Health Care

We continue to fight, Murphy Continues to Support HCAN’s Principles

by Chris Scoville, Capital District Organizer
Yesterday, we took to the streets in Saratoga Springs. We walked up and down Broadway asking folks to call into Congressman Murphy’s office and sign our StandUpScott.org petition. As we were canvassing, we ran into the Congressman – the man we have been directing so much of our energy towards and the reason why we were in Saratoga. He stopped to speak with us and even agreed to wear a Health Care for America Now sticker!

What Massachusetts Really Means

by Shanna Goldman, Organizing Director
When I opened my email this morning, I found dozens of emails analyzing the outcome of the Massachusetts Senate election, but most of them seemed to miss the boat. In a state where almost everyone already has health care, this election was about who ran the better campaign – NOT a mandate for giving up on America’s desperately needed health care reform.

Visit StandUpScott.org

Visit our new website, StandUpScott.org, to sign a petition urging Congressman Scott Murphy to make good on his commitment to his constituents and those who helped elect him by voting for the final health care reform bill.

Add your voice to the petition:

The Grinch that (Almost) Stole Health Care Reform

by Bob Cohen, Policy Director
In the classic Christmas tale by Dr. Suess, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” the Grinch descends on the town of Whoville and steals all the town’s Christmas decorations and gifts. In Binghamton, on December 16th, several hearty health care supporters gathered to ask a few remaining Senators, including Connecticut’s Joe Lieberman, not to be the Grinch that stole health care reform by filibustering the bill and stopping it from passing.

Our Victory is the Vote

by Karen Scharff, Executive Director
The Senate is moving their health care bill forward. The bill is not what we envisioned when we first started this fight. Because the bill is a far cry from what we wanted, it’s hard to see past our desire for comprehensive reform and look at what we’ve achieved. But, we have to realize that this marks the first time in decades that meaningful health care reform won a vote on the Senate floor.

What We’re Up Against

by Diana Cihak, Western New York Organizer
I just got back from a meeting with Senator Gillibrand’s staff and they told me a sick, sad story. One of the staffers was returning to the office the other day when she was very physically confronted by two women at her office door. They immediately started yelling at her with irrational comments about health care reform including how this was not only going to “destory their lives, but the lives of their children.”

Faces of Change: David Clark

It used to be the case that when children reach the age of 25, they automatically disqualify from their parents’ health insurance plan. This sudden loss of coverage introduces an anxious burden on families as many of these children are recent college graduates who cannot necessarily find employment with health coverage. With the weight of college loans, families cannot afford to purchase private insurance, which are cost prohibitive by themselves. And, it is not uncommon for these new graduates to be on prescriptions that should not be abruptly discontinued.

David Clark, who graduated this past Summer, faced these dilemmas.
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Now’s the Time to Keep Fighting!

On November 7, 2009, the United States House of Representatives passed their health care bill. After struggling for reform for nearly the entire 20th century, we–the ones who faced vicious attacks and often physical intimidation–witnessed affirmation of what Dr. Martin Luther King called the “moral-arc of the universe…[bending] towards justice.” For those who kept envisioned a more just and prosperous society, and many who are nameless to us, we are just weeks from a Senate vote on the health care bill.

All Politics is Local

by Diana Cihak, Western New York Organizer
We are getting closer to winning real health care reform than we have ever been before. It’s not perfect, true – but we are going to win something. It’s a major battle that we are about to win, with a bit more work!

He Came to Us! Let’s Keep the Pressure On

by Chris Scoville, Capital District Organizer
Last Saturday, Congressman Murphy voted against his constituents and all those in favor of quality, affordable health care. Prior to the vote, we held a rally outside his Clifton Park office as one last push to let the Congressman know that we were counting on him to represent us and make good on his commitment to support health care reform. Our plan was to do a follow up rally at the same office a week later – hopefully a thank you event. We organized a rally but it was not the thank you event we had hoped for. When we reached out to the same people we had reached out to for the pressure rally people were discouraged. People felt that there was no hope and had given up on Congressman Murphy. People were mad.