PA Leads The Way in Single Payer Health Care at the State Level

Written by: Tom Alba on Jun 11, 2009 5:52 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Asheville Democracy for America, PA Single Payer Healthcare Action Committee, Upper Bucks for Democracy, Northeast Philadelphia for Democracy, PA for Democracy

June 11th - Harrisburg, PA

Over 400 people rallied in the Capitol rotunda today, to show their support and demand passage for pending legislation that would establish a true, Single Payer Health Care System for all Pennsylvanians, provided by the State.  They filled the entire floor around the speakers and entertainers, overflowed up the stairs, filling them and the 2nd floor circular aisles as well.

That number is quite remarkable, considering the rally was convened on a rainy Thursday morning at 11 AM in Harrisburg.  The Pennsylvania Capitol is 114 miles from Philadelphia and over 200 miles from Pittsburgh, the State's only major cities.  Yet, folks from all parts - the cities, suburbs, small towns and rural areas - came out for the event.

My eye judged the crowd to be a healthy mix of gender, age, race and ethnicity, with a good measure of Union participation thrown in.

Their cheers and applause resounded loudly in the rotunda interior, as they responded to comments made by speakers, that included State legislators who support the measure.

The event was organized by the group "HealthCare4ALLPA".  Executive Director Chuck Pennacchio is highly optimistic about this legislation because it has sponsorship and support from both sides of the aisles.  He predicts that all eyes will be on Pennsylvania this Summer and passage by Thanksgiving.

Renowned speakers were prominent Health Care advocates Donna Smith, who also appeared in Michael Moore's film, "SiCKO", and Dr. Walter Tsou, who just yesterday testified as a subject matter expert, at a Congressional Hearing in Washington.

Dr. Tsou concluded his remarks by noting that Pennsylvania is the birth place of our independence and that our Declaration starts with the words, "We, The People", not "We, the Insurance Companies"!

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