SinglePayerCentral

URGENT ACTION - CALIF - needed TODAY!!!!!

2012-01-26T10:31:00.001-08:00

>> Very Urgent - Call This Morning for SB 810
>> SB 810 May Be Voted Upon in State Senate Today
>> We Need Everyone to Call Their Senator This Morning
>>
>> Dear Supporters of SB 810, the California Healthcare Insurance Act,
>>
>> We need you to contact your State Senator to encourage him or her to vote for SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act. You can find your State Senator at http://192.234.213.69/smapsearch/framepage.asp
>>
>> SB 810 may be voted on today in the State Senate. If you cannot call or email this morning, call when you can as if SB 810 is not voted on today, it will be voted on by Tuesday, January 31. If the Senate approves SB 810, the legislation will then move to the State Assembly for consideration. The outcome of the Senate vote is unclear. We need everyone to call their State Senator to encourage a yes vote on SB 810.
>>
>> Please call to make a simple request that you want your senator to vote yes on SB 810. All calls should be short and to the point. SB 810 will deliver healthcare to everyone and spend our resources wisely by removing the insurance industry from our lives.
>>
>> Your State Senator can be found at http://192.234.213.69/smapsearch/framepage.asp
>>
>> Please let us know if you have called and who is your State Senator.
>>
>> Thank you,
>> Don Bechler
>> Chair - Single Payer Now
>> 415-695-7891
>> www.singlepayernow.net
>>
>> Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
>> Please consider making a donation.
>>
>> www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

URGENT FOR CALIFORNIA SINGLEPAYER FOLKS - NOW IS OUR TIME-ACTION ALERT!

2012-01-20T14:18:00.001-08:00

SB 810 to be Voted Upon in State Senate by Jan 31
We Need Everyone to Call Their Senator
And
We Need Volunteers to Call Constituents in Key Senate Districts to Encourage calls to their Senator for SB 810
Dear Supporters of SB 810, the California Healthcare Insurance Act,
We need you to contact your State Senator to encourage him or her to vote for SB 810, the California Universal Heatlhcare Act. You can find your State Senator here.
On Thursday, January 19, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to send SB 810 to the Senate floor for a vote. The vote must take place by January 31. If the Senate approves SB 810, the legislation will then move to the State Assembly for consideration. The outcome of the Senate vote is unclear. We need everyone to call their State Senator to encourage a yes vote on SB 810.
Please call to make a simple request that you want the Senate to pass SB 810. All calls should be short and to the point. SB 810 will deliver healthcare to everyone and spend our resources wisely by removing the insurance industry from our lives.
Your State Senator can be found here.
Please let us know if you have called and who is your State Senator.
We also need volunteers to call constituents in key senate districts today. I will send you a script and numbers. We have the names and phone numbers of thousands of SB 810 supporters who do not have emails. Our experience has shown that people are activated 20 times more by a phone call than an email alert.
Please let me know how many calls you can make.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

CALIF SINGLEPAYER SUPPORTERS NEED ON PHONE RIGHT N O W!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-01-18T15:13:00.001-08:00

Urgent SB 810 Alert
Decision to Move SB 810 to a Senate Floor to Be Made on Thursday at 10am - 24 Hours from now.
We Need Everyone to Contact Legislators Today (Wed)
And
We Need Volunteers to Call Constituents in Key Senate Districts to Encourage calls to their Senator for SB 810

Dear Supporters of SB 810, the California Healthcare Insurance Act,

We need thousands of calls or emails to Senators Steinberg, Kehoe, and your State Senator today. You can find your State Senator here.

On Thursday, January 19, State Senate leaders Darrel Steinberg (Senate pro tem) and Christine Kehoe (chair of Appropriations Committee) will decide if SB 810 will be voted on by the full Senate. A key factor in making their decision will be the support they hear from other State Senators. We need the other Senators to let them know that their phones are ringing off the hook from constituents.

Please call to make a simple request that you want the Senate to pass SB 810.
SB 810 will deliver healthcare to everyone and spend our resources wisely by removing the insurance industry from our lives.

Senator Steinberg can be reached at
916-651-4006 or Senator.Steinberg@senate.ca.gov

Senator Kehoe can be reached at
916-651-4039 or Senator.Kehoe@senate.ca.gov

Your State Senator can be found here.

Please let us know if you have called and who is your State Senator.

We also need volunteers to call constituents in key senate districts today. I will send you a script and numbers.
We have the names and phone numbers of thousands of SB 810 supporters who do not have emails. Our experience has shown that people are activated 20 times more by a phone call than an email alert.

Please let me know how many calls you can make.

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

Tweet from @LisaJRose

2012-01-17T14:00:00.001-08:00

Just dropped off painting for #ProArts upcoming show:"Courage" Title:"Courage to chg #healthcare in America" #p2 #art http://t.co/Su7Ad8hN

http://twitter.com/#!/LisaJRose/status/159393049296900096

% of sales of painting designated for HealthcareNOW

SF,CA TOMORROW! Take SB 810 bus Tuesday from Ashby BART at 9:35

2012-01-16T18:08:00.001-08:00

Board the Ashby BART Bus for SB 810 Appropriations
Hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
Wear Your Single Payer Shirt.
Leave Ashby BART at 9:35 sharp –
return by 3pm

Dear Single Payer Activist,
I hope you can take the bus with us to Sacramento on Tuesday, Jan 17 at 9:35.
We want a visual showing of SB 810 supporters at the Senate hearing. We want everyone wearing a single payer shirt so senators can see the support. We will have Single Payer Now shirts and hats for sale on the bus for $10. Normally they are $15.
We will be leaving at the Ashby BART upstairs on Adeline at 9:35am.
You must RSVP. The bus will be full. A lunch will be served.
We do pass the hat on the bus. If the bus is full, it costs about $40 per person to pay for the bus and lunch. No one turned away for lack of funds. And if you can pay more that is greatly appreciated.
We expect to be back by 3pm
Call me cell phone at 415-810-5826. I will be away from my between 6;30pm and 8:45:pm tonight.

Please let me know if you can go.
___ Yes, I want to take the bus to Sacramento on Tuesday.
___ I cannot go, but I would like to make a financial contribution to help subsidized the bus. To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to:
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
SF, CA 94146

Thank you.
Don Bechler
415-810-5826
www.singlepayernow.net

SF-NEED BODIES IN SACRAMENTO AT SB810 HEARING Get on the bus...

2012-01-11T16:22:00.001-08:00

Keep the Buses Rolling for
California's Single Payer Legislation
To contribute, click here.
See Pictures and News Coverage of California's Campaign Below
We need your financial support to keep buses of activists rolling to Sacramento for Senate Bill 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act. On Tuesday, January 17, we need hundreds of supporters at the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. On Monday, January 9, 650 activists rallied at the annual student lobby day for single payer healthcare. The rally at the capitol was followed by a march and rally to an insurance company.
Activists in Los Angeles held a solidarity rally. See SB 810 interview by NBC here.
To contribute to keep the buses rolling, click here.
Or you can send a check 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
State Senator Mark Leno addresses 650 single payer supporters at the California Healthcare Professional Student Alliance annual lobby day.
SB 810 supporters board bus to Sacramento rally.
Dr. Claudia Fegan addresses Single Payer Now's annual potluck on Saturday, January 7.

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

CALIF-->January 9th join Campaign for a Healthy California

2012-01-06T10:35:00.001-08:00

Can't read this email? View it in your web browser.

Dear Lisa:
January 9th join Campaign for a Healthy California in a joint actions with the California Health Professional Student Association and many others to fight for healthcare for the 99%! In January our state senators will vote on SB 810, California's universal healthcare bill to provide single-payer healthcare. With the California deficit looming, what better way to cut the State's healthcare budget up to half, but to implement single payer! Please join us and call on legislators to take a stand in California. In both Sacramento and Los Angeles, we'll have at a New Orleans-style funeral march and rally and a creative action at an insurance industry giant. Please join us for statewide day of action and push legislators to decide which side they are on!
For more Information on buses from the bay area, contact info, please go here.
Sacramento Event Details:
- 11 AM @ 3rd Street and Capitol Mall - march to the Capitol with the funeral procession students, nurses, seniors and more
- Noon Rally @ Capitol North Steps
- After Rally - march and action on Insurance Industry Giant with a health fair and lunch
Los Angeles Event Details:
- 11 AM Assemble at Pershing Square – 532 South Olive St, Los Angeles 90013 (Pershing Square Metro). Precursor to action: stories of loved ones hurt by our healthcare crisis. Bring letters or photos of loved ones lost, currently affected by HC crisis
- 11:15 AM - "Funeral Procession" march to Insurance Giant for noon action
- Noon - rally and speakout at 8th Street and Figueroa ( 7th street metro stop).
In solidarity for single-payer,
Francesca, Jeff, and Vanessa
Healthcare-NOW! National Staff

Healthcare-NOW! survives on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider making a donation or joining Healthcare-NOW! to support our efforts on our secure server.

- Follow us on -

Healthcare-NOW! - 800-453-1305 - 1315 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

CALIF--> Jan 7 - Attend Single Payer Now's Annual Potluck

2012-01-04T14:08:00.001-08:00

You Are Invited to Single Payer Now's Annual Potluck
Sat. 3pm Jan. 7 at St. Mary's Cathedral in SF
We also need volunteers to come early for set up.

Dear Healthcare Activist,

I hope you can attend our annual potluck on Saturday, January 7 in San Francisco. See leaflet pasted below and attached.

2012 presents tremendous challenges and opportunities to campaign for universal healthcare. With Medicare under attack and 50 million Americans uninsured, the campaign for universal healthcare will be front and center this election year. We also need volunteers to come early on Saturday to help us set up.

Please let us know if you can attend on Saturday and if you can come early to help with set up.

___ I plan to attend our potluck on Saturday.
___ I can bring ___________.
___ I can come early at 1:30 to help with set up.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can help call our phone tree to invite activists without email to attend the potluck. I can send you local phone numbers and a suggested script.

I look forward to seeing you Saturday. Together we can make history.

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Campaigning for
Medicare for All in
California and Nationally

You are invited to Single Payer Now's Annual Potluck

Speakers:
State Senator Mark Leno - author of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act
Claudia Fegan, M.D. - Chief Medical Officer of Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Board Member and Past President of Physicians for a National Health Program
Jodi Reid - California Assn. for Retired Americans
Wayd LaPearl - President of Plumbers & Fitters Local 393
Sarah White - California Health Professional Student Alliance

Sat. 3pm, Jan. 7
Doors open at 2:20 - plentiful parking
St. Mary's Cathedral
1111 Gough St. at Geary
San Francisco, CA

Sponsored by Single Payer Now
For more information, call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler@value.net
www.singlepayernow.net

Healthcare Yes! Insurance Companies No!
Support SB 810 and HR 676

Labor donated - posted 12/28/11

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS for 2011 -> for passage of SP bills

2011-12-30T09:16:00.001-08:00

Keep Single Payer Now Strong
Donate Today
Let's Win Universal Healthcare
Dear Healthcare Activist,
History proves the power of grassroots movements funded by people like you is the only way to win against corporate greed. In the richest country on earth, we still have 6 million uninsured people in California and 50 million uninsured in the United States. We need you to continue to support Single Payer Now until we end this injustice.
Please make a financial contribution to Single Payer Now or a tax deductible contribution to our sister organization, the California Universal Health Care Education Project (CUHCEP).
In the past year, we have organized dozens of healthcare meetings, mobilized hundreds of activists to lobby legislators in our state capitol, and encouraged thousands of people to contact their legislators. In San Francisco we have helped mobilize thousands of people to demonstrate against the cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. We are also extremely proud of our everyday organizing. Every week, dozens of activists ask their neighbors and co-workers to sign postcards in support of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act.
Our organizing and education work will not stop until everyone has healthcare.
Everybody In - Nobody Out.
Three Ways to Donate to Single Payer Now.
The easiest way to contribute to Single Payer Now is to click here.
Or you can send a contribution to
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
San Francisco, CA 94146
Or you can call 415-695-7891
Make a Tax Deductible Contribution to the California Universal Health Care Education Project.
You can also make a tax deductible contribution to the California Universal Health Care Education Project (CUHCEP) by sending a check to
CUHCEP
PO Box 460622
San Francisco, CA 94146
The check must be written by December 31, 2011, but it can be sent in the next week.
Thank you for supporting the campaign for universal healthcare.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

CALIF - SAVE THE DATE ----> JANUARY 9th

2011-12-23T07:56:00.000-08:00

January 9^th join Campaign for a Healthy California in a joint actions with the California Health Professional Student Association and many others to fight for healthcare for the 99%!  In January our state senators will vote on SB 810, California's universal healthcare bill to provide single-payer healthcare. With the California deficit looming, what better way to cut the State's healthcare budget up to half, but to implement single payer! Please join us and call on legislators to take a stand in California. In both Sacramento and Los Angeles, we'll have at a New Orleans-style funeral march and rally and a creative action at an insurance industry giant. Please join us for statewide day of action and push legislators to decide which side they are on!

