March 10 Action for HR 676; March 12 in Dearborn; March 17 in Burlington

Billy Tauzin, CEO of PhRma, Karen Ignagni of America’s Health Insurance Plans, Bill Novelli of AARP, and dozens of other corporate heads of profit-making health care industries were present at the White House Summit while single payer advocates struggled to get in. Phone call campaigns and demonstrations make a difference. We will have to escalate our activities to get the single payer solution fully into the national debate with equal respect and time in all the meetings and congressional hearings.

On March 10, we will join a whirlwind action day in support of HR 676 with regional actions to follow on March 12 and March 17.

Call your congressperson on Tuesday, March 10, to urge that he or she sign on to HR 676, national single payer health care. This is the bill that ends the waste and greed and brings care to everyone.

Please take a moment to call the US Capitol switchboard: (202) 224 3121. Then ask for your representative.

To see if your representative is among the 64 co-sponsors, click here.

If your congressperson is already a co-sponsor, express your thanks and encourage him or her to speak up boldly for HR 676 and to become active in the HR 676 Caucus.

With a zip code, you can look up anyone’s representative here: votesmart.org.

We also urge you to contact the new Health and Human Services Secretary-designate, Kathleen Sebelius, toll free at 1-877-696-6775, to let her know you support HR 676, single-payer national health care.

In addition, you are invited to join in the campaign to fax your health insurance bills and denial letters to Congress. For fax covers and further information on the fax campaign, go here: healthcare-now.org/campaigns/call/

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, PROTEST IN WASHINGTON, DC:

If you are near Washington, DC, March 10th is your opportunity to put your feet in the street! The America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is hosting a conference. AHIP is the trade group that develops the policies that keep profit first while leaving over a third of the population uninsured or with completely inadequate coverage. Join with HR 676 advocates for a demonstration outside of the conference:

11 a.m. Tuesday, March 10th Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1160 22nd St. NW Washington, D.C.

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, PROTEST IN DEARBORN, MICHIGAN

At the White House Summit on Health Care Reform, President Obama announced that the next step would be regional meetings in keeping with the commitment to “a transparent, accountable government.” The first conference will be held in Dearborn.

Thursday, March 12, 1:00 PM Ford Conference Center, 1151 Village Rd. Dearborn, Michigan

Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and HR 676 unionists and activists in the region have called a Press Conference and protest outside the Ford Conference Center at 1:00 pm. Johnathon Ross, MD, past president of PNHP will lead the press conference. Everyone urged to be there to show support for single payer. For further info: Bob Sisler: or Al Cholger

TUESDAY, MARCH 17, ACTION IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT

Another of 5 regional summit meetings on healthcare reform announced by the White House is scheduled for:

12 Noon University of Vermont Davis Center, 590 Main St. Burlington, Vermont.

To insist on full single payer inclusion in the entire reform process, Deb Richter, MD, former president of PNHP, will lead a peaceful action in front of the Davis Center. Professionals are urged to bring their white coats and stethoscopes. Everyone come to show support! Further info: Deb Richter