Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare

Working for passage of the "United States National Health Insurance Act", also known as,

the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act" (H.R. 676)

	SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES 2008 (Summary of Activities 2006-07) The Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare has been actively promoting HR 676, “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All” since 2006. In addition to our monthly meetings, our “Postcards to Congress” campaign, our on-going outreach to the community through letter to the editor writing, our continually updated website, our outreach to individual media and political opinion makers and our frequent e-mail contact with the community, the Coalition has engaged in the following activities in 2008: Co-sponsored Events: National Day of Protest against insurance companies at Highmark Blue Cross/ Blue Shield.(photos, story, articles) “Medicare Birthday Party” with Senator Ferlo bringing attention to the importance of protecting traditional Medicare from privatization and to advocate HR 676. More than 400 hear elected officials and candidates speak. (photos), (story). Press Conference at the DNC Platform Committee Meeting with Senator Ferlo to push for HR 676. Congressman John Conyers spoke. (story, video, article, leaflet). Healthcare Justice Vigil to remember the thousands lost to the broken health insurance system and to those still fighting. Lunch and presentation of the film, "HR 676: The Single-Payer Solution", in Greensburg. (YouTube) “SiCKO Road Show - From SiCKO to Sanity” at Carnegie Mellon University. Donna Smith from the movie “SiCKO” and Geri Jenkins, RN, a member of the California Nurses Association‘s Council of Presidents, came to town on their national tour. Candidates for Congress attended and spoke. Presentations to: Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church Rodef Shalom Congregation East Liberty Presbyterian Church Allegheny County Bar Association Health Law Section Pittsburgh Presbytery (regional) General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (national) Slippery Rock University (retired faculty) United Methodist School of Mission (Grove City) OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (Coalition team members taught a six week class entitled "National Health Care, Right or Privilege?") Temple Sinai McKnight United Methodist Church (Pittsburgh). Bellefield Area Citizens Association Community House Presbyterian Church Session (governing board) League of Women Voters Groups (North Hills, South Hills, Squirrel Hill) Physicians for a National Health Program Annual Meeting, Participation in panel discussion on Single-Payer Overture passed by Presbyterian Church USA, San Diego, CA.. National Leadership Conference For Guaranteed Health Care, Participation in panel discussion on Single-Payer Overture passed by Presbyterian Church USA, Washington, D.C. Study Group Meetings on these topics: “Healthcare in France, Germany, Canada, and the VA”. “Discussion with Representatives of Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield” “Australia's Healthcare System” (with Pittsburgh psychiatrist who lived and practiced in Australia) “Medicare Privatization” “The Failure of the Massachusetts Plan” Candidate Contact: Steering Committee members meet with individual Democratic Congressional candidates in 18th CD. Steering Committee members meet with Congressional Candidate Kathy Dahlkemper, running in the 3rd CD. Leafleting at events and dialogue with candidates: (See Leaflets page for leaflets used for various events.) Former President Bill Clinton (representing Hilary Clinton). Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton at the Allegheny County Labor Council meeting. ADA Candidate Forum for candidates for Congress in the 18th CD. All three Democratic candidates declared support for HR 676. Democratic Candidates for the 18th Congressional District Forum, LWV “Discussion on Health Care” at Westmoreland Co. Community College, 18th CD. Two public meetings with Congressmen Jason Altmire (4th CD) and Tim Murphy (18th CD). (Written questions only, no dialog permitted). League of Women Voters “Candidates Forum” in the 18th CD (O’Donnell-Murphy Debate), (Written questions only, no dialog permitted). Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, Interaction on stage with candidates for Congress regarding their support for HR 676. Leafleting at other events: *(See Leaflets page for leaflets used for various events.)* St. Patrick’s Day Parade, downtown Pittsburgh. Labor Day Parade, leafleting the crowd and marching (carrying single-payer banner) with Branch 84 Nat. Assoc. of Letter Carriers. Distributed approximately 4000 leaflets on labor support for HR 676, highlighting positions of the candidates in 18th Congressional District on healthcare. Healthcare Forum at Duquesne University. Barack Obama, campaign appearance. Just Harvest/Just Vote and Hill House Association’s Candidate Forum Showing and discussion of “SiCKO” at the Westmoreland County Community College. Healthy Families Day, sidewalk event organized by Senator Ferlo in New Kensington. Universal Healthcare Debate, Christ United Methodist Church, Bethel Park. Nader for President Rally, University of Pittsburgh. Voter Education Activity Door-knocking and leafleting in the 3rd Congressional District, educating voters about HR 676 and describing the primary election candidates’ positions. April and May. Door-knocking and leafleting in the 18th Congressional District educating voters about HR 676 and describing the candidates’ positions. October and November. On-Line Activity Spanish language version of www.WPaSinglePayer posted. Coalition’s Facebook and MySpace pages started. BACK TO HOME PAGE

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES 2008

(Summary of Activities 2006-07)

The Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare has been actively promoting HR 676, “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All” since 2006. In addition to our monthly meetings, our “Postcards to Congress” campaign, our on-going outreach to the community through letter to the editor writing, our continually updated website, our outreach to individual media and political opinion makers and our frequent e-mail contact with the community, the Coalition has engaged in the following activities in 2008:

Co-sponsored Events:

National Day of Protest against insurance companies at Highmark Blue Cross/ Blue Shield.(photos, story, articles)

“Medicare Birthday Party” with Senator Ferlo bringing attention to the importance of protecting traditional Medicare from privatization and to advocate HR 676. More than 400 hear elected officials and candidates speak. (photos), (story).

