CALIF->on SB 810 Single Payer Healthcare passing CA Senate Health Committee

California Senate Health Committee Passes SB 810 Single Payer Healthcare Please thank those who Voted "Yes" Next Steps Please Make a Financial Contribution, click here. Dear Healthcare Activist, On May 4, California's Senate Health Committee passed SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act, on a 5 to 3 vote with one abstention. The vote was delayed one week as we needed extra time to lobby for a 5th "yes" vote on the 9 member committee. Democratic Senator Michael Rubio from Bakersfield said he was going to vote "no" as he wanted to give the national healthcare legislation a chance to succeed. The problem with that position is that under the best-case scenario, California will still have 3 million uninsured residents. When the vote was taken, Senator Rubio abstained. Democratic Senator Ed Hernandez from West Covina said he wanted to weigh his options and was concerned about getting state waivers to implement a California healthcare plan. When the vote was taken, Senator Hernandez voted for SB 810. It is important to thank the Senators who voted "yes." Please thank them with a phone call or email. And please let us know you thanked them. Phone calling is the surer way to let your appreciation be known. Contact numbers and emails for the 5 "yes" voting Senators are: Senator Elaine Alquist 916-651-4013 or Eliane.Alquist@sen.ca.gov Senator Kevin DeLeon 916-651-4022 or Kevin.DeLeon@sen.ca.gov Senator Mark DeSaulnier 916-651-4007 or Mark.DeSaulnier@sen.ca.gov Senator Ed Hernandez 916-651-4024 or Ed.Hernandez@sen.ca.gov Senator Lois Wolk 916-651-4005 or Lois.Wolk@sen.ca.gov We were able to win the vote as thousands of calls were made by members of California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Nurses Association, California Health Professional Student Alliance, Democracy for America, Healthcare for All, Gray Panthers, Labor United for Universal Healthcare, Physicians for a National Health Program, and Single Payer Now. Lobby visits were also made by the California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Association, California School Employees Association, Labor United for Universal Healthcare, and Physicians for a National Health Program. The California Nurses Association distributed postcards to Senators Rubio and Hernandez at the April 30 Democratic Convention. 1200 of the 2000 delegates signed the cards which asked the Senators to vote "yes." On May 4, the Alliance for Retired Americans and Single Payer Now organized a bus to attend a press conference at the state capitol. See picture and statement below of Single Payer Now's Southern California Organizer Lisa Patrick Mudd at the press conference. You can hear a news coverage report by Christopher Martinez, about SB 810 clearing the Senate Health Committee and featuring voices of Lisa Patrick Mudd, Senator Mark Leno, an opponent, and others, by going here and listening, starting at 3 minutes and 37 seconds into the broadcast. The report ends at 5 minutes and 16 seconds into the broadcast. Next Steps The next stop for SB 810 will be a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee and shortly after that, a Senate Floor vote. It is important that we build our campaign forces for these votes now. That can be done in 2 ways. Please have other activists sign our postcards that ask Governor Brown to support SB 810. Please let us know if you would like 5 or 10 postcards. And secondly, please make a financial contribution to Single Payer Now. To make a financial contribution, click here. You can also send a financial contribution to: Single Payer Now PO Box 460622 San Francisco, CA 94146 Thank you, Don Bechler Chair - Single Payer Now 415-695-7891 www.singlepayernow.net Single Payer Now PO Box 460622 San Francisco, CA 94066 www.singlepayernow.net In Northern California - 415-695-7891 or dbechler@value.net In Southern California - 323-316-8933 or Lisa@singlepayernow.net Statement by Lisa Patrick-Mudd - Southern California Organizer for Single Payer Now May 4, 2011 My name is Lisa Patrick-Mudd. I am the Southern California Organizer for Single Payer Now. We are dedicated to winning healthcare for everyone without the interference of the insurance industry. Healthcare affects us in so many ways. In January my beloved grandmother, Eloisa Navarro Gutierrez, died at the age of 84. She was a single mother who raised six children and worked as a teacher's aide for the LA Unified School District. She was a cancer survivor and a diabetic. Like many low-income seniors, she was thankful to have the healthcare security of Medicare. She could visit the doctor and not be in fear of medical bankruptcy. SB 810 would improve benefits of Medicare as there would be no copays or deductibles. Five years ago, when I was a week out of college, I was rushed to the emergency room with acute appendicitis. My University insurance expired the day before I went in the hospital. Fortunately, 25 hours before, the domestic partner health benefits offered by my boyfriend's employer kicked in, thus saving me from bankruptcy. Four days ago I helped organize a fundraiser to help cover the cost of a hospital bill for the owner of a small neighborhood restaurant. Paula Kidby was rushed to the emergency room in need of an appendectomy. Because she has no insurance, Paula now has a bill of over $70, 000. We were able to raise close to $10, 000 through the generosity of patrons and friends of the Riverside Café. I ask you, When did it become acceptable in this country to have to hold silent auctions and raffles to help pay for medical bills? Because SB 810 is good for both young and old, and for small business people, I am proud to be organizing for its victory. Lisa Patrick Mudd, Single Payer Now's Southern California Organizer speaks at SB 810 press conference.

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