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Tahir Duckett is one of the Working America organizers who have gone door-to-door and generated 20,000 letters in support of health care reform. |
The news is full of angry people at town hall meetings, shouting about "death panels" and "government take-overs," but lots of people are still keeping their focus on fixing our broken health system.
Working America, the AFL-CIO's outreach to people not in unions, has knocked on 30,000 doors since June - and 20,000 people who answered the knocks supported health reform enough to write letters to Congress, according to Maggie Priebe, program director.
"I think what people are seeing on the news is not what we're hearing at the door," Priebe said. "People are concerned about health care, and they have a lot of personal stories."
For example, one person, contacted by Working America in Chillicothe, Ohio, wrote to her Representative, Zack Space (as quoted in Main Street, Working America's blog):
"I'm a cancer survivor and have been in the process of healing for 10 years. In the middle of the ordeal, my health insurance doubled and we were left with bills we either couldn't pay or a premium we couldn't pay. I am a nurse and believe me, I worked long hours to not have any insurance. We as Americans need health care!! I want you to support a public option. However, real reform means not taxing our health care benefits."
Staff organizers from Working America have been focusing on 12 states with lawmakers who are undecided or wavering on key details of health reform: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon and Virginia.
Besides the 20,000 letters, they've generated 6,000 phone calls. One Congressman, Steve Driehaus, a Democrat from Cincinnati, said the letters and calls had convinced him to support a public plan option, according to Priebe.
When Working America selects a block for door-knocking, they approach every house, not just those of union or Working America members. And the response, Priebe said, has been strong support for a public health insurance option, for affordable costs and for no taxation of benefits.
Working America has 3 million members, who are surveyed twice a year about priorities. Health care always ranks number 1, Priebe said. And that concern is also reflected in the response of Americans at their doors. "It's not about what's happening on cable," Priebe said, "it's about what's happening out there in communities."
– 08/24/09
Health Care for America Now!, one of the health reform coalitions in which CWA participates, led a protest this week at a meeting of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the trade group for health insurance companies.
About 60 people gathered outside an AHIP meeting in Washington, criticizing the insurance companies for putting profits ahead of the health needs of people. The insurers said they had gathered to discuss health reform.
"The insurance industry has already come out against a key piece of President Obama's health care reform," HCAN's Jason Rosenbaum said in a blog entry. "They clearly aren't helping come up with a solution - they are the enemies of reform."
By participating in coalitions such as HCAN, CWA is helping to build support for a health care system that provides affordable, quality care to all Americans. We link with other labor unions, community organizations, medical societies and employers to work together for reform.
– 03/13/09
CWA President Larry Cohen joined this week with leaders of other business, labor and public policy groups to urge the president-elect to start immediately to address “the health system crisis.” Fixing health care, they said, is part of strengthening the nation’s economy.
Cohen and the other leaders represent Better Health Care Together, a coalition that reflects CWA’s belief that the best way to advance health reform is to work with partners, especially with employers. The current system is placing increasing strain on both workers and companies, and we need to work together to fix what’s broken.
The participation of business leaders adds an important voice to arguments that fixing health care can’t wait until the economy is stabilized. Fixing health care is part of stabilizing the economy.
In a letter to the president-elect, Better Health Care Together said that “addressing the needs of our health care system is essential to the country’s long-term economic strength and prosperity.” Under the current system, the letter notes health care is becoming increasingly unaffordable, family medical debt is a major factor in bankruptcies and foreclosures, and business health expenses are soaking up money that could be invested to generate new jobs.
The open letter also appeared as an advertisement in newspapers, particularly those read by Congressional members and staff.
The coalition called for a “national summit” and “early action” to create a health system built around four key beliefs:
- Every person in America must have quality, affordable health insurance coverage.
- Individuals have a responsibility to maintain and protect their health.
- America must dramatically improve the value it receives for every health care dollar.
- Businesses, governments, and individuals all should contribute to managing and financing a new American health care system.
Three CWA employers – AT&T, Qwest and Embarq – are also members of Better Health Care Together. Other members are: employers: Wal-Mart Stores, Intel Corp., Kelly Services; labor: Service Employees International Union; policy: Committee for Economic Development, Center for American Progress, League of United Latin American Citizens.
– 11/19/08
