calling for an exit strategy from Afghanistan; HR 3699, prohibiting any increase in the number of U.S. Armed Forces in Afghanistan, and to work to establish improved and expanded Medicare for All.
Next Vigil: Wednesday, March 17, 2010
12PM-1 PM

Where Rep.Rick Larsen's Office
119 N. Commercial St.
In Front Of Towers Building
Bellingham, WA

For more information, contact Bob Burr at 360-671-7813 or bobburr {at} comcast.net

[eridani]

7. Public rally against rising insurance rates, Tues. March 9th, 12 noon, Seattle

Public rally against rising insurance rates, Tues. March 9th, 12 noon

“We’ve had enough of insurance companies’ crimes: denied claims, inflated profits and soaring premiums.” So say the sponsors of the national actions around the U.S. next week, Tues. 9 March - Health Care for America Now! March 9th is the day America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), one of the major corporate insurance opponents of health care reform will be holding their national conference in D.C.

The Seattle rally will be held in front of the ‘crime scene’ at Regence BlueShield in downtown Seattle at 1800 9th Avenue, from 12 noon to 1 pm.

Bring your blue & yellow “Health Care for All = Single Payer” pickets. Attach your message, such as “Don’t Let Insurance Companies come between You and Your Provider” or “Expanded Medicare for All: Cheaper, Better, Sooner.”

[eridani]

10. United for National Healthcare Meeting Bellingham 3/25

Showing Film: Health, Money and Fear
Produced by Dr. Paul Hochfeld of The Mad Doctors

Thursday, March 25, 2010, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

Meeting Agenda:

* Update on national health care reform legislation
* Planning program by Donna Smith of Sicko, June 7, 2010 in Bellingham
* Planning events (i.e. Ski to Sea parade, summer bannering)
* Report on UNHC incorporation and tax status

For more information, call Aileen at [phone]

[eridani]

11. Health as a Societal Right: Is Capitalism Killing us? Mt. Vernon 3/26

The Seventh Annual Skagit Human Rights Festival presents:

Stephen Bezruchka, M.D.


Health as a Societal Right: Is Capitalism Killing us?
Friday, March 26, 7 pm
Phillip Tarro Theatre at Skagit Valley College
Mt. Vernon WA

For the past several months "Health Care" has been front and center in the news more often than not. The debate has been fierce, and the economic stakes are huge. This likely is because our own personal health is a topic near and dear to all of our hearts; and when we lose our good health, we want nothing more than access to high quality, affordable health care.

But what makes us - individually and as a society - healthy in the first place? According to Dr. Stephen Bezruchka, it isn't the state of our health care system, dysfunctional as it is. The roots of societal health are much more fundamental than that. Those roots reside in decisions we make, as a society, about such things as how to distribute wealth, how to provide for pregnant woman and children in the first few years of life, and the concept of
"relative poverty" - how we measure ourselves compared with others in our society.

As an emergency room physician with over 25 years of experience in practice, and a professor in the Department of Global Studies and Population Health at the University of Washington, Dr. Bezruchka studies and researches those factors which contribute to our poor standing among developed countries in such measures of health as longevity and infant
mortality. His conclusions may surprise some of us. His ideas lay fertile ground for lively and in-depth discussion about what kind of society we have, and how we may like to change it.

[eridani]

12. Rep. Larsen to host telephone town hall on economy, healthcare and more 3/23

March 22nd, 2010

As a note, I’ve decided to again live blog using the CoverItLive.com software I took advantage of during a recent Whatcom County Council meeting on proposed changes to their vacancy appointment process. If you can’t make this event, I’ll be covering it and you can follow it here on the blog.

Meanwhile, here’s a brief with some info on how you can participate directly:

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, is inviting constituents to participate in a telephone town hall on the economy, his recent vote to approve the healthcare reform legislation and other topics Tuesday, March 23.

The 6:30 p.m. forum is a chance for people to share their thoughts from around the 2nd Congressional District, Larsen said. That district includes Whatcom, Island, Snohomish, Skagit and San Juan Counties and a small portion of King County.

About 3,500 people participated in a healthcare telephone town hall Larsen hosted in July 2009.

To call in free, dial [phone]. Use code 13740 to get into the meeting.
Read more: http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/politics/#ixzz0ixtnC20M

[eridani]

13. Si[[prt Basic Health demo in Lakewood 3/28

Sunday, March 28, 3pm, Lakewood
Organize to Expand Basic Health and Other Services!


If you are interested in the fight for health care, come to this meeting! Bring your ideas on what is next for the Sisters Organize for Survival (SOS) campaign to save and expand Basic Health and other crucial services!

SOS organized to defend Basic Health and also fought for funding for all social services and education. Though the final Washington budget isn't approved yet, too many programs are clearly on the chopping block. Solutions being offered by elected officials include taxes on candy, pop, and cigarettes. These "sin" taxes hit the poorest the hardest and even worsen our already regressive tax structure.

