National Nurses United

NewsBriefs.2:Sept 9/30/08 1:38 PM Page 6 RNs Rally Single-Payer Groups at Democratic Convention NATIONAL egistered nurses, doctors, labor leaders, elected officials, and political activists used the Democratic National Convention in August to sound a call for a broad national movement to enact comprehensive, single-payer Medicare for all in 2009. To do so, "we've got to win the election," Congressman John Conyers, author of the single-payer bill HR 676, told a large gathering at an Aug. 26 event sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, Physicians for a National Health Program, and Progressive Democrats for America. "We know that change is on the way. We're moving in a new direction." The reception was intended to rally the existing HR 676 Congressional caucus and also support candidates in favor of the legislation. Many prominent players in the singlepayer movement spoke about seizing this year's election as a chance for genuine reform. That same day, the U.S. Census Bureau released figures reinforcing the dire need for guaranteed, single-payer healthcare: numbers of uninsured had declined slightly, but only because the economic crisis has pushed more Americans, mostly children, into government-funded Medicaid. CNA/NNOC copresident Deborah Burger, RN asked how it is possible "in the richest nation on earth" for tens of millions to have to choose whether to pay their medical bill or their mortgage payment?" She added that she talks to patients every day who are forced to take only half their prescribed medication, skip vaccinations for their children, or delay R 6 REGISTERED NURSE doctor visits—all because they cannot afford the costs. Greg Junemann, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees and chair of the HR 676 labor caucus, noted how the healthcare crisis has devastated working people and their unions. He described workers who are no longer able to achieve pay increases because employers are diverting more money into skyrocketing healthcare costs, and how contract bargaining is increasingly focused on "bargaining over insurance, not even bargaining over healthcare." What's going to make the difference, Burger and Junemann both emphasized, is the broad and growing grassroots movement for HR 676. Some 455 labor organizations and 37 state AFL- Clockwise from upper left: their hometown newspaper and talking to their neighbors in city CIO affiliates have endorsed (L to R) CNA/NNOC after city across America. There HR 676. "We're going to get copresidents Deborah is no healthcare reform in this this passed next year. We're Burger, RN and Malinda country today that has the going to make history," June- Markowitz, RN meet groundswell of popular support mann said. Congressional candidate and the passion and commitment Burger pointed out polls Debbie Cook; HR 676 of a broad, energized, sometimes show that two-thirds of chief sponsor Rep. John enraged grassroots movement." Americans support the idea of Conyers greets the crowd; HR 676 has more cosponsors, a publicly funded, privately Dr. Claudia Fegan of 91 at last count, than any other delivered national healthcare Physicians for a National healthcare reform bill in Consystem. "The insurance in- Health Program addresses gress, and CNA/NNOC and PDA dustry and its allies are a pow- supporters. are uniting to elect more pro-sinerful foe," said Burger, "but we have a group with us as well—the public. gle payer candidates to Congress. Two of those candidates spoke at the And we have nurses and doctors and patients and millions of other Americans who have Denver forum. Debbie Cook, mayor of Huntquietly been organizing and holding town ington Beach, Calif. who is running against a hall meetings and house parties and show- longtime Republican incumbent, recalled ings movies like SiCKO and writing letters to that when her son was born her family didn't W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G SEPTEMBER 2008

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