Note on attached flyers: The LA and Sacramento flyers are editable for local regions to put in their contact information. Generic 1 page campaign flyer attached and on our web sitehttp://healthycaliforniacampaign.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/hc-for-the-99-sacto-la-010912.pdf.

Sacramento Event Details:
·         11 AM @ 3^rd Street and Capitol Mall - march to the Capitol with the funeral procession students, nurses, seniors and more
·         Noon Rally @ Capitol North Steps
·         After Rally – march and action on Insurance Industry Giant with a health fair and lunch

Los Angeles Event Details:
·         11 AM Assemble at Pershing Square – 532 South Olive St, Los Angeles 90013 (Pershing Square Metro). Precursor to action: stories of loved ones hurt by our healthcare crisis. Bring letters or photos of loved ones lost, currently affected by HC crisis
·         11:15 - "Funeral Procession" march to Insurance Giant for noon action

Buses to Sacramento:
We are asking folks to contribute to buses. Cost is $40 per person, but it's a sliding scale – whatever people can give, NO ONE will be turned away for lack of funds.  Lunch will be provided at the Sacramento rally. All buses should be return home by 5pm with the exception of Fresno.

·         San Francisco- : SF Main Library at Larkin and Fulton at 9am. (reserve a seat through CARA at 510-663-4086)
·         Richmond - Target at 42^nd and MacDonald Ave at 9:45am (reserve a seat through CARA at 510-663-4086)
·         Vallejo – behind Seven Eleven on Georgia Street at 10:00am(reserve a seat through Mary Magill at 707-748-0721)
·         Berkeley – Ashby Bart at 9:30am. (reserve a seat through CARA at 510-663-4086)
·         San Jose- South Bay Labor Council, 2102 Almaden Road, San Jose at 9:30am (reserve a seat through Greg Miller 408-254-331 brogregm@sbcglobal.net)
·         Grass Valley - KMart, 111 W. McKnight Way at 9:30 (reserve a seat through Mindy Oberne 530 273-3033healthcareforall@bagglady.com)
·         Roseville – UDW office, 800 Sunrise Ave Suite C at 10:15am (reserve a seat through Diana at 916-435-9760)
·         Fresno – Mervyn's Parking Lot, Ashlan and Shields at 7:30am (reserve a seat through Judy Hess 559-434-8721judyhess@gmail.com)
·         Modesto – Old Krispy Kreme, Briggsmoore at Highway 99 at 9:15am (reserve a seat through Carol Bailey at 209-951-0499)
·         Stockton: Clarion Hotel, Highway 99 @ Waterloo at 10am. (reserve a seat through Carol Bailey at 209-951-0499)

Please let me know if you have any questions. And please send this email out to your lists and networks as soon as possible.

We look forward to moving our fight forward with you on the 9^th!

Pilar

Pilar Schiavo
Campaign Coordinator
Campaign for a Healthy California
phone: 800.745.3090
cell: 510-385-4213
fax: 510.273.1715
email: info@HealthyCaliforniaCampaign.org
web: www.HealthyCaliforniaCampaign.org

SF,CA->Jan 7 Single Payer Now Potluck - you're invited

2011-12-19T08:52:00.001-08:00

Single Payer Now's Annual Potluck
You Are Invited
Sat. 3pm Jan. 7 in SF
St. Mary's Cathedral - 1111 Gough at Geary
You are invited!
I hope you can attend our annual potluck for single payer healthcare. Our featured speakers are State Senator Mark Leno, the author of SB 810, and Claudia Fegan, M.D., past president of Physicians for a National Health Program. See leaflet below and attached.
We encourage you to forward this alert, and we could use your help calling activists who do not have email. Please let us know if you can attend and if you can help make calls.
___ I plan to attend the January 7 potluck.
___ I can bring ______________
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can post a leaflet at work or in a coffee shop.
___ I can help call our action alert list.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
Campaigning for
Medicare for All in
California and Nationally
You are invited to Single Payer Now's
Annual Potluck
Speakers;
State Senator Mark Leno - author of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act
Claudia Fegan, M.D. - Chief Medical Officer of Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Board Member and Past President of Physicians for a National Health Program
Sat. 3pm, Jan. 7
Doors open at 2:20 - plentiful parking
St. Mary's Cathedral
1111 Gough St. at Geary
San Francisco, CA
Sponsored by Single Payer Now
For more information, call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler@value.net
www.singlepayernow.net
Healthcare Yes! Insurance Companies No!
Support SB 810 and HR 676
Labor donated - posted 12/12/11

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

CALIFORNIA - 3 Letters needed from you RT NOW re passing sb810

2011-12-13T14:13:00.001-08:00

Write 3 Senators Today For Healthcare
To Pass SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act, We Need You to Write Letters to Senator Steinberg,
Senator Leno, and Your State Senator
Dear Healthcare Activist,
SB 810 will be voted on in the Senate Appropriations Committee on January 17, and hopefully on the Senate Floor in late January. For these votes to be successful, we need you to send a letter to your State Senator, and State Senators Mark Leno and Darrell Steinberg. Letters have proven to be a very effective way to express our concerns with legislators. Your State Senator can be found at http://192.234.213.69/smapsearch/framepage.asp.
The address for all Senators is
State Senator ( their name )
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Senator Leno is the author of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act. Senator Steinberg is the President pro Tem (leader) of the Senate. The make up of the State Senate is more conservative than in previous sessions. The 15 Republicans are opposed to universal healthcare. At the same time, the make up of the 25 senate Democrats is more conservative. The senate has 40 members. We need 21 votes to move SB 810 to the State Assembly.
Seven Democrats in particular need encouragement to support universal healthcare. They are Calderon (D-30), Corea (D-34), Hernandez (D-24), Price (D-26), Rubio (D-16), Vargas (D-40), and Wright (D-25). Arguments that we have heard from the seven reluctant Democrats are:
(1) They want to see how the national healthcare program works out.
Our counter argument is even if everything goes perfectly, the national legislation will still leave 23 million people without insurance. 23 million uninsured people translates to 23,000 deaths a year. SB 810 would leave no one uninsured. (2) The reluctant senators have costs concerns. This is a unfounded concern. Nationally, single payer legislation such as HR 676 would reduce the national healthcare bill by $400 billion a year. The new national legislation will add layers of new bureaucracy costs to our healthcare bill.
Studies for single payer healthcare in California have concluded that we would save tens of billions of dollars.
Please write a simple letter asking the 3 senators to work hard to pass SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act.
We ask you to write as a letter counts as much as 100 emails or 10 phone calls.
Please let us know to whom you have written a letter.
And please let us know if you can help call activists from various Senate districts to encourage them to write a letter.
And we encourage you to forward this alert.
___ I have written a letter to Senator Leno. You can also thank him for authoring SB 810.
___ I have written a letter to Senator Steinberg.
___ I have written a letter to my Senator. He/she is ______________
___ I have forwarded this alert.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
Senate Roster - How we think Senators will vote on SB 810
The address for all state senators is
State Senator (their name)
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

SF CA->Mailing help needed for Single Payer Now Dec 11, 14, 18

2011-12-07T17:49:00.001-08:00

Help Get Out Single Payer Now's Mail
Sun. Dec 11, Wed. Dec 14, Sun. Dec. 18
Noon to 8pm at 2467 28th Ave, SF – The home of Barry Hermanson
½ block south of Taraval – plentiful parking
To make a financial contribution, click here.

Dear Single Payer Now Mailing Specialist,

We need your help getting out the end of the year mail.
Our mailing will announce our January 7 annual potluck, the January 9 student lobby day, the January 17 Senate Appropriations hearing, and the mailing will ask activists to contact various state senators to support SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act.
I hope you can help with the mailing.
Our mailings parties are fun. We get to catch up with each other. Barry Hermanson, will make pizza at 5:30. You are encouraged to bring toppings.
We also need financial contributions to help pay for the mailing.
We encourage you to forward this alert.
Please let us know how you can help.

___ I can help on Sun. Dec 11 around __________ time.
___ I can help on Wed. Dec 14 around __________ time.
___ I can help on Sun. Dec 18 around ___________ time.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can make a financial contribution to help defray mailing costs.
To make a financial contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to:
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
San Francisco, CA 94146

I hope to see you in the next 10 days.
You are great.
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
415-695-7891

SF CA SinglePayerNow Event: MDs Report on State of US Health 11/19 3:30pm

2011-11-16T08:11:00.001-08:00

Doctors Report on the State of America's Health
Sat. 3:30 Nov. 19
UNITE Hotel Workers LOCAL 2 HALL
209 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
2 blocks north of Civic Center BART/MUNI at Leavenworth
Dear Healthcare Activist,
I hope you can attend our Nov. 19 meeting in San Francisco. It features a panel of attendees from the Physicians for a National Health Program national conference. See leaflet pasted below and attached.
We encourage you for forward this invitation.
Please let us know if you can attend and/or help build our meeting.
___ I plan to attend the Nov 19 meeting in San Francisco.
___ I can come early (3pm) to help set up.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can post a leaflet in a coffee shop. (please download leaflet)
___ I can help call our phone tree.

I look forward to seeing you on November 19, 2011
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
Doctors Report on the State of America's Health
Healthcare for the 99% - YES!
Insurance Companies – NO!
Doctors and activists who recently attended the Physicians for the National Health Program (PNHP) national conference on October 28/29 will report on the state of America's Health. PNHP supports a national healthcare system minus the insurance industry. Insurance companies avoid the sick and attempt to only insure the healthy.
Saturday 3:30pm Nov. 19
UNITE Hotel Workers LOCAL 2 HALL
209 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
2 blocks north of Civic Center BART/MUNI at Leavenworth
Speakers:
Hank Abrons, MD, President, Physicians for a National Health Program CA, (PNHP)
Nick Anton, M.D. - PNHP
SwathI Burma - California Health Professional Student Alliance
Shruthi Burma - California Health Professional Student Alliance
Claudia Chaufan, M.D., Ph.D., PNHP
Michael Lyon - Gray Panthers
Bob Marston - Single Payer Now
Marc Sapir - M.D., - PNHP
Li-Hsia Wang, M.D. - PNHP
Don Bechler - Single Payer Now
For more information, call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler@value.net
Sponsored by Single Payer Now - www.singlepayernow.net
Support SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act and HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

SF,CA Nov 19 - Doctors report on State of America's Health

2011-11-09T07:26:00.001-08:00

Doctors Report on the State of America's Health
Sat. 3:30 Nov. 19
UNITE Hotel Workers LOCAL 2 HALL
209 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
2 blocks north of Civic Center BART/MUNI at Leavenworth
Dear Healthcare Activist,
I hope you can attend our Nov. 19 meeting in San Francisco. It features a panel of attendees from the Physicians for a National Health Program national conference. See leaflet pasted below and attached.
We encourage you for forward this invitation.
Please let us know if you can attend and/or help build our meeting.
___ I plan to attend the Nov 19 meeting in San Francisco.
___ I can come early (3pm) to help set up.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can post a leaflet in a coffee shop. (please download leaflet)
___ I can help call our phone tree.
___ I can help with getting out the mail on Fri. Nov 11 and/or Nov. 12
between 11:30am and 8pm at the home of Barry Hermanson at
2467 28th Ave; SF 94116 (1/2 block south of L Taraval MUNI)
___ I can make a financial contribution to help build the meeting.
To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
SF, CA 94146
I look forward to seeing you on November 19, 2011
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
Doctors Report on the State of America's Health
Healthcare for the 99% - YES!
Insurance Companies – NO!
Doctors and activists who recently attended the Physicians for the National Health Program (PNHP) national conference on October 28/29 will report on the state of America's Health. PNHP supports a national healthcare system minus the insurance industry. Insurance companies avoid the sick and attempt to only insure the healthy.
Saturday 3:30pm Nov. 19
UNITE Hotel Workers LOCAL 2 HALL
209 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
2 blocks north of Civic Center BART/MUNI at Leavenworth
Speakers:
Hank Abrons, MD, President, Physicians for a National Health Program CA, (PNHP)
Nick Anton, M.D. - PNHP
SwathI Burma - California Health Professional Student Alliance
Shruthi Burma - California Health Professional Student Alliance
Claudia Chaufan, M.D., Ph.D., PNHP
Michael Lyon - Gray Panthers
Bob Marston - Single Payer Now
Marc Sapir - M.D., - PNHP
Li-Hsia Wang, M.D. - PNHP
Don Bechler - Single Payer Now
For more information, call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler@value.net
Sponsored by Single Payer Now - www.singlepayernow.net
Support SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act and HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

SAN FRANCISCO:Single Payer Now - Help needed with mailing. Nov 11 & Nov 12

2011-11-04T22:51:00.001-07:00

Single Payer Now Mailing Party
11:30am to 8pm
Fri Nov 11 & Sat Nov 12
2467 28th Ave - the home of Barry Hermanson
(1/2 block south of the L Taraval MUNI line)
Plentiful parking
Dear Healthcare Activist,
We need your help getting out the mail.
Our mailing will announce our November 19 meeting that will report on the Physicians for a National Healthcare Program national conference. See leaflet attached and pasted below.
And the mailing will alert activists to the Dec 2 SF march and rally to protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
Our mailings parties are great. Activists get to share what is going on in their lives. We have great orange juice and finger foods.
We encourage you to forward this invitation.
Please let us know when you can help.
___ I can help on Friday, Nov. 11 around __________ time.
___ I can help on Sat. Nov 12 around ____________ time.
___ I have forwarded this invitation.
___ I would like to make financial contribution to help pay for the mailing. To contribute, click here.
Or you can send a 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
Doctors Report on the State of America's Health
Healthcare for the 99% - YES!
Insurance Companies – NO!