SOS calls and has pushed for a steeply graduated income tax and a tax on corporate profits to pay for Basic Health, education and other vital services. The campaign made headway on the battle for both funding Basic Health and promoting progressive taxes this legislative session. Come and learn what went well, and what more needs to be done!

Sunday's gathering will feature a look at the national health care bill; a look at how Basic Health fared in the Washington state budget proposals (or final budget if there is one); and planning for upcoming actions.

Coffee Strong Café (a G.I. coffee house right outside of Ft. Lewis)
15109 Union Ave. SW, Lakewood WA 98498
(next to Subway restaurant)

Sisters Organize for Survival (SOS),
a grassroots campaign of Radical Women
206-722-6057 * 206-240-6463
RWseattl {at} @mindspring.com * www.SaveBasicHealth.org

[eridani]

14. NOTE: CANCELLED AT THE LAST MINUTE

CANCELED – Sun., March 28, SOS meeting at Coffee Strong Café in Lakewood

Sisters Organize for Survival (SOS) learned today that, due to a scheduling conflict at Coffee Strong Café, we will be unable to hold the meeting, “Organize to Expand Basic Health and Other Services!”

We regret any inconvenience and will reschedule the gathering on Basic Health. In the meantime, if you are interested in the fight for health care, contact SOS to get involved!

Sisters Organize for Survival (SOS),
a grassroots campaign of Radical Women
206-722-6057 * [e-mail]
www.SaveBasicHealth.org

[eridani]

15. United for National Healthcare Meeting; 4/22 in Bellingham

Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

Meeting Agenda:

* Update on national health care reform legislation followed by audience discussion
* Discussion of Donna Smith of Sicko Event, June 7, 2010 in Bellingham
* Discussion of future events (i.e. Ski to Sea parade, summer bannering)
* Report on UNHC incorporation and tax status

For more information, call Aileen at [phone]

[eridani]

16. Single payer and the new law; Port Angeles 5/18

We are not giving up on single payer, AKA Medicare for All. Since your contacts reach over to the Olympic Peninsula, would you please let them know about a town hall meeting the League of Women Voters Clallam County is sponsoring? Thanks. Lou

How the New Health Care Law Affects YOU
May 18, 7-9 PM at the Olympic Medical Center, Linkletter Hall, 939 Caroline Street, Port Angeles



How the Law Affects the Local Delivery of Health Care
Eric Lewis, CEO Olympic Medical Center

How the Law Affects Your Public Health Services
Dr. Tom Locke, Clallam/Jefferson Public Health Officer

Where Do We Go From Here
Dr. Don Mitchell, Chair of Western Washington Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)

[eridani]

17. United for National Health Care to meet in Bellingham 5/27

Since national healthcare reform fell short of providing the basic human right to healthcare to all, that goal remains ahead. Those who support a single-payer system as the only way to assure true universality for healthcare rights have not stopped working. United for National Healthcare continues to meet the fourth Thursday of each month to plan actions and events.

Donna Smith, who appeared in Michael Moore's film SiCKO, tours the country on behalf of National Nurses/California Nurses Association, to advocate for national single payer health care. On June 7, Ms. Smith is coming to Bellingham. Please see the article below the UNHC meeting notice for further details on the program, Donna Smith's life story, and her tireless work for health care reform.

If you would like posters (with a photo of Donna Smith) or half page handouts, please contact Aileen Satushek at [phone] or [e-mail]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United for National Healthcare Meeting
Thursday, May 27, 2010, 7:00 pm
Laborer's Hall (downstairs on left side of building)
1700 N State, Bellingham WA

Meeting Agenda:

* More Information on Donna Smith of Sicko Event, June 7, 2010 in Bellingham
* Discussion of future events (Human Race, freeway bannering, fund raiser dinner,
October Fest)

[eridani]

18. Donna Smith form SiCKO to speak in Bellingham 6/7

Donna Smith
Featured in Michael Moore’s film SiCKO
Monday, June 7, 2010, 7:00 pm
St. Luke’s Community Health Education Center
3333 Squalicum, Parkway, Bellingham WA


Sponsored by: *United for National Healthcare
*Jobs With Justice of Whatcom County
*Social Justice Committee of the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

Donna Smith was recently honored as the National Organization for Women’s (NOW) 2009 Woman of Action after she came to attention in Michael Moore’s 2007 movie SiCKO. Donna and her husband Larry were well educated, worked at good paying jobs, raised six children, and owned their own home. Despite having health insurance, disability insurance, and a health savings account, they were forced to move into their daughter’s basement after being unable to pay staggering health care costs---and were left in financial ruin. Larry suffered three heart attacks and Donna was diagnosed and treated for cancer. There is a scene in the movie SiCKO where Michael Moore takes Donna to Cuba to get the necessary treatment their U.S. health insurance wouldn’t cover.

