Alabama Labor Council and Kentucky CWA Local Endorse HR 676

[biopowertoday]

My hope is that enough unions sign on so that the WH is forced to put Single-payer back ON THE TABLE.





Alabama Labor Council and Kentucky CWA Local Endorse HR 676

Mobile, Alabama. The Southwest Alabama Labor Council has endorsed HR 676,
single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers
(D-MI).

The Alabama Labor Council is the one hundred-and-twenty-first labor
council to endorse the Conyers legislation. The resolution was forwarded
to the members of congress who represent Mobile and surrounding areas.

In Lexington, Kentucky, CWA Local 3372 has also endorsed the Conyers
legislation, reports Local President Joseph McCarty. The resolution was
sent to Representative Ben Chandler.
#30#

HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a
greatly improved Medicare system to everyone residing in the U. S.

HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including
prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and
preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health,
physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision
care, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable
medical equipment, palliative care, and long term care.

HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save hundreds of
billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the
private health insurance industry and HMOs.

In the current Congress, HR 676 has 64 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers.

HR 676 has been endorsed by 491 union organizations in 49 states including
121 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 39 state
AFL-CIO's (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, NC, MO,
MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN, AL, CA, AK, MI,
MT, NE, NY, NV & MA).

For further information, a list of union endorsers, or a sample
endorsement resolution, contact:

Kay Tillow
All Unions Committee For Single Payer Health Care--HR 676
c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO)
1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218
Louisville, KY 40217
[phone]
Email: [email protected]

http://unionsforsinglepayerHR676.org
03/16/09

[biopowertoday]

1. Commentary: Obama should offer public health insurance to all

yes we can. yes he can.



Commentary: Obama should offer public health insurance to all
By Ramon Castellblanch | The Progressive Media Project


President Obama should provide all Americans the choice of a public health insurance plan like Medicare. He shouldn't just leave us a choice of private insurance companies, none of which could offer decent coverage.

The public health insurance option is attractive for several reasons.

First, it would lead the way in lowering administrative costs. It wouldn't need to make a profit. It wouldn't need to pay outsized salaries to administrators. Public health insurance programs have administrative costs nearly 10 percent below those of most private insurance policies, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

Second, since a public health insurance option would not be under pressure to pay shareholders, it would be more able to invest in quality health care through prevention and in advising doctors about the latest research on the most effective treatments – rather than on the most profitable ones.

Third, the public insurance option would provide beneficiaries with reliable coverage. Private insurers are notorious for dumping people with little notice. For example, a decade ago, when Congress restricted private insurer profiteering in the Medicare program, insurers quickly dropped coverage for millions of seniors. As a result, many were left without access to their doctors and to needed medical care. ..........(more)

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/63896.html

[biopowertoday]

2. and a bump for the evening folks if

anyone is interested.

[Delphinus]

3. Great news!

Thanks!