Doctors and activists who recently attended the Physicians for the National Health Program (PNHP) national conference on October 28/29 will report on the state of America's Health. PNHP supports a national healthcare system minus the insurance industry. Insurance companies avoid the sick and attempt to only insure the healthy.
Saturday 3:30pm Nov. 19
UNITE Hotel Workers LOCAL 2 HALL
209 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
2 blocks north of Civic Center BART/MUNI at Leavenworth
Speakers:
Hank Abrons, MD, President, Physicians for a National Health Program CA, (PNHP)
Nick Anton, M.D. - PNHP
SwathI Burma - California Health Professional Student Alliance
Shruthi Burma - California Health Professional Student Alliance
Claudia Chaufan, M.D., Ph.D., PNHP
Michael Lyon - Gray Panthers
Bob Marston - Single Payer Now
Marc Sapir - M.D., - PNHP
Li-Hsia Wang, M.D. - PNHP
Don Bechler - Single Payer Now
For more information, call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler@value.net
Sponsored by Single Payer Now - www.singlepayernow.net
Support SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act and HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

NO CALIF General Strike and SB810: Collect postcards - In Oakland Nov 2, in SF Nov 3

2011-11-01T17:34:00.001-07:00

Help Collect SB 810 Postcards
In Oakland on Wed. Nov. 2 at 4:30pm
In San Francisco on Thurs Nov 3 at 10:30am

Dear Healthcare Activist,

I hope you can help us collect postcards for SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act. SB 810 removes the insurance industry from our lives, while more importantly delivers comprehensive healthcare to all Californians. Our postcards ask Governor Brown to support SB 810.

On Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 4:30 join us at Occupy Oakland at 14th and Broadway. My cell phone is 415-810-5826. Occupy Oakland will march to the Port of Oakland as part of their call for a general strike in Oakland.

On Thursday, Nov. 3 at 10:30 join us at Occupy SF at Market and the Embarcadero. My cell phone is 415-810-5826. The California Nurses Assn. is sponsoring a march to Tax Wall St. They will lead a march to the Well Fargo bank headquarters at 464 California.

Please let us know if you can help collect cards.

___ Yes, I can help collect cards in Oakland on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
___ Yes, I can help collect cards in SF on Thurs. Nov. 3.

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

CALLING ALL CALIF SF BAY AREA SMALL BUSINESSES

2011-10-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

> On November 2nd, Democracy for America and the Wellstone Democratic Renewal
> Club are putting on an event specifically geared toward encouraging small
> business owners in the area to understand how much single payer will help
> them, and in how many ways. I'm attaching a flyer entitled "End the Small
> Business Nightmare" that explains the event. The two organizations are
> encouraging members and other interested activists to sign up to distribute
> these flyers to businesses in the area. While we already have many blocks
> covered, obviously there are a multitude of small businesses in
> Berkeley/Albany/Oakland/ Emeryville that we'd love to get the word out to.
>
> Here's what has worked for me in walking with the leaflet:
> "Hi there-I'm helping to organize a meeting next week at the Rockridge
> Library (on College) to help people understand what Single Payer Health Care
> would do for us. I know that most small businesses can't afford to give
> their employees health insurance-is that true here, too? Did you know that
> there's a bill in the CA legislature that would create an improved Medicare
> for All system, so we'd all have access to quality health care from cradle
> to grave? Please come and find out more next week. "
>
> I got lots of positive responses, including most people saying they can't
> afford insurance and have no coverage, and even a few sympathetic owners.
>
> Please let me know if you are able to join us in this project, and what
> blocks you are able to walk with the leaflet. I've included other relevant
> materials that would be great to print out and take with you, in case you
> are able to engage with an employer or employee on the topic.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Nancy M. Friedman, MFT
> 631 Vernon St.
> Oakland, CA 94610
> Please note: If you need to contact me in less than 36-48 hours, please
> call 510-653-1384 between 9am and 9:30pm. My available time to read and
> respond to emails varies greatly, but I check my phone messages frequently.
>
>
>

SAN FRANCISCO - 3 Great Single Payer events in next 4 days

2011-10-21T22:06:00.001-07:00

3 Opportunities to Advance the Campaign for Single Payer Healthcare in the next 4 Days
Which can you attend? Which can you help staff? Can you call our phone tree?
Sat. 10am Oct 22 - Senator Leno speaks on SB 810 at St Mary's in SF
Corner of Gough and Geary – plenty of parking
Mon. 7pm Oct 24 - SF Labor Council Teach in on Medicare, Medicaid, & Social Security
621 Market ST - 2 blocks west of Van Ness
Tues 11:30 Oct 25 - Rally to Tell Obama Californians Want Medicare For All
In SF at 3rd and Howard - 2 blocks south of Market - Montgomery BART
Dear Healthcare Activist,
In the next 4 days we have 3 opportunities to push the healthcare agenda. I hope you can attend, help staff them, and make calls to build them.
Tomorrow, Saturday from 10am to noon, Senator Mark Leno will join James Haslam from Vermont, and Donna Smith featured in Michael Moore's Sicko, to advocate for SB 810.
On Monday, from 7pm to 8:30, the San Francisco Labor Council is hosting a Teach In on the attacks on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.
And then on Tuesday at 11:20 President Obama will attend fundraising lunch at the W Hotel in San Francisco. We will have banners that say Californians Want Medicare for All.
We encourage you to forward this alert.
Please let us know which events you can attend, which events you can come early to help staff, and if you can make calls to our phone tree. 54% of our members do not have email.
And we do need financial contributions to help build these events.
__ Yes, I plan to come to the 10am Sat. Oct 22 meeting at St Mary's.
__ Yes, I plan to come to the 7:30 Mon. Oct 24 teach in at 621 Market.
__ Yes, I plan to come to the 11:20 Oct 25 picket at 3rd and Howard.
__ Yes, I have forwarded this alert.
__ Yes, I would like to make a financial contribution. To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a 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 survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

TUES in SAN FRANCISCO---->Tell Obama - Californians Want Medicare for All

2011-10-20T13:24:00.001-07:00

Tell President Obama
California Wants Medicare for All
11:20 Tues. Oct. 25 in San Francisco
At 3rd and Howard across the from the W Hotel

Dear Healthcare Activist,

I hope you can help us tell President Obama that Californians want universal healthcare without the Wall St. insurance companies cheating us out of our healthcare dollars. We will hold banners and placards across the street from his fundraiser.
WE WANT MEDICARE FOR ALL.

President Obama is coming to San Francisco for a $7500 a plate lunch. We will assemble at 11:20 at the corner of 3rd and Howard.
This is 2 blocks south of Market between the Powell and Montgomery BART stops.

We need help calling our phone tree before Tuesday, and help holding banners and distributing placards on Tuesday.
We encourage you to forward this alert.

Please let us know if you can attend and if you can help build this event.

___ I plan to attend the Tues, Oct . 25 event.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can help hold our banners.
___ I can help distribute placards.

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

San Francisco,CA-Oct 24 SF Labor Council teach in on proposed cuts to Medicare & related programs

2011-10-17T14:42:00.001-07:00

Medicare in the Crosshairs
Social Security Next
Monday, 7pm, October 24
Plumbers Union Hall, 1621 Market St., S.F.
(5 blocks from Civic Center BART station)
A Teach in sponsored by the San Francisco Labor Council

Dear Healthcare Activist,

I hope you can attend the San Francisco Labor Council's Teach In on the looming cuts to cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

On August 2, 2011, President Obama signed into law the Budget Control Act of 2011, which will ensure at least $2.4 trillion dollars in deficit reduction. A Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (JSC) will deliver a report on November 23. We expect cuts to our earned healthcare programs will be proposed. At the Labor Council's teach in, we will also discuss how labor and the community can respond to the proposed cuts. See leaflet below. Download leaflet here.

We encourage you to forward this alert.
And we need your help building the meeting.
Please let us know if you can attend, if you can help staff the teach in, and if you can help call our phone tree.

___ I plan to attend the October 24 Teach In.
___ I can help sign people in on October 24.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can help call our phone tree. I can send you local phone numbers and a suggested script. Some people take 10 names, some 25, some more. Let me know how many calls you can make.
___ I would like to make a financial contribution to help Single Payer Now build this event. To make a contribution, click here. Or you can send a 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

MEDICARE IN THE CROSS-HAIRS
SOCIAL SECURITY NEXT?
Politicians' Consensus:
Cutting Medicare-Medicaid is the #1 Budget Target

- President Obama just proposed a $248 billion cut in Medicare as a starter & another $72 billion in Medicaid cuts.

- Obama indicated on September 19, he will support cutting more than $320 Billion if Republicans agree with him on taxes.

- Vice-President Joe Biden last June, offered Republicans to cut $400-$500 billion in Medicare-Medicaid.

- Republicans last April, proposed raising seniors' out-of-pocket costs for Medicare by $7,000 per year.

- The 'Supercommittee' of 12 in Congress said last week they want to cut even more than Obama proposed. They will report 'how much' more on November 23.

- Congress will vote on how much more in Medicare-Medicaid cuts before December 23.

How Much Will Your Medicare Be Cut?
How Much More Will You Have to Pay?
Come Hear the Facts
Open Discussion to Follow
SAN FRANCISCO LABOR COUNCIL TEACH-IN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2011, 7:00-8:30pm
Plumbers Union Hall, 1621 Market St., S.F.
(5 blocks from Civic Center BART station)
SF Labor Council Education Project - Information, call delegates Hene Kelly 415.533.5244 & Carl Finamore 415-829-3816
Printed & Endorsed - LL1781, IAMAW, AFL-CIO

OCTOBER 24 TEACH-IN SPEAKERS
Education project of the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Plumbers' Hall, 7pm, 1621 Market St., SF
5 blocks from Civic Center BART

Dr. Jack Rasmus

Professor of Economics, Santa Clara University; former National 1st Vice-President, Natl. Writers' Union, UAW 1981; former CWA Local 9415 Vice-President and organizer for SEIU 715 and HERE 19. Member AFT Local 1474 and lecturer, labor economics, Univ. of California, Berkeley

Tom Rankin

Former president (ret) of 2.1 million member California Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO; Treasurer, California Alliance of Retired Americans (CARA)

Hene Kelly

Vice-President & Legislative Director, California Alliance for Retired Americans; Chair, Calif. Federation of Teachers' Retirement Comm.; Sgt. At Arms, San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO

SOME FACTS ABOUT MEDICARE & SOCIAL SECURITY
(All data cited below from the 2011 Medicare and Social Security Trustees' Reports)

- Social Security has a $2.4 Trillion Surplus, $3.7 Trillion by 2024;
- Medicare's Hospital Trust Fund has a $272 Billion Surplus;
- The Hospital Trust Fund is projected to grow faster than expenditures over the next 10 years with Income growing 6% and Spending 4.9%;
- The 2010 Affordable Care Act already reduces Medicare costs;
- Medicare's Doctors' Fund (Part B) is projected to have a $100 billion surplus by 2020;
- Medicare's Prescription Drug Fund (Part D) income is projected to cover all costs by 2020;
- The Doctors' and Prescription Drug have never been financed by payroll taxes; and
- According to Social Security Trustees, a mere 0.5% Medicare payroll tax (0.25% each for worker and employer) added to the current 2.9% Medicare payroll tax would cover all projected Medicare cost increases for the next ten years; another 0.5% levied in 2021 covers all costs for the second ten years to 2031;
- Spending will decline thereafter as users of Medicare decrease along with the decline in the 'boomers' population.