After SiCKO, Ms. Smith founded American Patients for Universal Health Care (APUHC). As Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate for the National Nurses United/California Nurses Association, a 156,000 member organization working for the enactment of national single payer health care, she tours the country speaking about how the new federal health care law does not provide health care for all, nor does it eliminate medical bankruptcy. She points out why adopting a single payer health care system is the best path for achieving just and sustainable health care for all.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aileen Satushek
Board Member

[eridani]

19. Healthy Washington schedules community meetings on health care bill for June

Community forums are scheduled from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for the following locations:
Seattle on June 3rd, Mt Zion Baptist Church, 1634 19th Ave
Spokane on June 15th, Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 West Fort George Wright Dr
Vancouver on June 29th, TBD
Yakima on July 13th, Yakima Valley Community College, Parker Room, Deccio Building, South 16th Ave & Nob Hill Blvd.

Check out this site, http://www.nohla. org/linkPages/ healthWAbriefing /WAbriefing. php, for information presented on May 4th on National Health Care Reform and how it will affect Washington State.

[eridani]

20. Hands off Our Medicare! demonstration in Olympia 7/30

Hello PNHPWW Members and Supporters

President Obama created the National Commission of Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, (the “Deficit Commission”) that will be meeting in Washington DC in November to decide how to reduce the Federal deficit. The Commission is packed with people advising cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security and who have spent billions to privatize and destroy our safety nets. Single-payer healthcare supporters all over the country are joining together to preserve and protect Medicare from draconian cuts from members of the Commission,.

On this Friday, July 30th, at the State Capital in Olympia, the Washington State Legislature’s Joint Legislative Select Committee on Health Reform Implementation will be meeting at 9:00AM – 12 Noon, followed by advisory groups meeting from 1:30 - 3PM. This date corresponds to Medicare’s 45th birthday.

We need to say loud and clear: "HANDS OFF OUR MEDICARE!" We need Medicare for All! PNHPWW members, along with others from Health Care for All - Washington and United for Single Payer are planning a “Hands Off Our Medicare” street theater demonstration at the state capital at 12:30PM during the lunch recess, graphically illustrating the threat to Medicare and Social Security posed by the Deficit Commission. We will be meeting on the steps of the Insurance Building, 302 Sid Snyder Ave at 12 Noon. If you would like to attend and need a ride, please call 206 9636534 by Thursday evening.

This day of national demonstrations is being coordinated by Healthcare-Now. See more info at http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/

Best wishes

David McLanahan
Coordinator, PNHPWW

[eridani]

21. Insurance Commissioners to meet 8/14-8/17 in Seattle

August 14 –17: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) will be meeting in Seattle for their annual conference. This year, the new health reform law tasks them with making recommendations on regulations to HHS Secretary Sebelius. But insurance company lobbyists have turned their sights to the NAIC in a blatant attempt to hijack reform and increase their profits at our expense. Activists in Seattle are organizing a week of actions around this event. We suggest the following for Whatcom County folks:

Tell WA State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler to make health care affordable and make the insurance companies accountable. [phone]
Rally in Seattle: NAIC Conference Confrontation
Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 10am
WA State Convention Center, Seattle WA,
Meet at the Cheesecake Factory at 700 Pike St, Seattle, WA


August 16th - Social Security Birthday: Tell Congress & the President:
NO Corporate Take Over of Social Security
Congressional Switchboard – [phone]
The White House – [phone]

[eridani]

23. There will be two separate events at the NAIC convention

PNHPWW members are involved with planning and participating in a street demonstration in front of the Sheraton Hotel on Monday, August 16th at 12:00 noon. The occasion is the quarterly meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, converging on Seattle from all across the country. A most important agenda item will be how the Commissioners will interpret and enforce the regulations of the new health care legislation. 1400 lobbyists representing the medical industrial complex will also be there to make sure their interests are strongly represented. Our message asks the Commissioners “Which Side are You On?” - The Corporations or We the People? There will be single payer activists from PNHPWW, HCFA-Wa, United for Single Payer, Single Payer Vashon and the Backbone Campaign carrying signs, leafleting (see attached), doing media-friendly street theater with giant puppets and singing led by Bob Wickline. Final signage still under consideration – but “Protect the People, Not Profits” and “Medicare for All” will be included. No need to RSVP, but please let us know if you definitely will be there.

Washington-CAN is also coordinating a demonstration for the Insurance Commissioners in which they invite us to participate ( http://washingtoncan.org/wordpress/ ). They will meet at the Cheesecake Factory at 7th & Pike at 10AM on Saturday, August 14th. In WaCAN’s words “We will clean up and disinfect the convention center of lobbyist dirty tricks, grime, and sleaze, urge our nations state insurance commissioners, superintendents, & directors to recommend tough health plan rules, and demand health insurance companies agree to a strict regulatory framework.” This action involves demonstrators wearing surgical masks, passing them out and “sanitizing” conference participants with hand washing packets as they enter the Washington State Convention Center for the meetings.

