DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS
OF AMERICA
 
 
July 27, 2009
 

NEWS FROM DSA 
A REPORT FROM DSA'S NATIONAL OFFICE


IN THIS
ISSUE

 

You can help DSA spread the word by  forwarding this
message.
Take Action on Health Care:
July 30 DC Lobby and Rally
  
The insurance companies continue to sow doubt about the viability of national health care, particularly among moderate Democrats. This Thursday proponents of the single payer approach to National Health Care will rally and lobby in Washington, DC. DSA has endorsed this effort and urges as many members and local groups to participate as possible. The rally will take place from 1-2PM in the Upper Senate Park. Look for the DSA table at the rally. DSA Honorary Chair Barbara Ehrenreich will be among the speakers at the rally. After the rally, participants are asked to lobby their member of Congress on behalf of HR 676 and other single payer goals. For the latest information on the rally and lobby day click here.
 
DSA recently adopted a new statement on health care that provides our perspective on important goals in this struggle. To view the full text of the resolution in leaflet form click here.
 
One goal that we believe is critically important is to allow states to opt out of the national plan and set up a state single payer program. We achieved an important victory when the Kucinich amendment providing for an ERISA waiver for states enacting single payer health care reform was  approved in the mark up of the Tri-Committee bill by the House Education and Labor Committee. This amendment is vital to the enactment of single payer at the state level in the absence of federal action to do so. A similar effort in the Senate led by Senator Bernie Sanders was defeated, but it marked the first time that a single payer provision received any support in the Senate.
 
Contact Your Elected Officials

 
If you cannot be at the DC rally and lobby day on Thursday, I encourage you to join in  a health care event in your community and to contact your representative and senators.
 
Here is a sample message intended for all Democratic senators and Senators Snowe and Collins:
 
The Senate will soon be debating and voting upon the Health Care Reform Legislation reported from the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension  (HELP) and Finance Committees. Senator Sanders will offer S 703 as a substitute amendment to this legislation.   I urge you to vote in favor of the Sanders amendment. It marks a combination of the most efficient, progressive, and cost effective way of paying for health care through public financing and maintains our system of providing health care through private health care providers.   The Sanders substitute amendment allows Americans to go to the doctor of their choice and choose their medical treatment without any interference from a third party.  Many studies have been made over the years that show there are enormous cost savings that accrue from a single payer system such as that prescribed by S 703. This amendment provides an effective way to control skyrocketing health care costs while covering all Americans. Please support the smart, comprehensive, and humane health care policy embodied in Senator Sanders? amendment, S 703.
   
Please let me know of your actions in this regard.

 
Here is a sample message intended for all Democratic members of the House:
 
I urge you to support actions which will make it easier for the House to adopt meaningful legislation to ensure comprehensive and affordable health care insurance is available to all Americans. HR 676 is supported by 86 Democratic members of the House but has never been scored by the Congressional Budget Office The single payer medicare-for-all approach of this bill promises the least overall cost for national health care. If we are to unite Democrats around a single bill this approach must be scored. And If the House chooses a different bill, states  must have the opportunity to choose a single payer approach. The Kucinich amendment providing for an ERISA waiver for states enacting single payer health care reform is an essential step in that process and provides an important vehicle for achieving Democratic unity.  This is a reasonable request to which your support is critical at this juncture.
 
Please let me know of your actions in this regard. 
 
The last opportunity to pass meaningful  universal health care legislation failed in 1993. We cannot let the insurance companies beat us again.
In solidarity,   
  
Frank Llewellyn
National Director
 
P.S.With the help of DSA Vice-Chair Steve Max, we have developed a short slide show on health care that makes the case for single-payer as well as the public option. You can use it to review the arguments for our approach and as a tool to convince others. Please help ensure that it is widely distributed. To view the slide show click here. 
 
Another YouTube resource you can use is a short speech DSA National Political Committee member Theresa Alt gave on health care at a rally in Ithaca, New York. To view her speech click here.
 
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