Calling for Real Healthcare Reform, It's OUR Healthcare! Sets Up Camp: 48-Hour Vigils Outside the Governor's Offices Around the State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Sev Williams |
SACRAMENTO – We need real affordable healthcare and we need it now, not the Governor’s proposal to require insurance that’s neither affordable nor real coverage.
That’s the reality check Californians are delivering, as they begin statewide vigils in front of the Governor’s offices, from Sacramento to San Diego, from the Bay to the Valley.
“We’re right outside the Governor’s offices, to make sure that he can’t help but hear this simple, clear message,” said Anthony Wright, Executive Director, Health Access California. “Millions of us can’t afford to wait another year, two years or ten years for real, affordable healthcare. And the Governor needs to know that he can’t afford to miss this opportunity to pass real reform this year.”
Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the healthcare reform proposal passed by the state Legislature. Healthcare advocates had called AB 8 the most significant expansion of health coverage since the creation of Medicare forty years ago. The Governor also introduced his own healthcare proposal.
“The Governor needs to do a reality check,” said Jeanine Meyer Rodriguez, SEIU State Council Campaign Director. “He needs to listen to what Californians are saying. His plan will not get through the legislature nor will it get the support of voters unless it is affordable to buy and affordable to use.”
“If we look at the numbers, almost all of us are in trouble under the Governor’s proposal,” explained Art Pulaski, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, California Labor Federation. “Even a middle class family could wind up paying thousands of dollars in premiums, and on top of that, up to $10,000 in deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs. For many lower- and moderate-income families that already pay plenty for healthcare; the Governor’s plan just piles on another burden.”
The vigils will feature giant-sized letters to the governor – calling on him for action now on real, affordable healthcare – to be signed by elected officials and community leaders. There will also be prayer circles and interfaith services, flowers and candles, and people sharing their own healthcare stories and remembrances of those who have suffered from unaffordable healthcare. Some of the vigils will also feature an outdoor Healthcare Movie Night (more details can be found at www.ItsOURHealthcare.org).
“This is the year and now is the time for action on healthcare,” said Alexia Salvatierra, Executive Director, CLUE California, (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice). “We see the need in our own congregations, and we know these same stories are shared all across our state. Men and women who work hard, and yet find that they have health insurance they can’t afford to use, health insurance that doesn’t cover what they need, or they have no health insurance at all. This is a moral wrong, and we are called upon to respond.”
The vigils wrap up by Friday at noon. The Legislature remains in special session to work on healthcare.
It’s OUR Healthcare! is a coalition of seniors, healthcare consumers, communities of faith and labor. Members include Consumers Union, Health Access, SEIU, CLUE (Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice) California, California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, Latino Issues Forum and more than 100 other organizations.
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October 17, 2007 at 08:00 AM | Permalink | Blog Reactions
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