Printed & endorsed by LL1781, IAMAW, AFL-CIO

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

NO CALIF ->SF Oct 22 Moving California's Single Payer Agenda

2011-10-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

Sat. 10am Oct. 22
Moving California's
Single Payer Agenda
St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street (at Geary Blvd), San Francisco
Join James Haslam from Vermont, Donna Smith from the California Nurses Assn. &
Senator Mark Leno, the author of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act
Dear Healthcare Activist,
I hope you can join us on Oct. 22 for a discussion on moving California's Single Payer Agenda. See leaflet below.
We encourage you to forward this alert.
Please let us know if you can attend and if you can help call our phone tree.
___ Yes, I plan to attend the Oct 22 meeting
___ Yes, I can help call our phone tree. We will send you numbers and a suggested script. Some people take 10 names, some take 25, some 50, some more.
___ Yes, I have forwarded this alert.
___ Yes, I would like to make a financial contribution to help build this meeting. To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
San Francisco, CA 94146
I hope to see you Sat., Oct 22.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
Campaign For
A Healthy California
TOWN HALL MEETING
Healthcare Is A Human Right
The Vermont legislature has pioneered a bill creating a path for a universal, publicly funded healthcare system. James Haslam from the Vermont Workers' Center is coming to California to share their story and inspire Californians to do the same. Donna Smith, featured in the movie "Sicko", is a community organizer and health care activist with the California Nurses Association, and will join James on a California Health Care Justice Tour. Please join other concerned California citizens who are committed to making healthcare available to all Californians.
The California Health Justice Tour is in support of The California Universal Health Care Act – SB 810, and is raising funds for the Vermont Workers Center. Donations encouraged.
- Donna Smith is a Community Organizer and Legislative Advocate for National Nurses United/ California Nurses Association
"When people come together, make their voices heard and demand their rights, we can overcome well-funded special interests and change what is politically possible."
- James Haslam helped lead the successful fight to win Single Payer Health Care in Vermont James Haslam – Vermont Workers Center
Join James Haslam, Donna Smith &
Senator Mark Leno
(author of SB 810, CA Health Security Act)
SATURDAY, 10:00 AM OCTOBER 22
St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough Street (at Geary Blvd), San Francisco
For further information, contact Single Payer Now at 415-695-7891
or dbechler@value.net
California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Association, California School Employees Association, California Teachers Association - California Physicians for a National Health Program, Health Care for All, Single Payer Now, Democrats Caucus Democratic Party - California Alliance for Retired Americans - Democracy For America - Jobs with Justice, San Francisco Grey Panthers - OWL– San Francisco, Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

CALIF - SF Oct 14/15 Help Get Out the Single Payer Now Mail

2011-10-11T18:23:00.001-07:00

Help Get Out the Single Payer Now Mail
Friday Oct 14 & Sat. Oct 15
11am to 8pm.
2467 28th Ave, SF 94116
1/2 block south or L Taraval MUNI - plentiful parking.
To make a financial contribution for the mailing, click here.
Dear Healthcare Mailing Specialist,
We need your help sending our mail on Friday October 14 and Saturday, October 15 at the home of Barry Hermanson. Barry lives at 2467 28th Ave. We will be working from 11am to 8pm.
Our mailing will announce an October 22 meeting on the campaign for single payer in Vermont, and an October 24 teach in on Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security sponsored by the San Francisco Labor Council.
As always we will have great orange juice, snacks, and most importantly the best company in the world.
Please let us know when you can help.
___ I plan to help on Friday, October 14 around ______.
___ I plan to help on Saturday. October 15 around _____.
___ I have forwarded this alert. ___ I would like to make a financial contribution to help pay for the mailing. To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a 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 survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

Northern CALIF - OCCUPY OAKLAND is ON...

2011-10-06T14:21:00.001-07:00

SEIU

By now you've seen the thousands of brave students, workers and the unemployed occupying Wall Street.

But did you know that as of yesterday, there are over 300 solidarity "occupy events" happening across the country and around the clock?

In Philadelphia, 1,000+ individuals took to City Hall on Tuesday night.

In Washington, D.C., people have camped out in McPherson Square, symbolically located on K Street, since last week.

In L.A., citizens have spent six straight days and nights outside City Hall protesting against income inequality and joblessness.

The crowds and peaceful demonstrations will only get larger and louder as more Americans find the courage to stand up and demand Wall Street, CEOs and millionaires pay their fair share to create good jobs now.

This is the moment that determines whether this movement succeeds or falls flat. Will you pledge to help the movement spread by visiting an Occupy event in Oakland? You can sign up and find a comprehensive list of events here:

http://action.seiu.org/occupy-wall-street

Over the last few weeks we've seen crowds of "Occupy Wall Street" protestors capture the nation's attention as they stood their ground despite aggressive police behavior and hundreds of arrests.

These courageous young activists have given us all a shot of inspiration and hope that we can indeed turn this country around.

We are proud of the actions taken by 1199 United Healthcare Workers East, SEIU 32BJ and other SEIU local unions to support the Wall Street protests.

But as we talk to other "Occupy" participants across the country, they tell us their first need is people.

So we're working with our friends at Daily Kos to see if we can help.

Find an Occupy event happening in your city and pledge to sign up to get involved. You can do that here:

http://action.seiu.org/occupy-wall-street

As part of a peaceful, united movement we can do so much more to demonstrate the increasing urgency of the crisis our country faces and shine a light on those responsible.

Let's go for it!

In solidarity,

Mary Kay Henry
President, SEIU

NO CALIF -> OCCUPY OAKLAND here you go...

2011-10-06T14:20:00.001-07:00

SEIU

Dear Lj,

By now you've seen the thousands of brave students, workers and the unemployed occupying Wall Street.

But did you know that as of yesterday, there are over 300 solidarity "occupy events" happening across the country and around the clock?

In Philadelphia, 1,000+ individuals took to City Hall on Tuesday night.

In Washington, D.C., people have camped out in McPherson Square, symbolically located on K Street, since last week.

In L.A., citizens have spent six straight days and nights outside City Hall protesting against income inequality and joblessness.

The crowds and peaceful demonstrations will only get larger and louder as more Americans find the courage to stand up and demand Wall Street, CEOs and millionaires pay their fair share to create good jobs now.

This is the moment that determines whether this movement succeeds or falls flat. Will you pledge to help the movement spread by visiting an Occupy event in Oakland? You can sign up and find a comprehensive list of events here:

http://action.seiu.org/occupy-wall-street

Over the last few weeks we've seen crowds of "Occupy Wall Street" protestors capture the nation's attention as they stood their ground despite aggressive police behavior and hundreds of arrests.

These courageous young activists have given us all a shot of inspiration and hope that we can indeed turn this country around.

We are proud of the actions taken by 1199 United Healthcare Workers East, SEIU 32BJ and other SEIU local unions to support the Wall Street protests.

But as we talk to other "Occupy" participants across the country, they tell us their first need is people.

So we're working with our friends at Daily Kos to see if we can help.

Find an Occupy event happening in your city and pledge to sign up to get involved. You can do that here:

http://action.seiu.org/occupy-wall-street

As part of a peaceful, united movement we can do so much more to demonstrate the increasing urgency of the crisis our country faces and shine a light on those responsible.

Let's go for it!

In solidarity,

Mary Kay Henry
President, SEIU

CALIF-HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RT TOWNHALL TONIGHT!

2011-10-06T08:26:00.001-07:00

Fwd: SB810 SINGLEPAYER action in SF on Thurs & Fri

2011-10-05T17:53:00.000-07:00

Can You Help Collect Postcards for SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act,
in San Francisco on Thursday, Oct 6
and Friday Oct 7?
See postcard below.
Dear Healthcare Activist,
Can you help collect single payer postcards on Thursday and/or Friday in San Francisco?
On Thursday, Oct 6, from 3pm to 5:30, a rally will held in front of the new Federal Building calling for End the Wars! Tax the rich! Care for the people! And Protect our environment! The rally is in solidarity with a larger Washington, DC action called October 2011.
The Federal Building is at 90 7th St between Market and Mission (Civic Center BART & #14 MUNI).
A discussion will then occur from 6pm to 7pm at main library (Koret Auditorium). The library is at the intersection of Larkin, Grove, and Market. Rally organizers also need help with volunteer marshals.
On Friday, Oct 7, an antiwar protest will occur at 4:30 pm at the Federal Building on 7th St between Market and Mission. Demonstrators will then march to the Grand Hyatt in solidarity with Local 2 hotel workers. The Grand Hyatt is at Sutter and Stockton.
The hotel workers are in a struggle to stop cuts in their healthcare benefits.
We encourage you to forward this alert.
Please let us know how you can participate.
___ On Thurs., I can help collect SB 810 postcards.
___ On Thurs,, I can help carry our healthcare banner.
___ On Thurs., I can help marshal the rally.
___ On Fri., I can help collect SB 810 postcards.
___ On Fri., I can help carry our banner in support of Local 2 Hotel workers.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair, Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

Be an organizer for SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act - Order postcards

2011-10-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Be an Organizer for Single Payer Healthcare
Please ask a few friends to sign a postcard in support
of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act.

See postcard below.

Dear Healthcare Activist,

We need your organizing help in campaigning for SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act. Please order SB 810 postcards and ask your friends to sign them.
Legislators need to hear that thousands of Californians want universal healthcare minus the insurance industry.

The postcards are an excellent tool to engage your friends in a discussion on universal healthcare.

When we receive the postcards, we
1. Enter the names in our data base. Building a large data base of SB 810 supporters is crucial to winning single payer healthcare.
2. We figure out which legislative districts the postcard signer is from so we can alert them when their legislators need to be contacted for upcoming votes.
3. We deliver them to legislators in Sacramento. Even though the cards are addressed to Governor Brown, we deliver the cards to the legislator which the signer is from. We then ask the senator or assembly member to deliver them to the governor. We think it is important for legislators to know that they have constituents who support SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act.

Our experience has shown that if you personally ask someone to sign the card and have them sign it immediately, the odds are much greater of a person signing the postcard than if you just hand the cards out to a group and hope for the best.

Please let us know how many postcards you would like.
___ Please send me 7 postcards.
___ Please send me 15 postcards.
___ Please send me ____ postcards.
___ I have forwarded this message.
___ I can make a financial contribution to help defray the cost of the cards. To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to:
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
SF, CA 94146

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair, Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

California - October event in solidarity with Occupy Wallstreet nationally

2011-10-04T06:44:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Rally in Solidarity with
"October 2011"
in Washington, D.C.
new SF Federal building
7th St. between Mission & Market Sts.
Thursday - October 6, 3-6 pm
Discussion to follow at
Koret Auditorium, Main Public Library
6- 7 pm

WHO: We are people who are concerned about the failure of U.S. "politics as usual" to meet human needs and protect the planet and we invite your participation in this rally!

WHAT: Rally and moderated discussion in a "general assembly" format about how to meet human needs and sustain our planet not corporate greed. This San Francisco event is in solidarity with an encampment taking place in Washington DC, beginning on October 6, 2011 ( http://October2011.org for more details).

WHEN: Thursday, October 6, 2011, 3 pm to 5:30 pm (rally); moderated discussion to follow from 6-7 pm.

WHERE: Rally at 90 7th Street (in front of the new Federal Building) between Mission and Market Streets, near Civic Center BART/MUNI station; moderated discussion to follow the rally at the SF Public Library's Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street (at Grove), with live streaming on the big screen from the "October2011" activities in Washington DC.
Koret Auditorium located on the library's lower level. Enter 30 Grove Street, proceed down stairs.
Refreshments are not allowed in the Auditorium. (note: This is not a library-sponsored program).

WHY: We must demand:
·          End the Wars!
·          Tax the rich!
·          Care for the people!
·          Protect our environment!

SPEAKERS include Kevin Danaher-Global Exchange,
   Frank Lara-ANSWER Coalition, Sylvia Allegretto-
    IRLE/UC Berkeley, Dr. Henry Clark-West County Toxics
    Coalition, Michael Eisenscher-US Labor Against the War,
    Sharon Miller and Rosalie Platzer-CODE PINK,
    Rev. Israel Alvaran-UNITE HERE Local 2, Terry Baum-SF Green
    Party candidate for SF Mayor, Patty Bennett-Military Families Speak Out,
    Lynn Huidekoper-Health Care for All, Hene Kelly-United
    Educators and CARA
PERFORMERS: Ed Holmes (aka "Dick Cheney")-SF Mime
   Troupe, and singer/song writers Carol Denney and Jack Chernos.