[eridani]

22. Potluck to support deserving med student: Seattle 8/15

Hello PNHPWW Members and Supporters

After a short vacation to visit with family and friends, Ramon Bernal is returning to Havana to begin his fourth year at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM). ELAM, the world’s largest medical school, provides a free medical education to about 10,000 students from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa – as well as about 120 from the US, who commit to return to their home countries to practice in underserved communities.

PNHPWW has committed to do what we can to help support Ramon during his medical education and to convince him to practice in Western Washington when he finishes. Since he first left for Cuba in August 2007, he has been sending month-by-month reports (now 26 installments) on his thoughts, experiences and photographs. These are posted on his home page on the PNHPWW web site at - http://www.pnhpwesternwashington.org/PAGES/Ramon/ramon_home_page.htm

In honor of Ramon, we are hosting a potluck on Sunday, August 15th, 4-8PM, in West Seattle at 8424 California Ave SW, 98136. The host will provide some Cuban food and plenty of mint & lime for mojitos. Ramon will show some slides of his ELAM experiences.

Please RSVP and pass on the invite to others who may be interested in meeting this outstanding individual.

Best Wishes

David McLanahan

[eridani]

24. PNHPWW August Monthly Meeting; Seattle 8/18

PNHPWW August Monthly Meeting to be held in the Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus Conference Center Auditorium on Wednesday, August 18th, 7-8:30PM. We are fortunate to have Hank Abrons, MD as Chair of Executive Committee PNHP California and member of the PNHP National Board as our speaker – who will appear on the big screen via Skype. Hank’s talk, “Single Payer Strategy – the PNHP - California Chapter Moves Forward” will describe the reorganizing of the PNHP-California Chapter, hiring of an Executive Director to facilitate and oversee activities and a Medical Student Intern to help coordinate SP in all the medical schools, the California PNHP 2010 Strategic Plan (attached), the outlook for state single payer legislation SB810 and the possibility of PNHP West Coast chapters reinforcing each other’s resources & activities. Please take a look at the PNHP-Cal web site - http://pnhpcalifornia.org/ for lots of ideas that would be useful for our chapter.

[eridani]

25. Deborah Senn at next PNHP meeting 9/14 in Seattle

The PNHPWW September 15th Monthly Meeting will be held in the Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus Conference Center Auditorium on Wednesday, September 15th, 7-8:30PM. We are fortunate to have Deborah Senn as our guest speaker. She was the Washington State Insurance Commissioner from 1993–2001. As commissioner, she took an unyielding consumer advocate's approach to the insurance companies she regulated, which earned her praise from Ralph Nader, who called her "the best insurance commissioner in the United States."

We have asked Ms Senn to discuss her take on what state insurance commissioners are likely to do regarding P-PACA. Is there enough power there to really take on the insurance industry and make a difference? Of course, as PNHP is committed to single payer, Medicare for All, we'd like to pick her brain on how we might best move down the road to single payer at the state level.

Best wishes

David McLanahan
Coordinator, PNHPWW

[eridani]

26. Meeting to save Social Security and Medicare in Seattle 9/18

We would like to invite your organization to help establish a working group to preserve Medicare AND Social Security. Both programs are threatened by a Deficit Reduction Committee that is meeting in private. In addition, it is known that many members of this Committee are philosophically opposed to entitlement programs in general, and Medicare and Social Security in particular.

The general public takes both programs for granted, and we need a massive campaign to raise public awareness of the very serious threats to both. We are putting Medicare first in order to make sure that this critical program is protected along with Social Security.

Some organizations are focusing on Social Security alone, and we urge you to connect with those organizations as well. We are emphasizing the need to preserve Medicare as well as Social Security because both programs are threatened by excessive zeal in reducing the federal deficit: Social Security by a move to cut benefits and/or cancel repayment of its reserves, which have been borrowed by the government for years in accounting maneuvers to make the deficit look smaller than it is, and Medicare by provisions of the recent health reform act that will arbitrarily cut payments for actual medical care if health care costs continue to rise faster than inflation.

Social Security and Medicare work together, and weakening either one will affect the effectiveness of both. Both programs are entitlements that people have paid into with every paycheck (and are therefore entitled to receive payouts from), both programs benefit families (for example: people who are disabled are entitled to Medicare coverage even if their families have too much money for them to qualify for SSI monthly support payments), and both programs are more efficient than private pensions or health insurance. We owe it to future generations to preserve and strengthen both.

Social Security lifted millions of elderly out of poverty, but Medicare was enacted 30 years later because the elderly were again becoming impoverished, this time by medical costs. Their adult children were bearing the brunt of this by having to find a way to pay Grandma's doctor and hospital bills while also trying to support their own children. Shifting the expenses of living as an elder or of medical care of the elderly onto the elderly themselves will just bring back the poverty we thought we'd prevented when these two programs were created.

