H.R. 676

	On July 30th, hundreds of Single Payer supporters traveled to Washington to meet with their members of Congress (or their staff). Here are the four "asks" we made of Congress that day: 1) If you haven't yet, cosponsor this legislation (HR 676 in the House; S. 703 in the Senate) today. Thank you to those who have signed on to these important pieces of legislation 2) Join Senators Schumer, Harkin, and Sanders in asking the CBO to score single-payer legislation. Past cost-benefit analyses (including from the CBO) reflect the cost neutrality of a single-payer system, and savings of health care dollars overall. Please see the document “How Much Would Single-Payer Cost.” 3) Vote for single-payer amendments in the House or Senate to current legislation going through committees. The grassroots movement is closely watching the outcomes of the votes on single-payer amendments. This will be documented and remembered in the midterm elections. 4) Refuse to accept campaign contributions from the healthcare industry and support publicly funded elections. The receipt of healthcare industry dollars is a conflict of interest as you vote on healthcare policy. W. PA. COALITION PRESIDENT, SANDY FOX, REPORTS ON THE VISITS: Some quick reflections on the July 30 National Rally/Lobby Day, which was excellent: Congressman Mike Doyle met with us in the hallway outside the Energy and Commerce Committee room where they were actively doing mark-up, instructing his aide to let us know if he needed to come in for a vote. We thanked him for his support of the Weiner amendment and let him know we do not want taxpayer dollars going to support the private insurance industry. Congressman Tim Murphy cancelled his appointment with his constituents on Thursday, July 30, and would not even offer one of his aides to meet. Like Doyle, Murphy sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, so was involved in the mark-up of the bill, but unlike Doyle, would not make himself or an aide available to meet. Nevertheless, those from his district proceeded to his office and delivered the lobby packet. Neither U.S. Reps. Dahlkemper nor Murtha were available to meet with their constituents, but both provided aides for lobby meetings and received the lobby materials. Congressman Altmire DID meet with constituents from his district, standing room only I understand. I would appreciate email reports from those in his district so I can send an accurate account of what happened. (We reported back on the bus home but we were all so exhausted; I know I don't trust my tired brain to report accurately on what was said.) There were 50 of us in the meeting with Casey's healthcare aide, Gillian Mueller. Morna Murray, his healthcare senior counsel, who was slated to join us, did not. This is very troubling and we will need to consider next steps in getting a response from Casey to our concerns, given our repeated efforts to hear from him on single-payer and his failure to respond. We did let Gillian know of our frustration and our desire to meet directly with the Senator. There were 26 in the meeting with Specter's aide, Regina Campbell (This meeting was held at a time that conflicted with some of the lobbying visits with U.S. Reps, so we could not all attend.) We were kept waiting for about 40 minutes (did they double-book? It was unclear) and were told that John Meyers, his health policy advisor who was scheduled to join the meeting, was unavailable to join Specter's staffer Regina Campbell. As we were led into the large conference room, two from our group noticed a man who looked like Sen. Specter in one of the "cubby hole" partitioned offices off the hallway, but presumed it must be his brother (we later realized it must have been him afterall--why didn't he join us?) After our meeting, we passed the Senator's office, whose door was ajar, and some of us noticed he was at his desk, not on the phone, and apparently alone. Back in the reception area, Terrry Kennedy decided she was going back to his office and ask to meet with him. (BRAVO, TERRY!) I followed, and suddenly Regina inserted herself in front of the half-open door and said she would have to speak to him; we could not enter, please wait back in the reception area. We did so, calling in the others half-way to the elevators, to come back. After about 5 minutes or more (and some of our folk had to leave to visit Doyle), Sen. Specter came out, with two male aides and addressed us for about 1 minute, saying he believes all options should be on the table, including single-payer, but that single-payer didn't have any support in Congress. I responded that it had support from the people, he rattled off something about Sen. Schummer (D-NY), which I cannot recall, and indicated he had to leave, quickly walking out with his two aides on either side of him. I rushed to follow him out the door, calling to him "Senator Specter, will you join Sen. Schummer in asking the CBO to do a cost analysis of S. 703 and HR 676, the single-payer bills?" to which he turned his head to me and replied "Yes, I will," and to his aides "Make a note of it!" before taking off again. I will call Senator Specter's D.C. office early this week to make sure he follows up and encourage others to do the same. I understand the Senate, unlike the House, is still in session next week. (If I am wrong and no one is there, please call the local office.) TOLL FREE CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD #: 1-866-220-0044. Pittsburgh office: 412-644-3400. Suggested script: "On July 30, Senator Specter indicated to the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare that he would ask the CBO to do a cost analysis of S. 703 and HR 676, the two single-payer bills in Congress. We want to thank him for his pledge and find out if he has followed up." Please email me at sm2fox AT yahoo.com and let me know what you are told. THANKS! Thanks to all who... participated in the National Single-Payer Rally/Lobby Day on July 30, contributed to the bus trip so all who were able could attend were with us in spirit And thanks to PA State Sen. Jim Ferlo for all he contributed to this effort, including food and water for our trip, and his participation in a 10 am press conference and the rally in the afternoon. Senator Ferlo made us all proud when he spoke out with such passion and conviction for what we all need and deserve! Make no mistake about it, the efforts of grassroots single-payer activists across the nation ARE making a difference. The month of August will be a critical time for us to pressure our members of Congress to support single-payer universal healthcare. BACK TO HOME PAGE

On July 30th, hundreds of Single Payer supporters traveled to Washington to meet with their members of Congress (or their staff). Here are the four "asks" we made of Congress that day:

1) If you haven't yet, cosponsor this legislation (HR 676 in the House; S. 703 in the Senate) today. Thank you to those who have signed on to these important pieces of legislation

2) Join Senators Schumer, Harkin, and Sanders in asking the CBO to score single-payer legislation. Past cost-benefit analyses (including from the CBO) reflect the cost neutrality of a single-payer system, and savings of health care dollars overall. Please see the document “How Much Would Single-Payer Cost.”