Press Conference at the DNC Platform Committee Meeting with Senator Ferlo to push for HR 676. Congressman John Conyers spoke. (story, video, article, leaflet).

Healthcare Justice Vigil to remember the thousands lost to the broken health insurance system and to those still fighting.

Lunch and presentation of the film, "HR 676: The Single-Payer Solution", in Greensburg. (YouTube)

“SiCKO Road Show - From SiCKO to Sanity” at Carnegie Mellon University. Donna Smith from the movie “SiCKO” and Geri Jenkins, RN, a member of the California Nurses Association‘s Council of Presidents, came to town on their national tour. Candidates for Congress attended and spoke.

Presentations to:
Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church
Rodef Shalom Congregation
East Liberty Presbyterian Church
Allegheny County Bar Association Health Law Section
Pittsburgh Presbytery (regional)
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (national)
Slippery Rock University (retired faculty)
United Methodist School of Mission (Grove City)
OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute at Carnegie Mellon University (Coalition team members taught a six week class entitled "National Health Care, Right or Privilege?")
Temple Sinai
McKnight United Methodist Church (Pittsburgh).
Bellefield Area Citizens Association
Community House Presbyterian Church Session (governing board)
League of Women Voters Groups (North Hills, South Hills, Squirrel Hill)
Physicians for a National Health Program Annual Meeting, Participation in panel discussion on Single-Payer Overture passed by Presbyterian Church USA, San Diego, CA..
National Leadership Conference For Guaranteed Health Care, Participation in panel discussion on Single-Payer Overture passed by Presbyterian Church USA, Washington, D.C.

Study Group Meetings on these topics:

“Healthcare in France, Germany, Canada, and the VA”.

“Discussion with Representatives of Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield”

“Australia's Healthcare System” (with Pittsburgh psychiatrist who lived and practiced in Australia)

“Medicare Privatization”

“The Failure of the Massachusetts Plan”

Candidate Contact:

Steering Committee members meet with individual Democratic Congressional candidates in 18th CD.

Steering Committee members meet with Congressional Candidate Kathy Dahlkemper, running in the 3rd CD.

Leafleting at events and dialogue with candidates: (See Leaflets page for leaflets used for various events.)

Former President Bill Clinton (representing Hilary Clinton).

Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton at the Allegheny County Labor Council meeting.

ADA Candidate Forum for candidates for Congress in the 18th CD. All three Democratic candidates declared support for HR 676.

Democratic Candidates for the 18th Congressional District Forum, LWV

“Discussion on Health Care” at Westmoreland Co. Community College, 18th CD.

Two public meetings with Congressmen Jason Altmire (4th CD) and Tim Murphy (18th CD). (Written questions only, no dialog permitted).

League of Women Voters “Candidates Forum” in the 18th CD (O’Donnell-Murphy Debate), (Written questions only, no dialog permitted).

Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network, Interaction on stage with candidates for Congress regarding their support for HR 676.

Leafleting at other events: (See Leaflets page for leaflets used for various events.)

St. Patrick’s Day Parade, downtown Pittsburgh.

Labor Day Parade, leafleting the crowd and marching (carrying single-payer banner) with Branch 84 Nat. Assoc. of Letter Carriers. Distributed approximately 4000 leaflets on labor support for HR 676, highlighting positions of the candidates in 18th Congressional District on healthcare.

Healthcare Forum at Duquesne University.

Barack Obama, campaign appearance.

Just Harvest/Just Vote and Hill House Association’s Candidate Forum

Showing and discussion of “SiCKO” at the Westmoreland County Community College.

Healthy Families Day, sidewalk event organized by Senator Ferlo in New Kensington.

Universal Healthcare Debate, Christ United Methodist Church, Bethel Park.

Nader for President Rally, University of Pittsburgh.

Voter Education Activity

Door-knocking and leafleting in the 3rd Congressional District, educating voters about HR 676 and describing the primary election candidates’ positions. April and May.

Door-knocking and leafleting in the 18th Congressional District educating voters about HR 676 and describing the candidates’ positions. October and November.

On-Line Activity

Spanish language version of www.WPaSinglePayer posted.

Coalition’s Facebook and MySpace pages started.

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