MORE INFORMATION:
http://October2011.org
facebook: http://tinyurl.com/3uv7sx4

CALIF Singlepayer warriors: Report on Vermont's Single Payer Movement

2011-09-06T17:41:00.001-07:00

Report on Vermont's Single Payer Movement
Wed. 7pm Sept 7
255 9th ST in San Francisco
To make a contribution, click here.
Dear Healthcare Activist,
I hope you can attend our September 7 meeting on the movement for single payer healthcare in Vermont. See announcement below.
On May 26, Vermont's Governor Shumlin signed legislation that will lead to single payer healthcare by 2017. The Vermont Worker's Center, Physicians for a National Health Program, and the AFL-CIO will discuss the healthcare movement in Vermont at the board meeting of Healthcare-NOW! on August 28 in Burlington, VT. Single Payer Now's organizers Don Bechler and Lisa Patrick Mudd will report back to activists in SF on September 7 and in Los Angeles on September 18.
We encourage you to forward this alert.
___ I plan to attend the September 7 meeting.
___ I can come early at 6:30 to help set up.
___ I can phone our action alert list to invite other activists.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I can make a financial contribution to help build the meeting.
To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to:
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
SF, CA 94146
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
www.singlepayernow.net
415-695-7891
In San Francisco
7pm Wednesday, Sept. 7
255 Ninth St – SF
At ILWU Local 6 Union Hall
2 blocks south of Market between Howard and Folsom
Civic Center BART/MUNI
Sponsored by Single Payer Now. For more information call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler@value.net.

ACTION ALERT for ALL CALIFORNIA SPYR SUPPORTERS - plz do this!

2011-08-25T11:25:00.001-07:00

Forwarded from Art Persyko of SinglePayerNow:

SPN media alert: from the SF Chronicle--proposed 2012 CA ballot measure calls for public option & cut in rates; & 1 in 10 employers predicted to drop health coverage

SPN Media Alert: Good morning! Today's SF Chronicle has front page news of a ballot initiative proposed for the 2012 California ballot that calls for a public option and a cut in health insurance rates; and another story predicting 10% of employers will drop employee health coverage after 2014. Both of these articles give single payer advocates a great opportunity to send letters to the editor of the SF Chronicle about the advantages of single payer in our state or nationally, in response. For more information about SF Chronicle letters to the editor submissions, please see the information at the bottom of this email. Thank you!   (Note: If anyone on this email list wants to provide some feedback about these occasional SPN media alerts and/or wants to make a request to stop receiving them, please feel free to respond accordingly. Thank you!) -Art
Today's (Thursday, August 25, 2011) SF Chronicle front page (page A1) story (below the fold under the category "Health Care"): "Consumer group seeks public plan, rate cuts"; online title: "Health care measure seeks public option, rollbacks", by Carla Marinucci,Victoria Colliver, Thursday, August 25, 2011 (from: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/24/MNP31KRCSA.DTL#ixzz1W3vrQehj)

excerpt:

a leading California consumer rights group wants to shift the debate by offering a groundbreaking state ballot measure calling for a public option, a 20 percent rate rollback and tough oversight of premiums. The initiative, aimed at California's November 2012 ballot, is being organized by Consumer Watchdog, the Santa Monica group... News of the Consumer Advocate ballot measure comes as a critical hearing on a bill to regulate health insurance rates is scheduled today in the state Senate Appropriations Committee. Assembly Bill 52, by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, would allow the state insurance commissioner or the head of the Department of Managed Health Care - the two agencies that regulate health insurance - to reject or modify proposed rate increases if they are deemed to be excessive...

Also in today's SF Chronicle, "1 in 10 employers expected to halt health coverage", page A5.

excerpt:

Almost 1 of every 10 midsized or big employers expects to stop offering health coverage to workers after insurance exchanges begin operating in 2014 as part of President Obama's health care overhaul, according to a survey by a major benefits consultant.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/24/MNQU1KRH95.DTL#ixzz1W3yN7Gpo

Letters to the editor of the SF Chronicle information:

The Chronicle prefers letters be sent to them on their online form:http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/#1                                                                                                      SF Chronicle Letters to the Editor guidelines (from http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/submissions/):
Please limit your letters to 200 or fewer words ... shorter letters have a better chance of being selected for publication.
*    The editor prefers e-mail. The address is letters@sfchronicle.com
(Please paste the text into the e-mail; do not send attachments. Virus-detecting software will delete e-mail with attachments.)
*    Or Fax: (415) 543-7708.
*    Postal-mail is OK, too: Letters to the Editor, 901 Mission St.,San Francisco, CA 94103

ACTION ALERT for ALL SINGLEPAYER SUPPORTERS

2011-08-24T15:17:00.001-07:00

Today's print edition of The New York Times contains an excellent letter to the editor from Dr. Sam Metz, a member of Mad as Hell Doctors and our PNHP chapter in Oregon. Even more noteworthy is an invitation by the Times' editors to the paper's readers to respond to Dr. Metz's letter, with a pledge that a selection of such letters will be published in the paper's Sunday Review...
please write the letter today if at all possible; if not, tomorrow
-Art Persyko
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: Please write letter to New York Times in response to letter on single payer

Hi, everyone,

Today's print edition of The New York Times contains an excellent letter to the editor from Dr. Sam Metz, a member of Mad as Hell Doctors and our PNHP chapter in Oregon. Even more noteworthy is an invitation by the Times' editors to the paper's readers to respond to Dr. Metz's letter, with a pledge that a selection of such letters will be published in the paper's Sunday Review.

Because you've written letters to the editor or opinion piece in the past, please consider submitting a quick response to this invitation from the Times. It's an important opportunity.

Here's how Laurie Wen, executive director of our New York Metro chapter, puts it (followed by the text of Dr. Metz's letter):

The New York Times is inviting an open dialogue on single payer! Spurred by a letter by our colleague, Sam Metz of Mad As Hell Doctors, it's actively soliciting responses to be published in the Sunday Review. This is a golden opportunity: we need to flood them with letters supporting single payer!

Reminders:
please write the letter today if at all possible; if not, tomorrow
word limit of 150
refer to Metz's letter
include your mailing address and phone numbers
no attachments in email
letters@nytimes.com or fax (212) 556-3622
Laurie made an offer to look over letters from activists in the NY Metro chapter; I'd be happy to do the same on a national level.

Please send it a quick letter if you can!

Best regards,
Mark Almberg
Communications Director
(312) 728-6006, cell: (312) 622-0996

The New York Times, Aug. 23, 2011

Letter

Invitation to a Dialogue: A National Health Plan

In "Will Health Care Reform Survive the Courts?" (State of Play, Sunday Review, Aug. 21), Philip M. Boffey states that "reforms would work far less well without an individual mandate" that requires citizens to buy health insurance or pay a penalty.

I disagree. Health care reform could provide better care at less cost by replacing individual mandates with a single-payer national health care plan financed by taxes. Congress's power to mandate purchase of private products sold at a profit is disputable, but Congress's power to tax is not.

Other industrialized countries have national health plans providing care to more citizens at less cost with better outcomes than our system. And they don't use mandates that allow insurers to charge different prices for different people.

These health care systems have three common properties: public subsidies ensure that everyone has access to care regardless of health, wealth or employment; primary care is encouraged; and publicly accountable, transparent, not-for-profit agencies transfer funds from patient to provider.

There is no need to experiment with mandates. Convert our current health care system into a national health plan.

SAMUEL METZ
Portland, Ore., Aug. 21, 2011

The writer, an anesthesiologist, is a founding member of Mad as Hell Doctors, which advocates a single-payer system.

Editors' Note: We invite readers to respond to this letter for our Sunday Dialogue. We plan to publish responses and Dr. Metz's rejoinder in the Sunday Review. E-mail: letters@nytimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/opinion/invitation-to-a-dialogue-a-national-health-plan.html?_r=1

Fwd: SF Aug 24 - An Evening with Dr. Quentin Young - founder of Physicians for a National Health Program

2011-08-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

An Evening with
Dr. Quentin Young
Founder of Physicians for a National Health Program
7pm Wed. Aug 24
2467 28th Ave SF

Dear Healthcare Activist,

I hope you can join us this Wednesday, August 24 at 7pm for a presentation by Dr. Quentin Young on Campaigning for Single Payer Healthcare at Time when Medicare and Medicaid are Under Attack.

With decades of campaigning for healthcare minus the insurance industry, Dr. Young brings a visionary perspective to our campaign for universal healthcare. See leaflet below.

The meeting is at the home of Barry Hermanson at 2467 28th Ave. His home is 1/2 block south of Taraval and the L Taraval MUNI line. Parking is plentiful.

Please let us know if you can come.
___ Yes, I plan to attend Wednesday's meeting.
___ Yes, I can bring a friend.

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
www.singlepayernow.net
415-695-7891

Campaigning For
Single Payer Healthcare at a Time When Medicare and Medicaid Are Under Attack

Speaker:
Dr. Quentin Young, Founder and National Coordinator of Physicians for a National Health Program. Dr. Young is a past President of the American Public Health Association.

Wed. 7:00pm Aug. 24
2467 28th Ave, SF
(1/2 block south of the L Taraval MUNI Line)

Sponsored by Single Payer Now
For More Information call 415-695-7891 or email dbechler@value.net
www.singlepayernow.net

Note: we will work on a Single Payer Now mailing on Aug. 24 from 11am to 6pm.
Please consider coming early to help with the mailing. We will continue the mailing on Thursday, August 25 from 11 to 8pm. 2467 28th Ave. is the home of Barry Hermanson.

Labor donated
posted 8-16-11

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

From HealthCareNOW->Register for California Summer Conference Today!

2011-06-29T08:21:00.001-07:00

Please support Physicians for a National Health Program-California's upcoming Summer Conference.
Dear Healthcare Activist:
Did you hear that just this week a man in North Carolina robbed a bank so that he would receive health care in jail that he couldn't afford on his own? What has our nation come to when we have to force people to commit crimes in order to access health care?
People should not have to go to such ridiculous and dangerous lengths to get the health care they need and deserve. We all know that there is a solution: dismantling the private health insurance industry and replacing it with a public entity.
Come to the Summer Conference at USC's Tutor Campus Center Ballroom on Saturday, July 16th from 9am to 5pm to get the latest information on the single payer movement and network with other supporters. Also, don't miss our keynote speaker, Dr. Carmen Nevarez, immediate past president of the American Public Health Association, and our closing speaker, Sheila Kuehl, Esq., former author of SB 810.
You can get tickets and more information here.
The best part is, tickets for those who are new to the movement are only $10.00! For $10.00 you get coffee, lunch, expert information, and you get to pick from three afternoon institutes that will give you real skills. This is a great opportunity for you to bring that neighbor or co-worker who you were always meaning to talk to about single payer. Also, there will be a fun afterparty at USC's The Lab Gastropub (additional ticket).
If you have questions, feel free to call or email Molly at molly@pnhpcalifornia.org or 408-892-1255.
For Improved Medicare for All,
Katie, Jeff, and Francesca
Healthcare-NOW! National Staff

Healthcare-NOW! survives on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider making a donation or joining Healthcare-NOW! to support our efforts on our secure server.

- Follow us on -

Single Payer Supporters @ SF,CA's Pride

2011-06-28T10:01:00.001-07:00

Single Payer Supporters
Were Out in Force
At San Francisco's Gay Pride Parade.
Please Consider Making a Financial Contribution to Move Our Movement Forward
To make a contribution, click here.
Dear Healthcare Activist,
Supporters of California's SB 810 (single payer legislation) marched in San Francisco's Gay Pride Parade on June 26. We marched in State Senator Mark Leno's contingent. He is the author of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act. See picture below.
Please consider making a one time financial contribution or becoming a monthly contributor to Single Payer Now.
To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a 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 survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

SF, Calif from SinglePayerNow->Help collect SB 810 postcards July 2, 3, 4 @ SF Mime Troupe

2011-06-27T17:04:00.001-07:00

Help Collect SB 810 Postcards
On July 2,3,4 in Dolores Park
At San Francisco Mime Troupe Shows
Between noon and 2pm
Dear Healthcare Activist,
You are invited to help collect postcards in support of SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act, this coming weekend at the SF Mime Troupe shows in San Francisco's Dolores Park. See description of their show below. Dolores Park is at Dolores and 18th Streets.
The show starts at 2pm. The best time to collect cards is from noon to 2pm. We encourage you to forward this alert.
Please let us know which day you can help.
___ I can help collect postcards on Saturday, July 2.
___ I can help collect postcards on Sunday, July 3.
___ I can help collect postcards on Monday, July 4.
___ I can help call activists who do not have email for this event.
I hope to see you this weekend. Help us build support for SB 810 and enjoy the SF Mime Troupe.
You are great.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
The Tony Award-winning San Francisco Mime Troupe opens its 52nd season with 2012 - THE MUSICAL! A small political theater company finds itself at a crossroads: keep telling the stories they feel can change the world (and starve while telling them), or feed at the corporate trough? Tough decision. But before making it, they are offered a commission that may save the company. But is it possible to sell out just a "little bit"? Wilma Bonet directs. Live music a half hour before the show. FREE.

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

SF,CA JUNE 26th PRIDE parade - SinglePayer will be there-Join this contingent...