We are planning a physical meeting in the Seattle area for September 18, with teleconferencing available, One of the projects we are working on is to get as many members of Congress and candidates to sign pledges against cutting Social Security or Medicare (attached). We would also like to know what other kinds of outreach to defend these programs our organizations can work together on. If you are interested, please let us know if someone from your organization can attend. fomalhaut2003 {at} yahoo.com

[eridani]

27. Save Medicare meeting in Seattle 9/23

Meet the 18 people who could determine the fate of Medicare and Social Security

http://www.businessinsider.com/meet-18-people-who-could-determine-the-fate-of-social-security-2010-8

Last week former Republican Senator Alan Simpson, who co-chairs the White House's fiscal commission, drew a storm of criticism for comparing Social Security to a "cow with 310 million tits." But Titgate isn't really about language. It's about both Simpson himself -- who has long viewed Social Security as a bloated program for spoiled old people -- and about the commission as a whole.

Comprised of nine tax-averse Republicans and nine Democrats, many of whom have expressed support for Social Security changes in the past, the commission will almost certainly be biased toward benefit cuts, and away from raising taxes, when it presents its report on December 1, 2010

We would like to invite organizations and individuals to help establish a working group to preserve Medicare AND Social Security. Both programs are threatened by a Deficit Reduction Committee that is meeting in private. In addition, it is known that many members of this Committee are philosophically opposed to entitlement programs in general, and Medicare and Social Security in particular.

The general public takes both programs for granted, and we need a massive campaign to raise public awareness of the very serious threats to both. We are putting Medicare first in order to make sure that this critical program is protected along with Social Security.

We are planning a physical meeting in the Seattle area for September 25. One of the projects we are working on is to get as many members of Congress and candidates to sign pledges against cutting Social Security or Medicare. We would also like to know what other kinds of outreach to defend these programs our organizations can work together on. If you are interested, please let us know if someone from your organization can attend.


Place: Beacon Hill Library
2821 Beacon Ave S
Seattle, WA 98144

Time: 10AM-12AM

Contacts: Kathleen Myers: kdm00001 {at} gmail.com
206-412-3655
Martha Koester: fomalhaut2003 {at} yahoo.com
206-762-6417 (H); 206-491-4542 (C)

[eridani]

28. Save Medicare and Social Security meeting in Seattle 10/9

National organizations

Hands Off Our Medicare! http://www.handsoffourmedicare.org/handsoff//
Social Security Works http://socialsecurity-works.org/
Strengthen Social Security http://strengthensocialsecurity.org/

Washington State organizations

Social Security Works-WA http://ssworkswa.org/
Don’t Cut Our Medicare- http://dontcutourmedicare.org/

The next meeting of Don’t Cut Our Medicare will be on
October 9th from 10AM-1PM at
Douglass-Truth Library
2300 East Yesler Way
Seattle, Washington 98122

Online connections—contact frequently!

Tell the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform that they should not cut Social Security or Medicare, and that there are many jobs that it is not possible to do until you are 70. Working people have paid into these programs their entire lives, and we deserve payouts.
[e-mail]

Demand that Democrats develop spines and stand up for the programs that they originated.
http://my.democrats.org/page/s/contactissues

Let Congress and the White House know that raising retirement age, cutting benefits and privatization are unacceptable. http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
202-456-1111
Congress toll free number: 1-866-220-0044

[uppityperson]

29. Uniform Medical Plan insurance changes for WA (State employees, insured & providers plz read)

link to what I just posted with links of whom to contact:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=184&topic_id=18664&mesg_id=18664

[eridani]

30. Defend Whatcom County's WIC program

Action Alert!


An important health resource in our community is being threatened with significant cuts. We need you to phone or email the Whatcom County Council and tell them to keep WIC in the health department.

You can leave a message for all Council members at 676-6690 or e-mail them all at [e-mail]

This program provides milk, cheese, cereal and other basic food for pregnant mothers and children, among other needed services for low-income mothers, children as well as fathers. Families need this support now more than ever. Act now!

Please see the message below from Whatcom County Jobs with Justice co-chair Betsy Pernotto for more information.

Thanks for all of your support!

Chris Lindberg
President
United for National Healthcare


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

October 18, 2010
From: Betsy Pernotto
Subject: Save WIC

Dear Friends,

Many of you probably read in the Bellingham Herald yesterday that the Whatcom County Health Department is planning to outsource the WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program) to save money. I work at WIC and my co-workers and I have seen plans for the outsourcing--- we know WIC services will be dramatically reduced in quality and quantity. This is a financially challenging time for many of our clients as they face unemployment, a loss of health insurance, a loss of childcare subsidies and service cuts in many areas. This is not the time to balance the budget on the backs of mothers and children by cutting services to the nearly 2400 low-income women, infants and children that WIC serves in the Health Department.

