California AFSCME District Council Urges Support for HR 676

California AFSCME District Council Urges Support for HR 676

California AFSCME District Council Urges Support for HR 676

The President of AFSCME District Council 36 in Southern California has
written to three Congressmen urging support for HR 676, single payer
healthcare legislation now in the House of Representatives.

Alice Goff, President of AFSCME District Council 36 in Los Angeles, sent
the letter to Representatives John Conyers, Xavier Becerra and Henry
Waxman.  AFSCME District Council 36 represents 22,000 members across
California.

Conyers is the author of HR 676.  Becerra is one of 77 current co-sponsors
in addition to Conyers.  Waxman, who was a co-sponsor of HR 676 in the
109th but not in the 111th Congress, chairs the Energy and Commerce
Committee, one of three House Committees with jurisdiction over
healthcare.

Text of letter follows:

May 11, 2009


Congressman John Conyers
2426 Rayburn
House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Re: Support for HR 676 (Conyers)

Dear Congressman Conyers:

I am writing to express our union's support for HR 676, the Unites States
National Health Insurance Act, and to thank you for your leadership on
this important issue.  As you know, HR 676 is the only proposal before the
congress that will guarantee comprehensive health insurance to every
American and give them the ability to choose their own physician.  With
the serious economic crisis we face today, there has never been a more
timely initiative.  This model will save billions of dollars in national
health care spending and will save money for families, individuals,
businesses and local governments.

At the same time, HR 676 will respond to the needs of residents without
insurance and the growing number losing their employer-based health care
that are unable to maintain the coverage on their own even with COBRA.

Each year employers and working families find health insurance premiums
rising.  The costs are often passed on to employees or benefits are
diminished.  Overall, health care costs rise annually at more than double
the rate of inflation.  They have outpaced increases in wages by a ratio
of 4:1 since 2000.  The trajectory is unmistaken and is clearly
unsustainable.

While the United States spends almost twice as much for health care as
other industrial nations, exceeding 16% of our GDP, millions remain
without coverage and our health outcomes, according to the World Health
Organization, is ranked as 37th.

It is time to fundamentally change our broken health care system and
provide quality, comprehensive and guaranteed coverage for everyone.  HR
676 moves clearly and decisively toward that goal.  And that's why our
membership of over 22,000 in Southern California, District Council 36 and
our AFSCME Affiliates throughout the state supports HR 676.

Sincerely,


Alice Goff
President

Cc:  Congressman Xavier Becerra
       Congressman Henry Waxman
       Council 36 Executive Board
       Willie Pelote, AFSCME California Political & Legislative Director

                                   #30#
HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a
greatly improved Medicare system to everyone residing in the U. S.

HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including
prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and
preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health,
physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision
care, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable
medical equipment, palliative care, and long term care.

HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments.  HR 676 would save hundreds of
billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the
private health insurance industry and HMOs.

In the current Congress, HR 676 has 77 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced SB 703, a single payer bill
in the Senate.

HR 676 has been endorsed by 520 union organizations in 49 states including
127 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 39 state
AFL-CIO's (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, NC, MO,
MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN, AL, CA, AK, MI,
MT, NE, NY, NV & MA).

For further information, a list of union endorsers, or a sample
endorsement resolution, contact:

Kay Tillow
All Unions Committee For Single Payer Health Care--HR 676
c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO)
1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218
Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 636 1551
Email: nursenpo@aol.com
http://unionsforsinglepayerHR676.org
06/02/09