Guaranteed Healthcare

Marilyn Clement,  June 30, 1935 – August 3, 2009

By Donna Smith

August 3, 2009 – Marilyn Clement, national coordinator for Healthcare-NOW, died this morning.  We mourn her loss.  She was an organizer for the ages, a friend, a mentor, and as of today, an angel.

Behind she leaves legions of single-payer healthcare activists who may not even know her name or her background or her struggle but who carry with them her passion for a just world where every human life is valued and protected and honored no matter his or her station in life, gender, color of skin, or name recognition potential.  In a world gone mad for celebrity and status, Marilyn was a woman of peace and compassion for all.

I first met Marilyn when SiCKO premiered in New York City.  Then just weeks later when I introduced the film to audiences at the Atlanta Social Forum, it was Marilyn who took me across town to a hotel room where Laura Flanders had set up a radio studio to broadcast all the action at the event.  Marilyn brought me to be on the radio show with her – and with Atlanta’s Dr. Henry Kahn.   Diane Shamis of Progressive Democrats of America will recall that interview too.

Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care

4th National Call-In Day and Fax your Health Insurance Bills to

Congress!

Dear Single-Payer Supporters:

As the new administration takes on the giant task of reforming

health care, the Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care

must continue to keep up the heat in support of meaningful reform

and the tremendous momentum for the only plan proven to work:

Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. 

So on March 10th, 2009, we will host a deluge of activity in support

of HR 676.

The American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the trade group that

develops the policies that keep profit first in our health care system

while leaving over a third of the population uninsured or with

completely inadequate coverage, is hosting a conference at the Ritz

Carlton in Washington, D.C.  Activists will meet at 11 a.m. to

demonstrate outside of the conference and point the finger at the

connection between AHIP profits, our health care non-system, and

the huge campaign contributions AHIP members give to our elected

officials.  If you are in D.C., join us at 11 a.m. on March 10th to say

"Health Insurance NO! Health Care YES!"

In addition to getting out in the street, we plan to flood phone

and fax machines in Congress demanding support of HR 676. 

We ask that you join with thousands of others to call Congress

and also fax your health insurance bill or letter of denial to

Congress and the new Secretary-Designate of Health and Human

Services, Kathleen Sebelius.  Links below will take you to fax cover

sheets to get the message through that AHIP policies have left

our health care decimated and are no longer acceptable to the

American people.  One cover sheet is to accompany your health

insurance bill, and the second will be for those who support

single-payer and currently receive Medicare.  

 For Insurance Bill Coversheets to:

Secretary-Designate Sebelius click here: http://www.healthcare-now.org/fax/

US Congress Person click here:  http://www.healthcare-now.org/fax/

For Medicare Bill Coversheets to:

Secretary-Designate Sebelius click here: http://www.healthcare-now.org/fax/  

US Congress Person click here: http://www.healthcare-now.org/fax/

If you don't have access to a fax machine at work or a neighborhood

Kinko's, up to two free faxes can be made online - just follow

the simple instructions here - http://faxzero.com/.  The Dept of

Health and Human Services Fax Number is 202-690-5405. 

All Congressional office contact information can be found

at www.votesmart.org.The injustice in our health care system must end.  Congress must act now for real health care reform.  If our Congress is erious about health reform, they will support HR 676.

By Donna Smith

CHICAGO -- While other devoted election workers and issue activists were taking a much deserved breather following the November 4th general election and planning their trips to celebrate their success in Washington in January, single payer healthcare reform activists stepped up their energy levels and gathered twice in national formations within just 10 days after the historic election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. 

The Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Healthcare met in Washington, DC, on November 10th and 11th, with leaders from the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee along with other labor organizations, faith-based groups, Healthcare-Now, Progressive Democrats of America, medical students, Physicians for a National Health Program and representatives from more than 20 diverse organizations.

Just three days later, in Chicago (see above), the committed activists from Healthcare-Now convened their 2008 National Strategy Conference with representatives from 23 states and the District of Columbia to pull together the various states organizations and member coalitions of Healthcare-Now and map out the immediate efforts to support HR676, Rep. John Conyers' national single payer bill.  Single payer is the publicly funded, privately delivered healthcare reform plan that addresses and repairs the lack of access and affordability issues facing millions of Americans.

Rep. Conyers attended both national meetings.  He assured both the group assembled in Washington and the folks gathered in Chicago that he will reintroduce HR676 in the 111th Congress and that his support is stronger than ever for the bill.