Please call or e-mail County Council and tell them to KEEP WIC IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. You can leave a message for all Council members at 676-6690 or e-mail them all at [e-mail]

Thank you for your support,
Betsy Pernotto


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chris Lindberg
President
United for National Healthcare
PO Box 2272 | Bellingham, WA 98225 US

[eridani]

31. Meeting time and place change for Don't Cut Our Medicare

Our original time was in conflict with the Restore Sanity rally--a great outreach opportunity to alert people to the dangers of cuts in Medicare and Social Security.

http://www.sanityseattle.com/
The rally is scheduled from 9AM to noon, which should give us time to head over to the library afterwards.

Given the rally's emphasis on humor over policy wonkery, I've made up some packets of dry catfood which I will be handing out as Senior Vittles, together with information about fighting the Deficit Commission, aka the Catfood Commission. I'll have compies of the leaflet by themselves for those without cats or dogs.

If you don't want to deal with crowds, just come to our regular meeting.

When: Saturday, October 30th
Place: Beacon Hill Library, 2821 Beacon Ave S, Seattle 98144
Time: 1:00-3:00pm

Martha Koester
for http://dontcutourmedicare.org/

[eridani]

32. Health Care for All-WA annual meeting 11/7 in Seattle

HCFA-WA 2010 Annual Meeting
Sunday, November 7th
Horizon House Performance Hall
900 University St. • Seattle WA

12:30 pm – Registration & Potluck
1 pm – Business Meeting
2 – 3:30 pm – Public Program

Featured Speakers:
Mark Trahant,
a Kaiser Media Fellow,
former editor of Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
“Lessons about health care reform
from the Indian Health System”

George W. Schneider,
Past president, Washington State Medical Association,
Commissioner of WBHP Advisory Council, 1993
“What to look for in a well-designed
State Single Payer Plan”

§ § §

“Save Medicare / Improve Medicare / Expand Medicare for All!

[eridani]

33. Program notes

MARK TRAHANT BIOGRAPHY

Mark Trahant is an independent journalist, teacher, and a “Twitter poet.” He was a 2009-10 Kaiser Media Fellow writing about health care reform. He recently completed The Last Great Battle of the Indian Wars: Henry Jackson, Forrest Gerard and the campaign for self-determination for America’s tribes. The book is about the partnership between Sen. Jackson and Gerard that launched a major series of reforms ranging from the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

Trahant writes daily “news poems” on Twitter: four line rhymes based on current events under the handle “NewsRimes4lines.”

He is the former editor of the editorial page for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer where he chaired the daily editorial board, directed a staff of writers, editors and a cartoonist.

You can connect with Mark at www.marktrahant.com where you can read his “Monday Post” updated each week; “Daybook” with daily reactions to the news, and especially “TrahantReports: Indian Country & health care reform” where Mark writes:

I’ve spent the past year writing about health care reform and the implications for Indian Country.

Now, I am adding new topics to the mix: Indian Country and federal policy, economics, tribal governments, gaming, social media and, well, I think I’m interested in everything.

Look for links on our webpage
www.healthcareforallwa.org.


HCFA-WA ANNUAL MEETING

Sun. 7th November 2010
12:30 – 3:30 pm

Horizon House • Performance Hall
900 University Street • Seattle WA

12:30 PM - Registration and Lunch

1:00 PM - Business Meeting
Welcome
Survey of 2010
Action Items
Election of Officers for 2011
President’s Address by Larry Kalb

2:00 PM – Dessert

2:15 PM - Program Meeting
Mark Trahant,
Kaiser Media Fellow and
former editor of Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
“Lessons about health care reform
from the Indian Health System”

3:00 PM Next steps
PNHP national strategy for 2011 - Don Mitchell
One Payer States strategy for 2011 – Roger Fulton
Next Steps toward Universal Health Care - Chuck Richards


3:30 PM ADJOURN


A BRIEF HISTORY OF HEALTH CARE FOR ALL-WA

Washington State’s first attempt at providing health care for all occurred in 1987 with Jim McDermott’s delivery of the Basic Health Plan. Just three years later there was growing national interest in universal health care.

In the 1990 session of the WA legislature, state residents were electrified by the proposal of House Health Care Committee Chairman Rep. Dennis Braddock which called for a health care system run by the state. His proposal was to develop a system similar to British Columbia's in which the government, rather than private companies, provides health insurance. Instead, the legislature created a 17 member Commission to study options.

By 1992 over 2000 Washington residents took up the challenge and began collecting signatures on Initiative 141 for Braddock’s proposed Single Payer plan from July through November. At the same time, citizens were organizing across the nation for health care reform. One of several national groups that formed was Single Payer Across the Nation (SPAN), a movement that was called "the white coat rebellion" by the New York Times.