2011-06-21T17:15:00.001-07:00

March for SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act in San Francisco's
Gay Pride Parade
9:15 Sunday, June 26
Dear Healthcare Activist,
I hope you can walk with us on Sunday June 26 in San Francisco's Gay Pride Parade. We will be with Senator Leno's contingent.
We will be carrying banners that say:
Support Senator Leno's
SB 810, the California Universal Healthcare Act
Healthcare Yes! Insurance Companies No!
Please RSVP as we will make a banner for every 3 activists.
Wear your Single Payer Now shirt or you can wear a Leno shirt that you will receive at the march. Please let us know your shirt size.
The exact location of our contingent meet up will be sent out. It will be near the Embarcadero.
We encourage you to forward this message.
Please let us know if you can attend or if you help call others to attend.
___ I want to march in the Gay Pride Parade at 9:15 on Sunday, June 26
___ I want a Leno shirt to wear. My size is_____
___ I can help phone activists without email. I will send you a suggested script and 15 or 30 names.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I would like to make a financial contribution to Single Payer Now.
To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to:
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
SF, CA 94146
I hope to see you Sunday.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

From HealthCareNOW-> John Boehner Didn't Cry for Us, He Locked Us Out of His Office

2011-06-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

Can't read this email? View it in your web browser.

Please Donate

Healthcare-NOW! survives on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider making a donation to support our efforts using our secure server.

Upcoming Events

Progressive Democrats of America Brown Bag Lunch Vigils
Nationwide - Monthly
Community Forum on Single-Payer Health Care
Chicago, IL - June 20th
National Nurses United March on Wall Street for Main Street Contract
New York City, NY - June 22nd
Reception for Dr. Oli Fein, past president of PNHP
Chicago, IL - June 24th

Follow Us On

Dear Lisa:
Healthcare-NOW! is committed to educating, advocating, and agitating for the universal, equitable, and humane healthcare system we truly need - improved Medicare for all. Find out about some of the activism that continues to build the movement:

John Boehner Didn't Cry for Us, He Locked Us Out of His Office
Over 2,100 of you signed our petition asking Speaker of the House John Boehner not to cut or privatize Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security. As our Will You Cry for Me, John Boehner? campaign promised, we brought the petition and letters to John Boehner's office last week and asked to meet with him or his health legislative aide, but neither one was available. So we began reading your letters aloud until the Speaker arrived. Before finishing the first letter, the Capitol Police arrived. We handed the stack of letters to John Boehner's receptionist and then were escorted from the office. The police locked the door behind us as we left. See a full account and video here.

Celebrate Medicare's 46th Anniversary!
July 30th will mark the 46th anniversary of the passage of Medicare, and we are celebrating with dozens of public events in cities across the country. Find out more information and let us know if you're planning an event here.

June 22: National Nurses United March on Wall Street for Main Street Contract
With the erosion of living standards for many, and new attacks almost daily from Wall Street-funded politicians, all Americans need a new contract, a binding relationship for their security, for their families, and for future generations. To achieve these goals, National Nurses United is launching a new campaign, for all. More information here.

Listen - Vermont Workers' Center on Their Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign
On June 8, Healthcare-NOW! hosted a national conference call featuring members of the Vermont Workers' Center to discuss their Healthcare is a Human Right Campaign and the impact it had on universal healthcare legislation in their state. If you missed the call but want to hear it, you can download or listen to it here.

How Libby, Montana Got Medicare for All
In 2009 when the Washington beltway was tied up with the health care reform tussle, Montana Democratic Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the all powerful Senate Finance Committee, said everything was on the table–except for single payer. Yet when Senator Baucus needed a solution to a catastrophic health disaster in Libby, Montana, and surrounding Lincoln County, he turned to the nation's single payer healthcare system, Medicare, to solve the problem.
For Improved Medicare for All,
Healthcare-NOW! National Staff and Steering Committee

Healthcare-NOW! survives on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider making a donation or joining Healthcare-NOW! to support our efforts on our secure server.

- Follow us on -

SPN Media-> Some coverage available of "Medicare for All-End Private Ins" rally today (6/16 SF,CA AHIP convention)

2011-06-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

Some of the overage available of "Medicare for All--End Private Insurance" rally today:

1) Audio of Don Bechler as interviewed on KPFA's "Morning Mix", during the hour prior to the start of today's rally on June 16, 2011, (8 to 9 am; link: http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/70709; listen at 49 minutes and 36 seconds into the mp3 recording).

2) Protesters Rally Against Health Insurers
The Bay Citizen (blog)
It doesn't serve the public," said Arthur Persyko, a volunteer with Single Payer Now, a San Francisco-based health care reform advocacy group. "They are there to make their bottom line happy. They deny care to people who need it. They are a useless, ...
http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/protests-rally-against-health-insurers/:

Protesters Rally Against Health Insurers
By KATHARINE MIESZKOWSKI |June 16, 2011 2:21 p.m. |In Health

Erik Verduzco
More than 100 protesters from community and labor groups rallied outside the Moscone Center in downtown San Francisco Thursday morning to call for the end of private health insurance and "Medicare for all," while members of the America's Health Insurance Plans met at their national convention inside.

"There is no reason to have a health insurance industry. It only serves them. It doesn't serve the public," said Arthur Persyko, a volunteer with Single Payer Now, a San Francisco-based health care reform advocacy group. "They are there to make their bottom line happy. They deny care to people who need it. They are a useless, destructive part of our health care system. It's a crime, really."
State Sen. Mark Leno is sponsoring legislation, SB 810, that would establish a universal health care system in California. A similar bill passed the legislature in 2006 and again in 2008, but was vetoed both times by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Advocates say with a Democrat now in the governor's seat, this time could be different. But even if the bill does ultimately pass, it does not include funding for such a system.
"Separate legislation or a ballot measure would have to finance it," said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access, a consumer advocacy group.

Erik Verduzco

Erik Verduzco

Source: The Bay Citizen (http://s.tt/12FID)

The Bay Citizen (blog)
_____________________________
3) A random 45 second video clip of Greg Brockbank at today's rally mic, recorded and posted by a corporate entity (Health Data Management):
(link: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1406798346247&oid=58519352446&comments# or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Health-Data-Management/58519352446)
Jun 16, 2011 11:24am
by Health Data Management (videos)
0:45
Inside AHIP 2011, there are two diametrically opposed approaches to health reform being discussed ... Republicans want cost reductions, quality metrics and connectivity between providers but don't think Obamacare is the vehicle to deliver them. Democrats are counting on state health insurance exchanges to create more efficient markets. Then you have the third rail outside the conference, who say they want "healthcare not warfare" and a single payer system
View in High Quality
__________________________________
4) Today's KALW (91.7fm) "Your Call" one hour Broadcast audio recording mp3 with a representative of the insurance industry, a journalist, Debora Burger of CNA, and a call-in to the show, live, from the rally by Don Bechler at about 10:30 am. (http://a4.g.akamai.net/7/4/27043/v0001/kalw.download.akamai.com/27043/YourCall/061611yc.mp3)
__________________________________
5) Go to Singlepayercentral for coverage of today's rally, at http://singlepayercentral.blogspot.com/
e.g. link to photos posted online of today's rally: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?id=100000571713320&frecId=false&qn=1308264162&tid=19429248399&success=16&failure=0&set=oa.10150214850953400
__________________________________
6) Short video clip of Raging Grannies at today's rally: http://www.twitvid.com/KLQF4
___________________________________
7) KQED 88.5 fm news had a brief story during the 5 to 5:05 pm local news cast on today's rally quoting Greg Brockbank and his support for single payer legislation in California, and said they also got a reaction from an AHIP spokesperson. AHIP tried to defend it's existence by saying that it "fosters innovation", according to KQED.
_______________________________________________________________
8) An intro to this radio story on KGO radio 810 said that when AHIP scheduled their convention for San Francisco, they must have known they would get protesters to show up. KGO reporter Jenna Lane then gave a one minute report that aired at 5:17 to 5:18 pm today, and it included audio of the Raging Grannies; mentioned Tim Pawlenty was doused with glitter (by the Raging Grannies?) on his way in to the convention; and had audio of some chanting: "hands off Medicare". This story will probably be repeated in their news cycle until they go to their talk show format at 7 pm. (note: This would be a good night to call into KGO to talk about "Medicare for All--End Private Insurance" and single payer. If they don't schedule it as a topic, and they have "open phones" you can call in and talk about it!
_______________________________________________________
9) Online column (Joe's Health Calendar 6/16/11
By JOE GOLDEEN | Published: JUNE 16, 2011 | 0 Comments) about today's rally from San Joaquin County (http://blogs.esanjoaquin.com/stockton-health-care/2011/06/16/joes-health-calendar-61611/) quotes Dr. Hank Abrons:
"Health-care decisions should be made by patients and doctors, not private corporations," said Dr. Henry Abrons, president of the California chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program. "Commercial health insurers – with all their co-pays, deductibles, co-insurances, claim denials, excessive paperwork, wasteful marketing costs, outrageous CEO salaries and direct interference in the doctor-patient relationship – stand in the way of patients getting necessary care. At one time private health insurers may have made sense, but no longer. Now they're an obstacle to good, quality care. Even as 51 million Americans remain uninsured and millions more are saddled with inadequate insurance, the five largest for-profit insurers – Aetna, CIGNA, Humana, UnitedHealth and WellPoint – had combined profits of $11.7 billion last year. That's outrageous." Abrons said the coalition protesting at the AHIP meeting will be calling for "a proven, cost-efficient alternative: an improved Medicare for all, otherwise known as a single-payer system. "Improving Medicare and providing it to everyone is the only socially responsible way to protect our precious human and economic resources," he said....
______________
10) A Steve Rhodes photo taken at today's rally showing Billionaires for Wealthcare in the lobby of Moscone Center West at Health Care Reform Protest in San Francisco; photo can be seen at:
http://www.corbis.co.in/info.php?imageuid=%7Bd6733591-c832-4c82-841f-258c9ab836fa%7D&s=&rm=&rf=&mr=&loc=

__________________________________________________
List of reporters that showed up at the rally today and signed in:
1) Maria Hall, 1010 AM, 990 AM (Venezuela)
2) Thomas Wu, Epoch Times (newspaper, free on SF news stands)
3) Joel _______(?) Peace and Freedom Party (video)
4) Heni Espinosa, Philipino Channel (with tv video camera man and herself as reporter) interviewed Rev. Izzy Alvaran and Dr. Joel Weddington of PNHP
5) Yvonne Chu, World Journal (print)
6) Patricia Jackson, Gray Panthers (photo)
7) Jenna Lane, KGO radio
8) Jeff King, CNN (tv video)
9) Tom Whitaker, Fox (tv video)
10) Bill Carpenter (independent media video)
11) Paul Burton, San Mateo Labor Council (publishes and writes for "Labor", a monthly labor-oriented newspaper)
12) Steve Rhodes (free lance photo)
13) Shukha Kalantari (KQED radio)
14) Eric Verduzco (Bay Citizen print)

THURSDAY RALLY in SAN FRANCISCO

2011-06-15T18:45:00.001-07:00

June 16 SF Rally
9 to 11am – 4th & Howard
Medicare For All
End Private Insurance
See Speaker's List Below
Can you attend?
Dear Healthcare Activist,
I hope to see you tomorrow at our rally for Medicare for All. See leaflet pasted below and attached.
We will rally at the private health insurance conference at 4th St and Howard. We have great speakers, music, and puppets.
We could use some more volunteers at 8am to help distribute placards, chant sheets, marshal participants, and collect donations.
Please let us know if you can attend and if you can come early. We encourage you to forward this alert.
___ I plan to attend the rally.
___ I can come at 8am to help coordinate the rally.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
Confirmed speakers
Tim Paulson - SFLC Executive Director
Hank Abrons - President – Physicians for a National Health Program – California
Rev. Israel Alvaran - Community Organizer UNITE Hotel HERE Local 2
Don Bechler - Chair - Single Payer Now
Greg Brockbank - President of Healthcare for All – California
Maria Guillen - Service Employees International Union 1021
Chinese Progressive Assn. - representatives
Coalition of Labor Union Women - Alice Lindstrom Davis
Jean Taylor - Church Women United
DeAnn McEwen - California Nurses Assn., National Nurses Organizing Committee Council of Presidents
Karen Smulevitz - California Alliance for Retired Americans
Kim Alvarenga - District Director for Assembly Member Tom Ammiano
Beverly Ng - from Senator Mark Leno's office
Rally for Healthcare
Medicare for All
End Private Insurance
Join us on June 16th at the convention of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), San Francisco at 9am for a rally in support of Medicare for All and against the insurance industry.
From June 15 to 17, the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will be meeting at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. These are the corporations who insure the healthy and avoid the sick. Their Thursday, June 16 program features Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty and Senator Tom Daschle. These speakers oppose proposals that remove the health insurance industry from our healthcare.
June 16 Thursday
9am to 11am
Moscone Center West
Howard St at 4th St – SF
( Powell St BART/MUNI Stop )
Rally endorsed by California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Assn., Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All, Older Women's League, OPEIU Local 3, Physicians for a National Health Program, Unitarian Universalists for Peace-SF, Wellstone Democratic Club, & Single Payer Now
For more information visit: www.singlepayernow.net or call 415-695-7891
Don't Buy the Snake Oil of Private Insurance

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

From SPA->Who Should Resign -- Weiner or Capito?