3) Vote for single-payer amendments in the House or Senate to current legislation going through committees. The grassroots movement is closely watching the outcomes of the votes on single-payer amendments. This will be documented and remembered in the midterm elections.

4) Refuse to accept campaign contributions from the healthcare industry and support publicly funded elections. The receipt of healthcare industry dollars is a conflict of interest as you vote on healthcare policy.

W. PA. COALITION PRESIDENT, SANDY FOX, REPORTS ON THE VISITS:

Some quick reflections on the July 30 National Rally/Lobby Day, which was excellent:

Congressman Mike Doyle met with us in the hallway outside the Energy and Commerce Committee room where they were actively doing mark-up, instructing his aide to let us know if he needed to come in for a vote. We thanked him for his support of the Weiner amendment and let him know we do not want taxpayer dollars going to support the private insurance industry.

Congressman Tim Murphy cancelled his appointment with his constituents on Thursday, July 30, and would not even offer one of his aides to meet. Like Doyle, Murphy sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, so was involved in the mark-up of the bill, but unlike Doyle, would not make himself or an aide available to meet. Nevertheless, those from his district proceeded to his office and delivered the lobby packet.

Neither U.S. Reps. Dahlkemper nor Murtha were available to meet with their constituents, but both provided aides for lobby meetings and received the lobby materials.

Congressman Altmire DID meet with constituents from his district, standing room only I understand. I would appreciate email reports from those in his district so I can send an accurate account of what happened. (We reported back on the bus home but we were all so exhausted; I know I don't trust my tired brain to report accurately on what was said.)

There were 50 of us in the meeting with Casey's healthcare aide, Gillian Mueller. Morna Murray, his healthcare senior counsel, who was slated to join us, did not. This is very troubling and we will need to consider next steps in getting a response from Casey to our concerns, given our repeated efforts to hear from him on single-payer and his failure to respond. We did let Gillian know of our frustration and our desire to meet directly with the Senator.

There were 26 in the meeting with Specter's aide, Regina Campbell (This meeting was held at a time that conflicted with some of the lobbying visits with U.S. Reps, so we could not all attend.) We were kept waiting for about 40 minutes (did they double-book? It was unclear) and were told that John Meyers, his health policy advisor who was scheduled to join the meeting, was unavailable to join Specter's staffer Regina Campbell. As we were led into the large conference room, two from our group noticed a man who looked like Sen. Specter in one of the "cubby hole" partitioned offices off the hallway, but presumed it must be his brother (we later realized it must have been him afterall--why didn't he join us?) After our meeting, we passed the Senator's office, whose door was ajar, and some of us noticed he was at his desk, not on the phone, and apparently alone. Back in the reception area, Terrry Kennedy decided she was going back to his office and ask to meet with him. (BRAVO, TERRY!) I followed, and suddenly Regina inserted herself in front of the half-open door and said she would have to speak to him; we could not enter, please wait back in the reception area. We did so, calling in the others half-way to the elevators, to come back.

After about 5 minutes or more (and some of our folk had to leave to visit Doyle), Sen. Specter came out, with two male aides and addressed us for about 1 minute, saying he believes all options should be on the table, including single-payer, but that single-payer didn't have any support in Congress. I responded that it had support from the people, he rattled off something about Sen. Schummer (D-NY), which I cannot recall, and indicated he had to leave, quickly walking out with his two aides on either side of him. I rushed to follow him out the door, calling to him "Senator Specter, will you join Sen. Schummer in asking the CBO to do a cost analysis of S. 703 and HR 676, the single-payer bills?" to which he turned his head to me and replied "Yes, I will," and to his aides "Make a note of it!" before taking off again.

I will call Senator Specter's D.C. office early this week to make sure he follows up and encourage others to do the same. I understand the Senate, unlike the House, is still in session next week. (If I am wrong and no one is there, please call the local office.) TOLL FREE CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD #: 1-866-220-0044. Pittsburgh office: 412-644-3400. Suggested script:

"On July 30, Senator Specter indicated to the Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare that he would ask the CBO to do a cost analysis of S. 703 and HR 676, the two single-payer bills in Congress. We want to thank him for his pledge and find out if he has followed up." Please email me at sm2fox AT yahoo.com and let me know what you are told. THANKS!

Thanks to all who...

participated in the National Single-Payer Rally/Lobby Day on July 30,
contributed to the bus trip so all who were able could attend
were with us in spirit

And thanks to PA State Sen. Jim Ferlo for all he contributed to this effort, including food and water for our trip, and his participation in a 10 am press conference and the rally in the afternoon. Senator Ferlo made us all proud when he spoke out with such passion and conviction for what we all need and deserve!

Make no mistake about it, the efforts of grassroots single-payer activists across the nation ARE making a difference. The month of August will be a critical time for us to pressure our members of Congress to support single-payer universal healthcare.

BACK TO HOME PAGE

Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare

Working for passage of the "United States National Health Care Act", also known as, the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act" (H.R. 676)

Working for passage of the "United States National Health Care Act", also known as,
the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act" (H.R. 676)