National Call-in Day for HR 676
February 12, 2009

The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Healthcare is encouraging everyone to participate in the next National Call-in Day for HR 676. Mark your calendars…

Call Congress, and the President
Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121
(ask for your representative’s office)

If your member is a current co-sponsor, thank your rep. and ask him or her to stand firm for HR 676 and actively seek additional co-sponsors.

If your member was a co-sponsor in the last Congress, ask him or her to sign on immediately as a co-sponsor in this Congress.

If your member has yet to co-sponsor HR 676, ask him or her to please become a co-sponsor, select one or two talking points here.

In a letter to Col. William F. Elkins written November 21, 1864, Lincoln wrote:

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

In celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, remind your member of Congress to honor his words and heed his warning as we look to reform his precious nation's healthcare system.  Urge your member to accept testimony from panelists to explore the serious flaws in the Massachusetts health plan and examine why it cannot serve as a national model for providing universal and comprehensive care, on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 2:00-4:00pm, 2226 Rayburn House Office Building.

Sincerely,

Quentin D. Young, MD
National Coordinator,
Phyisicans for a National Health Program

Donna Smith
Community Organizer
California Nurses Association
National Nurses Organizing Committee
PDA National Healthcare NOT Warfare Co-Chair

Tim Carpenter
Executive Director
Progressive Democrats of America

Katie Robbins
Assistant National Coordinator
Healthcare-NOW!

P.S. Don't forget to call (202-456-1414) or fax (202-456-2461) the White House to make sure our current President recalls how very troubled another young lawyer from Illinois was as he viewed the future of the nation under the control of the monied and corporate interests just like those swirling in the for-profit health insurance industry.

 POLLING DATA
SUPPORTS GUARANTEED HEALTH CARE

• A staggering 97% of respondents said that making sure everyone has health care coverage is the most important issue for their vote in the 2008 elections.

~Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosener Poll, July 2007

• 74% of respondents are not satisfied with the current cost of health care, and 75% want to make health care more affordable. Similarly, the poll found that 79% favor major changes to America’s current health care system.

~Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosener Poll, July 2007

• When asked which domestic policy is most important for the President and Congress toconcentrate on right now: 1. reducing taxes, 2. making health insurance available to all Americans, 3. strengthening immigration laws, or 4. promoting traditional values, 55% of those polled said making health insurance available to all Americans. 54% also believe that the health care system in America needs to undergo “fundamental changes”.

~CBS/NY Times Poll, March 2007

• When asked about the country as a whole, 57% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the quality of health care in this country.

~CBS/NY Times Poll, March 2007

• When asked about the cost of health care in the U.S., 81% of respondents said they were not satisfied, with 59% responding that they were very dissatisfied.

CBS/NY Times Poll, March 2007

• When asked if they favor or oppose expanding access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans even if it means raising taxes, 67% of respondents were in favor.

~Lake Research Partners Poll, November 2006

• 70% of respondents also agree that providing affordable, quality health insurance to all children in the U.S. should be one of the top priorities of Congress and the President.

~Lake Research Partners Poll, November 2006