2011-06-14T07:06:00.001-07:00

Anthony Weiner (D-New York) talks dirty and sends lewd pictures over the Internet.

Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) supports our pay or die private health insurance system.

And votes to end Medicare.

She does this while more than 40,000 Americans are dying every year from lack of health insurance.

Who should resign?

Throughout the land, there is a chorus calling for Congressman Weiner to resign.

But why not for Congresswoman Capito?

We know of people in Capito's district who are 63 or 64 years old, who have no health insurance, who have been diagnosed with a life threatening disease.
And who say -- I can't afford treatment, guess I'll just wait until I'm 65 and eligible for Medicare.

Not only is Capito against single payer Medicare for all.

She voted in April to end single payer Medicare 65 and older.

Last week, Single Payer Action and activists in West Virginia launched a summer campaign calling for the resignation of Capito.

We're holding community meetings.

We're collecting signatures.

And we're looking for billboard locations throughout the district.

Our message: those who support the pay or die system of private health insurance must be forced to resign.

To help us with this pilot summer campaign, please donate now to Single Payer Action.

And if you donate $100 or more to Single Payer Action, we'll send to you the acclaimed 334-page paperback biography --The Life and Political Times of Tommy Douglas by Walter Stewart.
(Tommy Douglas -- named "the Greatest Canadian" in a CBC poll -- was the father of single payer in Canada.)
In addition, we'll send you the riveting three hour Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) docudrama DVD -- Prairie Giant: The Tommy Douglas Story.

Both for a donation of $100 or more to Single Payer Action.

Donate now and help us in our campaign to pressure Congresswoman Capito to resign.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Onward to single payer.

Russell Mokhiber

PS: This offer ends July 1, 2011.
But supplies are limited. (The publisher of the biography informs us there are fewer than 600 copies left in print).

So please donate now to secure your book and DVD.

Fwd: SF,CA--> June 16 rally for Medicare for All

2011-06-13T14:57:00.001-07:00

Rally for Medicare for All
End Private Insurance
When the Insurance Industry Comes to San Francisco on June 16

Please let us know you are coming.

Dear Healthcare Activist,

I hope you can rally with us June 16 at 9am when the American Health Insurance Programs meet in San Francisco. These are the people who deny healthcare and prevent us from obtaining a national health plan. We will rally at the Moscone Convention Center at 4th and Howard. See leaflet below and attached.

We will rally for Medicare for All and to End Private Insurance.
We encourage you to forward this message.

Please let us know if you can attend.

We also need help building the rally. Please let us know how you can help. We especially need help calling our action alert list. We have found that a live conversation with an activist is the most productive way to build events.

___ I plan to attend the June 16 rally.
___ I can bring 3 other people to the rally.
___ I can help call our phone tree. I will send you 25 local numbers and a suggested phone script.
___ I can come at 8am on June 16 to help facilitate the rally. We need help with distributing placards & chant sheets, collecting donations, selling t-shirts, and collecting names of participants.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I want to make a financial contribution. To make a financial contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
San Francisco, CA 94146

I hope to see you June 16.

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Rally for Healthcare
Medicare for All
End Private Insurance

Join us on June 16th at the convention of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), San Francisco at 9am for a rally in support of Medicare for All and against the insurance industry.
From June 15 to 17, the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will be meeting at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. These are the corporations who insure the healthy and avoid the sick. Their Thursday, June 16 program features Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty and Senator Tom Daschle. These speakers oppose proposals that remove the health insurance industry from our healthcare.

June 16 Thursday
9am to 11am
Moscone Center West
Howard St at 4th St – SF

( Powell St BART/MUNI Stop )
Rally endorsed by California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Assn., Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All, Older Women's League, OPEIU Local 3, Physicians for a National Health Program, Unitarian Universalists for Peace-SF, Wellstone Democratic Club, & Single Payer Now
For more information visit: www.singlepayernow.net or call 415-695-7891

Don't Buy the Snake Oil of Private Insurance

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

From SPN Media Alert: NY Times Paul Krugman's (exceptionally great!) column today (6/13/11): "Medicare Saves Money"

2011-06-13T08:22:00.001-07:00

Subject: SPN Media Alert: NY Times Paul Krugman's (exceptionally great!) column today (6/13/11): "Medicare Saves Money"

SPN Media Alert: NY Times Paul Krugman's (exceptionally great!) column today (6/13/11): "Medicare Saves Money"
(from: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/opinion/13krugman.html)

excerpts:
... here's what you need to know: Medicare actually saves money — a lot of money — compared with relying on private insurance companies. And this in turn means that pushing people out of Medicare, in addition to depriving many Americans of needed care, would almost surely end up increasing total health care costs...

... while it's true that Medicare has done an inadequate job of controlling costs, the private sector has done much worse. And if we deny Medicare to 65- and 66-year-olds, we'll be forcing them to get private insurance — if they can — that will cost much more than it would have cost to provide the same coverage through Medicare...

... If Medicare is so much better than private insurance, why didn't the Affordable Care Act simply extend Medicare to cover everyone? The answer, of course, was interest-group politics: realistically, given the insurance industry's power, Medicare for all wasn't going to pass

... The United States has the most privatized health care system in the advanced world; it also has, by far, the most expensive care, without gaining any clear advantage in quality for all that spending. Health is one area in which the public sector consistently does a better job than the private sector at controlling costs...

... privatizing health insurance for seniors... the essence of the G.O.P. plan — hurts rather than helps the cause of cost control. If we really want to hold down costs, we should be seeking to offer Medicare-type programs to as many Americans as possible.

June 12, 2011

Medicare Saves Money
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Every once in a while a politician comes up with an idea that's so bad, so wrongheaded, that you're almost grateful. For really bad ideas can help illustrate the extent to which policy discourse has gone off the rails.
And so it was with Senator Joseph Lieberman's proposal, released last week, to raise the age for Medicare eligibility from 65 to 67.
Like Republicans who want to end Medicare as we know it and replace it with (grossly inadequate) insurance vouchers, Mr. Lieberman describes his proposal as a way to save Medicare. It wouldn't actually do that. But more to the point, our goal shouldn't be to "save Medicare," whatever that means. It should be to ensure that Americans get the health care they need, at a cost the nation can afford.
And here's what you need to know: Medicare actually saves money — a lot of money — compared with relying on private insurance companies. And this in turn means that pushing people out of Medicare, in addition to depriving many Americans of needed care, would almost surely end up increasing total health care costs.
The idea of Medicare as a money-saving program may seem hard to grasp. After all, hasn't Medicare spending risen dramatically over time? Yes, it has: adjusting for overall inflation, Medicare spending per beneficiary rose more than 400 percent from 1969 to 2009.
But inflation-adjusted premiums on private health insurance rose more than 700 percent over the same period. So while it's true that Medicare has done an inadequate job of controlling costs, the private sector has done much worse. And if we deny Medicare to 65- and 66-year-olds, we'll be forcing them to get private insurance — if they can — that will cost much more than it would have cost to provide the same coverage through Medicare.
By the way, we have direct evidence about the higher costs of private insurance via the Medicare Advantage program, which allows Medicare beneficiaries to get their coverage through the private sector. This was supposed to save money; in fact, the program costs taxpayers substantially more per beneficiary than traditional Medicare.
And then there's the international evidence. The United States has the most privatized health care system in the advanced world; it also has, by far, the most expensive care, without gaining any clear advantage in quality for all that spending. Health is one area in which the public sector consistently does a better job than the private sector at controlling costs.
Indeed, as the economist (and former Reagan adviser) Bruce Bartlett points out, high U.S. private spending on health care, compared with spending in other advanced countries, just about wipes out any benefit we might receive from our relatively low tax burden. So where's the gain from pushing seniors out of an admittedly expensive system, Medicare, into even more expensive private health insurance?
Wait, it gets worse. Not every 65- or 66-year-old denied Medicare would be able to get private coverage — in fact, many would find themselves uninsured. So what would these seniors do?
Well, as the health economists Austin Frakt and Aaron Carroll document, right now Americans in their early 60s without health insurance routinely delay needed care, only to become very expensive Medicare recipients once they reach 65. This pattern would be even stronger and more destructive if Medicare eligibility were delayed. As a result, Mr. Frakt and Mr. Carroll suggest, Medicare spending might actually go up, not down, under Mr. Lieberman's proposal.
O.K., the obvious question: If Medicare is so much better than private insurance, why didn't the Affordable Care Act simply extend Medicare to cover everyone? The answer, of course, was interest-group politics: realistically, given the insurance industry's power, Medicare for all wasn't going to pass, so advocates of universal coverage, myself included, were willing to settle for half a loaf. But the fact that it seemed politically necessary to accept a second-best solution for younger Americans is no reason to start dismantling the superior system we already have for those 65 and over.
Now, none of what I have said should be taken as a reason to be complacent about rising health care costs. Both Medicare and private insurance will be unsustainable unless there are major cost-control efforts — the kinds of efforts that are actually in the Affordable Care Act, and which Republicans demagogued with cries of "death panels."
The point, however, is that privatizing health insurance for seniors, which is what Mr. Lieberman is in effect proposing — and which is the essence of the G.O.P. plan — hurts rather than helps the cause of cost control. If we really want to hold down costs, we should be seeking to offer Medicare-type programs to as many Americans as possible

CA SinglePayerNow Needs Phone callers re June 16 rally

2011-06-10T08:56:00.001-07:00

Phone Tree Callers Needed
To Build Single Payer Healthcare Rally
on Thurs., June 16 in SF
The Insurance Industry is coming.
We want a large rally that calls for Medicare for All and an End to Private Insurance
Calling our activists is the most effective way to build a large rally.
Please Volunteer to make calls.
Dear Healthcare Activist,
Please help build our June 16th rally in San Francisco when the insurance industry comes to the Moscone Convention Center.
The leaflet for the event is pasted below and attached.
Phone calling our activists is the best way to build a large rally.
You can build the rally event if you live outside the SF Bay area.
Please let me know how many names you can call. You will calling the best people on earth.
Some people take 10 names, some 25, some 50, and some more.
I will send you local names (unless you live outside the SF Bary Area) and a suggested script.
___ Please send me ___ 10 names, ___ 25 names, ___50 names
or more ___ write a number.
Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net
Rally for Healthcare
Medicare for All
End Private Insurance
Join us on June 16th at the convention of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), San Francisco at 9am for a rally in support of Medicare for All and against the insurance industry.
From June 15 to 17, the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will be meeting at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. These are the corporations who insure the healthy and avoid the sick. Their Thursday, June 16 program features Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty and Senator Tom Daschle. These speakers oppose proposals that remove the health insurance industry from our healthcare.
June 16 Thursday
9am to 11am
Moscone Center West
Howard St at 4th St – SF
( Powell St BART/MUNI Stop )
Rally endorsed by California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Assn., Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All, Older Women's League, OPEIU Local 3, Physicians for a National Health Program, Unitarian Universalists for Peace-SF, Wellstone Democratic Club, & Single Payer Now
For more information visit: www.singlepayernow.net or call 415-695-7891
Don't Buy the Snake Oil of Private Insurance

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.
www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

SPN Media Alert: NY Times Letters to Editor re Healthcare (good ones)

2011-06-10T08:54:00.001-07:00

Begin forwarded message:

From: arthur persyko <artpersyko@gmail.com>
Date: June 10, 2011 8:16:15 AM PDT
Subject: SPN Media Alert: NY Times Letters to the Editor on "models of healthcare"; "Americans Love Medicare" (Idaho Mountain Express, 6/10/11); Any good health reform articles this past week?; and today, at 10 am, KALW 91.7 fm "Your Call" media roundtable

SPN Media Alert: Good morning! Today there are some good NY Times Letters to the Editor on "models of healthcare"; an opinion piece called "Americans Love Medicare" which identifies it as an across the boards popular example of single payer (Idaho Mountain Express, 6/10/11); Did you notice any good relevant health reform articles this past week? (If so, please send them to this group; I've been away for a few days and would love to see any you think worthy of our attention); and today, from 10 to 11 am, KALW 91.7 fm's "Your Call" media roundtable. If you saw or heard any good health care reform news, you can call or email that show. You can call in and/or email in your comments and/or questions at: 866-798-TALK (Toll-Free), feedback@yourcallradio.org. Thanks! (P.S. Don't forget there is an important rally on June 16 against AHIP, the Health Insurance Industry, when their national convention comes to town next week. SPN and other groups will be there. Hope you will be, too! Let's make some news of our own!!) -Art

1) LETTERS TO THE EDITOR OF THE NY TIMES:
Looking at the Models for Health Care
Published: June 9, 2011
(from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/opinion/l10brooks.html?ref=todayspaper)

