Single-Payer Bill to be Re-Introduced this week!

[OneGrassRoot]

http://www.healthcare-now.org/call-congress-single-payer-bill-to-be-reintroduced

From HEALTHCARE-NOW:


Ask your Representative to become an original cosponsor of HR 676: “The Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act.” today!

Rep. John Conyers is going to reintroduce national, single-payer healthcare legislation very soon–sometime this week.

Before he introduces the bill, Mr. Conyers would like to have as many original cosponsors as possible. Please call your Representative today and ask them to cosponsor HR 676.

Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at [phone], ask for your representative’s office, and then ask them to sign as a co-sponsor.

Be sure to mention that in order to become an original cosponsor of H.R. 676, your Representative will need to contact Michael Darner from Rep. Conyers’ office at [e-mail] or [phone].

If you don’t know your US House Representative, find out here.

Current Representatives already on board (thank them if you’re in their district): Nadler, Schakowsky, Pingree, Grijalva, Ellison, Hank Johnson, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Takano, Holmes-Norton, Lofgren, Rangel, Moore, Chu, Al Green, Farr, McGovern, Welch, Clarke, Lee, Nolan, Pocan, Doyle, Engel, Gutierrez, Frederica Wilson, Cohen, Edwards, McDermott, Clay, Huffman, Roybal-Allard, Cummings, Yarmuth, George Miller, Honda, Christensen, Rush.

Here is the “Dear Colleague” letter from Rep. Conyers:

—

Dear Colleague:

I invite you to become a cosponsor of H.R. 676, “The Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act,” which enjoyed the support of 77 cosponsors in the 112th Congress. HR 676 also has the support of over 17,000 doctors, 14,000 nurses, and hundreds of labor unions from across the nation.

Under H.R. 676, the American health care system would transition to a privately-delivered, publicly-financed non-profit universal health care system. The United States remains the only country in the industrialized world that has a for-profit health care delivery system that is unable to contain health care spending. This dysfunctional system places a heavy burden on the budgets of states, municipalities, and American families.

Under H.R. 676, every resident of the United States would receive a card at birth that would guarantee access to a full range of medically necessary services, including primary care, dental care, prescription drugs, mental health services, and long-term care. There would be no restrictions on choice of physician or health care provider. Americans would have greater freedom to pursue work opportunities because health insurance would no longer be tied to employment.

In addition to expanding access to care, H.R. 676 would curb the growth of health care spending and place our country on a sustainable fiscal path. H.R. 676 would provide approximately $300 billion dollars in savings by improving efficiency in our health care system.

[cali]

1. Nice to know that he already has 37 co-sponsors

nice that I knew before checking that my rep would be one of them.

[me b zola]

2. K&R

[cilla4progress]

3. Done!

However my congressmen is dyed-in-the wool Repub, though not as far right as some (Dave Reichert, WA). Hopefully, it helps!

[OneGrassRoot]

4. kick for GD audience n/t

[lovuian]

5. We can do this

[Cleita]

6. Poor Mr. Conyers. He keeps reintroducing that bill and it never goes anywhere.

I wonder if by some miracle it passed the House and the Senate if the President would veto it? We almost got single payer in California and 4 Democrats voted against it so it didn't pass. Our progressive and Democratic Governor did nothing. The insurance industry is so strong that they can influence this legislation so that it never happens. It's a wonderful plan and it should be offered in the exchanges in the ACA for people to choose if they want. But it will never be allowed to happen.

[OneGrassRoot]

8. I banish naysayers from this thread!

Kidding!

You know I love you, Cleita.

In all seriousness, I do feel that our negativity as a citizenry seems to create a self-fulfilling prophecy. People become apathetic, complacent...leads to willful ignorance. We see it all too often all around.

Corporate America counts on our apathy and complacency and us being beaten into submission.

(Plus, the pope is resigning. Whodathunkit? Anything is possible! lolol)

[Cleita]

10. I know that thoughts can become what you fear, however, I'm just being

realistic here. Conyers has been putting this bill forward for more than ten years now. It's never brought to the floor for debate and dies. Nancy Pelosi never would bring it to the floor when we controlled the House and I'm positive Boehner will never either.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. I hear you, and I understand what you're saying.

It is extremely disheartening. So many things are disheartening.

I just refuse to give up. Granted, we all have to pick our battles, of course.

And, if I do give up, I'll do my best not to discourage others who haven't given up. I think that's more my point.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just expressing how I feel in reply. I'm one of those immature souls who rebels against being told something can't be done. Makes me more determined to fight for it.

Again....

[CTyankee]

9. I don't think we should just give up!

We are the only rich country in the world not to have single payer, universal health care. People were asking what happened to single payer when the ACA was being passed. So it is relevant and it is time. After all, if we don't try we are certain not to get it.

[Cleita]

11. I agree, but our politicians are not going to do it.

There is another way. Don't rely on the government. The people should pool their resources for a plan that is non-profit and can be offered on the market in competition with the insurance companies. Since it probably can be sold for less that Blue Cross et al, it would force them out of business. Then voila we might have single payer and then get it legislated once the parasitic insurance industry is out of the way.

This will be very hard and the insurers will pull every dirty trick out of their bag to make it fail, but it's the only way I see it happening.

[CTyankee]

14. I don't see the people just being able to do that but perhaps I lack imagination...

but it would be wonderful if that could happen.

[DirkGently]

7. KNR

[annabanana]

12. Oh kick kick kick.. We REALLY need an actual National Health Care Plan

We are so far behind the rest of the civilized world...

[Egalitarian Thug]

15. Hopeless K&R.

It was Nancy Pelosi that prevented this bill from being considered for four years as Speaker of the House, so I'm not too hopeful that Boner is going to let it through.

[robertkdem1965_h89]

16. kick

Hope further progress takes place regarding this issue. Although with this Congress, I'm not sure.