From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Tue Feb 4 22:27:55 2014 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2014 22:27:55 -0500 Subject: West Virginia CLC Endorses HR 676 and Sponsors Health Care Theatre Message-ID: West Virginia CLC Endorses HR 676 and Sponsors Health Care Theatre ?The Eastern Panhandle Central Labor Council is proud to support HR 676,? said Ken Collinson, President. ?We believe that health care is a right, not a privilege, and we do everything that we can to support single payer. We are close to DC so we go to rallies whenever they are called.? The Eastern Panhandle CLC represents workers in the seven counties in eastern West Virginia and is headquartered in Martinsburg. Collinson is also the President of United Auto Workers Local 1590. The Eastern Panhandle CLC is the 610th labor organization to endorse HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, sponsored by Congressman John Conyers. At the end of January, Representative Gloria Negrete McLeod (CA-35) signed on to HR 676, bringing the total of cosponsors in the House, including Conyers, to 55. ?When people do not have health care, it is unimaginable. An injury to one is an injury to all?this is what we feel in our hearts,? said Collinson. The labor council is taking further action to promote public support for single payer by joining with the Eastern Panhandle chapters of Physicians for a National Health Program and Healthcare-NOW! and the Jefferson County NAACP Branch, the League of Women Voters of Jefferson County, and Shepherd University Lifelong Learning Program to bring a one hour, one man play featuring actor Michael Milligan to six West Virginia cities. The play is Mercy Killers and admission is free. The schedule is below: Friday, March 28, 7:00 PM, Ice House, 138 Independence St. Berkeley Springs Saturday, March 29, 1:30 PM, Fisherman?s Hall, 312 South West St. Charles Town Sunday, March 30, 2:00 PM, Opera House, 131 W. German St. Shepherdstown Monday, March 31, 7:00 PM, Calvary Church, 220 W. Burke St. Martinsburg Tuesday, April 1, 7:00 PM, Baha?i Regional Center, 308 S. Buchannan St. Ranson Wednesday, April 2, 12:30 PM, Erma Ora Byrd Nursing Hall Auditorium, Shepherd University Shepherdstown More information & venue directions: http://mercykillerswv.wordpress.com or contact epspan at gmail.com #30# HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a greatly improved Medicare 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 (including oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics), mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care and correction, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care, podiatric 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 54 co-sponsors including Congressman Conyers. HR 676 has been endorsed by 610 union organizations including 147 Central Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 44 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, NJ, NY, NV, MA, RI, NH, ID & NM). 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 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 2/4/2014 From editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org Wed Feb 26 22:34:54 2014 From: editor at unionsforsinglepayerhealthcare.org (Single Payer News) Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 22:34:54 -0500 Subject: New York State ARA endorses HR 676, national single payer health care Message-ID: New York State ARA endorses HR 676, national single payer health care The New York State Alliance for Retired Americans, NYSARA, at its most recent annual meeting, endorsed HR 676, Congressman John Conyers? national single payer legislation also known as Expanded and Improved Medicare for All. NYSARA has 440,000 members, many of them retired union members who have maintained affiliation with the retiree group of their union. It is affiliated with the four million member Alliance for Retired Americans, ARA. HR 676 was brought to NYSARA by New York State United Teachers Retiree Council 12, whose former president July Shultz, co-presidents Sandy Bliss and Jeanne Williams Bennett, and member Bev Alves worked on the resolution. Alves reports that NYSARA overwhelmingly passed the resolution for HR 676 with one enthusiastic delegate calling out loud ?It?s about time.? Alves says that the resolution will be brought to the national ARA this year. #30# HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a greatly improved Medicare 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 (including oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics), mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care and correction, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care, podiatric 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 55 co-sponsors in addition to Congressman Conyers. HR 676 has been endorsed by 611 union organizations including 147 Central Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 44 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, NJ, NY, NV, MA, RI, NH, ID & NM). 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 (502) 636 1551 Email: nursenpo at aol.com http://unionsforsinglepayer.org 2/26/2014 To STOP receiving these emails reply with REMOVE in subject line.