To the Editor:
In "Where Wisdom Lives" (column, June 7), David Brooks suggests that the choice between free-market and "top down" health care is a philosophical one, and that a centralized solution is unlikely to succeed. I disagree.
To see the failure of free-market health care, just look at our Southern red states, where access is limited and obesity and cardiovascular disease are rampant.
In contrast, several "top down" models — Canada and France, notably — have faults, but provide wider access, better outcomes and lower cost.
More pertinent is a model within our borders. The Veterans Affairs Department serves more than five million patients and serves them well. Indeed, a study published on June 7 in The Annals of Internal Medicine reports that V.A. cancer care is as good as or better than in the private sector.
Like all systems, the V.A. is imperfect, but it belies Mr. Brooks's assumption that we can't come together to care for one another, and do it both well and efficiently.
MICHAEL PILLINGER
New York, June 7, 2011
The writer is section chief of rheumatology, New York Harbor Health Care System, New York campus, Department of Veterans Affairs.
To the Editor:
David Brooks summarizes the Republican Medicare plan as follows: "Replacing the fee-for-service with a premium support system. Seniors would select from a menu of insurance plans. Their consumer choices would drive a continual, bottom-up process of innovation."
That sure sounds a lot like the company-supported health care plans that most major corporations offer these days. And all we have received from this approach is a continual process of rising employee payments, rapidly diminishing benefits and record-breaking health insurance company profits.
No wonder many of us are so skeptical of the Republican plan.
MARK FURMAN
Morristown, N.J., June 7, 2011
To the Editor:
David Brooks is sure that the "15 Washington-based experts" charged with saving Medicare will fail. He may be right. But somehow most every other industrialized nation manages to provide universal medical care at half the per-capita cost of the United States and often provides better results.
Now I know that it is 100 percent un-American to suggest that we can learn anything from foreigners: think of what happened when a Supreme Court opinion dared to mention foreign law in one of its decisions. So perhaps we could secretly see how other countries do it and just never admit that we learned anything. Maybe that should be the new American way.
FRED E. HAHN
Golden Valley, Minn., June 7, 2011
2) "Americans Love Medicare" a "...single payer medical plan for Americans 65 and older..." (Idaho Mountain Express,Friday, June 10, http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005137008)
excerpt:

As a critical part of the "Great Society" in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the bill that established Medicare, a single-payer medical plan for Americans 65 and older. It was designed to bring much-needed medical services to our older citizens who, with Medicare, are now living longer, and not just longer but healthier and more vibrant lives.
Americans love Medicare. Democrats love Medicare. Rank-and-file Republicans are split evenly between loving and hating it. Even tea party members love Medicare, carrying signs reading, "Keep your socialist hands off my Medicare."; and

SF,CA-Single Payer Phone Tree Callers needed for June 16 SF rally

2011-06-06T20:47:00.001-07:00

Phone Tree Callers Needed

To Build Single Payer Healthcare Rally

on Thurs., June 16 in SF

The Insurance Industry is coming.

We want a large rally that calls for Medicare for All and an End to Private Insurance

Calling our activists is the most effective way to build a large rally. Please Volunteer to make calls.

Dear Healthcare Activist,

Please help build our June 16^th rally in San Francisco when the insurance industry comes to the Moscone Convention Center.

The leaflet for the event is pasted below and attached.

Phone calling our activists is the best way to build a large rally.

Please let me know how many names you can call.

Some people take 10 names, some 25, some 50, and some more.

I will send you local names and a suggested script.

___ Please send me ___ 10 names, ___ 25 names, ___50 names

more ___ write a number.

Thank you.

Don Bechler

Chair – Single Payer Now

415-695-7891

Rally for Healthcare

Medicare for All

End Private Insurance

Join us on June 16th at the convention of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), San Francisco at 9am for a rally in support of Medicare for All and against the insurance industry.

From June 15 to 17, the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will be meeting at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. These are the corporations who insure the healthy and avoid the sick. Their Thursday, June 16 program features Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty and Senator Tom Daschle. These speakers oppose proposals that remove the health insurance industry from our healthcare.

June 16 Thursday

9am to 11am

Moscone Center West

Howard St at 4^th St – SF

( Powell St BART/MUNI Stop )

Rally endorsed by California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Assn., Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All, Physicians for a National Health Program, Unitarian Universalists for Peace-SF, Wellstone Democratic Club, & Single Payer Now

For more information visit: www.singlepayernow.net or call 415-695-7891

Don't Buy the Snake Oil of Private Insurance

labor donated Posted June 1, 2011

SF June 16 Medicare for All rally at Insurance Industry Conference

2011-06-06T20:44:00.001-07:00

Rally for Medicare for All
End Private Insurance
When the Insurance Industry
Comes to San Francisco on June 16
To make a contribution, click here.

Dear Healthcare Activist,
I hope you can rally with us June 16 at 9am when the American Health Insurance Programs meet in San Francisco. These are the people who deny healthcare and prevent us from obtaining a national health plan. We will rally at the Moscone Convention Center at 4th and Howard. See leaflet below and attached.
We will rally for Medicare for All and to End Private Insurance.
We encourage you to forward this message.

Please let us know if you can attend.

We also need help building the rally. Please let us know how you can help. We especially need help calling our action alert list. We have found that a live conversation with an activist is the most productive way to build events.

___ I plan to attend the June 16 rally.
___ I can bring 3 other people to the rally.
___ I can help call our phone tree. I will send you 25 local numbers and a suggested phone script.
___ I can come at 8am on June 16 to help facilitate the rally. We need help with distributing placards & chant sheets, collecting donations, selling t-shirts, and collecting names of participants.
___ I can post a leaflet in a coffee shop or at work. Please download attached leaflet.
___ I have forwarded this alert.
___ I want to make a financial contribution to help cover the costs of the rally. To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a financial contribution to:
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
San Francisco, CA 94146

I hope to see you June 16.

Thank you,
Don Bechler
Chair - Single Payer Now
415-695-7891
www.singlepayernow.net

Rally for Healthcare
Medicare for All
End Private Insurance

Join us on June 16th at the convention of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), San Francisco at 9am for a rally in support of Medicare for All and against the insurance industry.
From June 15 to 17, the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will be meeting at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. These are the corporations who insure the healthy and avoid the sick. Their Thursday, June 16 program features Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty and Senator Tom Daschle. These speakers oppose proposals that remove the health insurance industry from our healthcare.

June 16 Thursday
9am to 11am
Moscone Center West
Howard St at 4th St – SF

( Powell St BART/MUNI Stop )
Rally endorsed by California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Health Professional Student Alliance, California Nurses Assn., Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All, Older Women's League, OPEIU Local 3, Physicians for a National Health Program, Unitarian Universalists for Peace-SF, Wellstone Democratic Club, & Single Payer Now
For more information visit: www.singlepayernow.net or call 415-695-7891

Don't Buy the Snake Oil of Private Insurance

Single Payer Now survives on the generosity of our supporters.
Please consider making a donation.

www.SinglePayerNow.net | 415-695-7891 | dbechler@value.net

NATIONAL->Action Alert from Healthcare-NOW!

2011-06-03T08:27:00.001-07:00

Healthcare-NOW! is an endorsing organization of Progressive Democrats of America's Healthcare NOT Warfare Campaign.
To support the growing demand that we end foreign wars and bring money home for domestic needs, please sign this letter to the Senate Democratic Caucus asking them to support the DNC Afghanistan Withdrawal Resolution and Sanders' American Health Security Act of 2011 (S.915).
This letter will be distributed to the members of the Senate Democratic Caucus on June 7, as part of the June 7 Rally and Lobby Day with the Nurses.
Many of our allies in the progressive movement have endorsed and signed this letter: we hope you'll join them. Sign here.
Our goal is to gather at least 25,000 signatures between now and midnight, June 5. Click here to sign, and then please post this to your Facebook page and forward this email to your like-minded friends and family members.

For Improved Medicare for All,
Katie, Jeff, and Francesca
Healthcare-NOW! National Staff

Healthcare-NOW! survives on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider making a donation or joining Healthcare-NOW! to support our efforts on our secure server.

- Follow us on -

Rally for Healthcare at America's Health Insurance Plans Convention

2011-06-01T14:18:00.001-07:00

Dear Lisa:
Join Single Payer Now and its allies on June 16th at the convention of the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) in San Francisco at 9 am for a rally in support of Medicare for All and against the insurance industry.
From June 15 to 17, the America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will be meeting at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center. These are the corporations who insure the healthy and avoid the sick. Their Thursday, June 16 program features Presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty and Senator Tom Daschle. These speakers oppose proposals that remove the health insurance industry from our healthcare.
When: Thursday, June 16 - 9 am to 11 am
Where: Moscone Center West, Howard St. at 4th St., San Francisco - (Powell St BART/MUNI Stop)
The rally is endorsed by California Alliance for Retired Americans, California Nurses Assn., Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All, Physicians for a National Health Program, Wellstone Democratic Club, & Single Payer Now.
For more information visit www.singlepayernow.net or call 415-695-7891.
For Improved Medicare for All,
Katie, Jeff, and Francesca
Healthcare-NOW! National Staff

Healthcare-NOW! survives on the generosity of our supporters. Please consider making a donation or joining Healthcare-NOW! to support our efforts on our secure server.

- Follow us on -

SF,CA: May 24 single payer rally planning meeting June 16 Insurance meeting

2011-05-23T14:50:00.001-07:00

Subject: May 24 single payer rally planning meeting June 16 Insurance meeting

Is Your Organization Interested in Rallying for Universal Healthcare Minus the Insurance Industry on Thursday June 16 in San Francisco?

Can your organization come to a 5:30 planning meeting on Tuesday May 24 in San Francisco?

Dear Health Care Activists,

The American Health Insurance Plans is coming to San Francisco between June 15 and June 17. This is the trade organization that insures the healthy and plots to avoid the sick. Rallying at their meeting is an opportunity to let everyone know that we want a national or state healthcare program that delivers universal healthcare without the interference of the insurance industry.

Is your group interested in participating in rallying on June 16?

Please consider meeting on Tuesday at 5:30 at the Gray Panther office at 1182 Market St, Suite 203. This is next door to the Orpheum Theater at Hyde and right outside the Civic Center BART/MUNI stop.

Please let us know if you can come or if you can come to a future planning meeting.

___ I plan to attend the May 24^th meeting.

___ Please inform me of future planning meetings.

___ Yes, we want to rally for healthcare minus the insurance industry.

My organization is ______________________

___ Yes, I want to make a financial contribution to help cover the costs of the rally. To make a contribution, click here.

Or you can send a financial contribution to:

Single Payer Now

PO Box 460622

San Francisco, CA 94146

I hope to see you soon.

Thank you.

Don Bechler

Chair – Single Payer Now

415-695-7891

SF, CA: SUNDAY ORGANIZING DINNER/PREP for AHIP MEETING in SF

2011-05-18T14:48:00.000-07:00

Single Payer Now
Organizing Dinner
Sun. 5:30 May 22
626 Pacheco @ 10^th Ave
The American Health Insurance Plans are coming to San Francisco, Thursday, June 16.                         These are the bad guys.
Plus short updates on SB 810, Vermont, and new national legislation.
To make a financial contribution, click here.

Dear Single Payer Healthcare Activist,

I hope you can attend organizing dinner and update.
Please RSVP so we know how much food to prepare.
We will have a vegetarian dinner prepared by Vishu Lingappa.
Parking is plentiful.  #6 bus @ 10^th Ave is 100 feet away.
Drinks and desserts are always welcome.
Bring your organizing calendars.

The American Health Insurance Plans is coming to SF on June 15 to 17.  We want to give them a big unwelcome.  Yesterday, they caused 1245 people to go bankrupt.

Organizing a rally on Thursday, June 16 gives us an opportunity to:
Let it be known that we want a national healthcare program minus the interference of the insurance industry.
Involve allied groups in the single payer movement.
Involve our own activists in the campaign for single payer healthcare.

Agenda.
5:30 dinner
6:10 introductions
6:20 update on SB 810 efforts.
6:30 update on national legislation
6:40 update on Vermont.
6:50 AHIP organizing
8:00 adjourn

Let me ask you a question.  On June 16^th, if a reporter asked you what the message of the rally is, what would your one sentence answer be?  What would you want the one sound bite to be?

Again, please let us know if you can attend.
___ I plan to attend the organizing dinner.
___ I plan to attend the June 16 rally at 9am.
___ I can call our phone tree to for the rally.
___ I want to make a financial contribution for help build the rally.
To make a contribution, click here.
Or you can send a contribution to:
Single Payer Now
PO Box 460622
San Francisco, CA 94146

I hope to see you Sunday night.
We want healthcare minus the insurance companies.

Thank you.
Don Bechler
Chair – Single Payer Now
415-695-7891

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

2011-05-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

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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