Governor-elect Mike Lowry opposed a citizens’ initiative aimed at forcing the Legislature to pass major health care reforms said he preferred that initiative backers drop their efforts and give him a chance to push a plan for affordable and universal health care through the Legislature. The year 1993 saw WA-SPAN members testifying before legislative committees, criticizing proposals for universal health care that relied on private insurance carriers.

After Republicans took over Congress and the Washington State legislature in November 1994, both national proposals for health care reform and the state-wide plan passed by the WA legislature were dismantled.

In 1994, the organization that later became Health Care for All—Washington, was re-established as the Washington Single Payer Action Network. Its leadership included highly regarded experts on health care, including three past presidents of the Washington State Medical Association.

Conferences on the reorganization of health care were held, drawing nationally recognized figures such as Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

By 1998, together with experts on ERISA law, key members of what was now called Health Care 2000 were writing single payer legislation. In 2000 the plan was filed as Initiative 725, generating tremendous support from activists across the state and garnering almost enough signatures to go on the ballot.

As the year 2000 receded into the distance, the organization changed its name yet again to Health Care for All –Washington. Further refinement of the initiative language resulted in the Washington Health Security Trust (WHST) bill, which was introduced in 2003, 2005, and 2007, and has attracted as many as 23 co-sponsors. In 2009, Rep. Sherry Appleton was prime sponsor as she is again this year.

2007 saw extensive joint committee hearings on models to increase health care access for Washington state residents. Physicians for a National Health Care Program –Western Washington, the Washington Health Security Coalition and Health Care for All –Washington gave expert testimony for the WHST at these hearings. As a result, the single payer model was chosen as one of four to be evaluated financially. Unfortunately, severe budget worries and the national debate postponed the movement in our state toward universal health care.

Before going on line in 2010, HCFA-WA has been mailing out close to 2000 quarterly newsletters. Given that national reform has not brought us true universal care, we continue to advocate for the WHST, and to this end have collaborated with organizations inside the state and out. Other states, too, are marshalling forces in favor of health care for all; we are one of the thirteen states which have formed the One Payer States network. Our counterpart in California has now twice succeeded in passing their single payer bill through the California legislature. Vermont has just elected a governor who has approached Obama for a waiver to establish single payer health care. We hope that successes at the state level will eventually lead to a national health care system that leaves no one out. Please join us in this effort.

[eridani]

34. Defend Whatcom County's WIC program Bellingham 11/9

Please Attend the Nov 9 Whatcom County Council Meeting


Tell the County Council to Save Whatcom’s New Mothers, Infants and Our Public Health

While we have made progress to save Whatcom County’s WIC Program (Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition), a final showdown is looming. County Health Department managers are trying to reduce the quality, service volumes, and democratic accountability of WIC by privatizing frontline staff functions. For more background, see below please.

Cut the Real Fat First! One Vote Away


We are proposing that budget savings can be accomplished by other ways than balancing the County budget on new mothers, infants, and public health. Proposed alternatives include:
Pay cuts to the County Executive and top-manager positions much like a neighboring government just imposed. A Council member has suggested this after the County Executive snuck a large pay raise.
Pursuing the State’s offer to help fund WIC programs like in Whatcom County through grants.
Relocating the WIC offices to a much less expensive facility. A real-estate agent commented that the rent in the current facility appears to be above-market value.

Factoring into the budget lost cost-savings when responding to future public health decline or disasters. The County’s Health Officer Dr. Greg Stern, M.D. declared that WIC frontline staff is an important element to protecting our public health at the most recent County Council session.

Take action one more time…
On Tuesday, November 9 at 7 pm the County Council holds a public hearing on the budget and may take a final vote then. We still have time to influence that decision. On Tuesday, November 2 during a budget session, the Council took a preliminary vote of 4-3 to not fund the WIC program (Brenner, Mann and Weimer supported funding WIC). Here's what you can do:

1. E-mail County Council member Kathy Kershner [e-mail] and ask her to please vote yes to support keeping WIC in the Health Department. Thank you for sending previous emails as the Council members say they are making a big difference

2. Call or e-mail County Executive Pete Kremen and ask him to please put WIC back in the budget and to not balance the budget on the backs of women, infants and children. 676-6717 and [e-mail]
.
3. Come to the County Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7 pm in the County Courthouse, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham WA 98225. We will ask people who are there supporting WIC to stand so the Council can see the show of support. Thank you to those of you who attended previous sessions. We’ve had well over 30 residents at each of the multiple sessions and the Council does take clear notice since we are the majority group in the room.

More Background

Frontline WIC workers have seen management's plans and have declared that WIC services will be dramatically reduced in quality, quantity, and democratic accountability. Management is not proposing to privatize their own lucrative positions.

This is a financially challenging time for many WIC clients as they face unemployment, a loss of health insurance, a loss of childcare subsidies and service cuts in many areas. This is not the time to balance the budget on the backs of mothers and children by cutting services to the nearly 2400 low-income women, infants and children that WIC serves in the Health Department. The WIC program does not need one more privatized bureaucratic layer between taxpayer democratic accountability and a currently well-functioning program.

