Friday, March 5, 2010 at 08:06AM
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Update No. 30 3 March 2010
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Public rally against rising insurance rates, Tues. March 9, 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 9 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." For more posters or other information, check with your SP Action Team contact. Donna Smith of National Nurses Union shared strategies Donna Smith, lobbyist for National Nurses Union and of Sicko movie fame, spoke Saturday, 27 Feb. at UW's Kane Hall, sharing national strategies to win expanded Medicare coverage for all Americans. The parameters of what is in the final bills once again is fluid, and it's worth contacting your Members of Congress one more time. Remind them Single Payer covers everyone, is simpler, cheaper and can happen sooner. Tell both your Senators and your Representative that the Kucinich Amendment allowing states to petition for "ERISA waivers" is still vitally important, and helps states that want to experiment with Single Payer models. Then also request that your Representative insert a provision from the Senate bill in the House bill, called the Sanders/Wyden Amendment to allow waivers for state innovation in health care models, including Single Payer. Ask that waivers be allowed to begin as early as other provisions take effect. [For more of Donna Smith's remarks, see this one-page summary (PDF format).] SP Action Teams setting dates for post-session strategy sessions The Washington state legislature is scheduled to adjourn on March 11. The fate of the Basic Health Plan, and funding for other public services are still in doubt. SP Action Teams will begin meeting beginning after adjournment so supporters can discuss appropriate tactics to move Single Payer health care forward during the upcoming federal and state election campaigns. Talk with your SP Action Team contacts to see when meetings are being scheduled. Calendar changes are posted on www.healthcareforallwa.org/local-action-teams. The North Seattle SP Action Team meets Sat. March 13, 2-4 pm at Green Lake Public Library. The West Seattle / Vashon SP Action Team meets Sun. March 28, 1:45-3:45 pm @ Southwest Seattle Public Library. Also on Sun. March 28, the South King County SP Action Team meets at the Burien Library from 2:30-4:30 pm.
United for Single Payer now meets every 2nd Wednesday, at the Swedish Hospital Cherry Hill campus in the James Tower, at 17th & E. Jefferson (south) entrance, Seattle WA. Check www.unitedforsinglepayer.org.
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