The attack on WIC is part of a bigger shift from government frontline service to isolated managerial policy development. What's next. Replacing County deputies with mall guard patrols and desk-bound criminologists?

Marv Prinsen,
Jobs with Justice
Whatcom County Organizing Committee Co-Chair

Washington State Jobs with Justice Office
3049 S,. 36th St. #201
Tacoma WA 98409-5801
or PO Box 9662, Seattle WA 98109

[phone],
[e-mail]
http://www.wsjwj.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Lindberg
President
United for National Healthcare

[eridani]

35. Strategy meeting coming up soon

The mid-term election results are in. As you know, the Republicans have an overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives and have said that they will attempt to repeal the 2010 federal health care reform law.

We urge you to not get discouraged by the mid term election. The majority of Americans still support health care reform. Please read the two articles at the end of this newsletter

1) Don McCanne of Physicians for a National Health Program presents recent favorable developments in the movement to win single payer health care;

2) Melinda Gibson of Health Care for America Now introduces an article from the Huffington Post blog that demonstrates that the majority of Americans support health care reform.

In the near future, United for National Healthcare will have a supporters meeting at which we will discuss where we go from here. We have to consider the federal health care reform law, the current political reality, and our goal of achieving a national single payer health care system. Please e-mail me or call me (360-398-2295) if you would like to attend a supporters meeting in late November or early December.


Aileen Satushek
Board Member
United for National Healthcare
360-398-2295

[eridani]

37. Making progress---------

Thank you to everyone who took the time to call or e-mail County Council members or Executive Kremen asking them to keep WIC in the Health Department. Our efforts to convince elected officials in Whatcom County to keep the WIC Program in the Whatcom County Health Department have made a difference! The WIC program provides food, nutritional counseling and referral to social services to pregnant women, mothers, infants, and children.


At the November 9 County Council meeting budget hearing, County Executive Kremen announced that after hearing from constituents, he supported keeping WIC in the Health Department. He promised to use $150,000 from the County General Fund both in 2011 and 2012 to help provide adequate funding for WIC. The Whatcom County Council voted unanimously to support Kremen's proposal. This money is a public commitment that we as a County care about the health and nutrition of low-income families in our community.

But--the final budget has not yet passed and there is some evidence of backpedaling on the $150,000. The budget will be voted on Tuesday, November 23 and we need to remain vigilant to make sure the money that Executive Kremen promised is kept in the budget to help support WIC.


This is a financially challenging time for many WIC clients as they face unemployment, a loss of health insurance, a loss of childcare subsidies and service cuts in many areas. This is not the time to balance the budget on the backs of mothers and children by cutting services to the nearly 2400 low-income women, infants, and children that WIC serves in the Health Department. The WIC program does not need one more privatized bureaucratic layer between taxpayer democratic accountability and a currently well-functioning program.


Here's how you can help:

1) E-mail Executive Kremen ( [e-mail]) and thank him for putting WIC back in the budget. Tell him to provide the $150,000 of General Fund money for both 2011 and 2012 that he promised on November 9.

2) E-mail County Council members ( [e-mail]) and thank them for supporting the resolution to provide $150,000 from the General Fund in both 2011 and 2012 and ask them to support this again when the Council votes on Tuesday, November 23.

3) Come to the County Council meeting on Tuesday, November 23 at 7 pm to hold our elected officials accountable as they vote on the budget. Thanks again for all your support, Betsy Pernotto


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Lindberg
President
United for National Healthcare

[eridani]

36. Don't Cut Our Medicare to meeti in Seattle Saturday 11/20

Next meeting of Don't Cut Our Medicare will be
Saturday 11/20 10an-12pm at
the Douglass-Truth Library
2300 E Yesler Way
Seattle, WA 98122

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/eridani/473

It's quite bad enough that the Catfood Commission wants to raise the Social Security Retirement age to 69 (and even the age that you can collect benefits from 62 to 64) and cut current retiree benefits. They also want to privatize Medicare! Please join us to plan further organzational outreach.

http://dontcutourmedicare.org/

[eridani]

38. Next meeting 12/4 in Seattle

Our next meeting will be

The next meeting of Don’t Cut Our Medicare will be on
Saturday 12/4 from 1pm-4pm
Beacon Hill Library
2821 Beacon Ave S
Seattle, WA 98144

[eridani]

39. United for Single Payer meeting; Seattle 12/1

UfSP Proposed Agenda
Dec 1 7PM (2 hr meeting)
Swedish/Cherry Hill Campus
James Conf Room
Welcome and introductions
Approval of Minutes
Financial Report

Old Business:
Catfood Commission Update
Single Payer States

New Business:
What Kind of organization are we and what are our plans for next year?
Status of the Web site
Announcements
Moderator: Jim Squire

Next meeting Dec 15 at 6 PM