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HEALTH CARE REFORM: DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTIONWith Thursday's White House health reform summit, "Congress has an opportunity to break the gridlock that has denied families the health insurance reform they so desperately need," said SEIU President Andy Stern in a  statement released on Monday. Ahead of the summit, President Obama released a new health care proposal.  (See photo above.) SEIU and other advocacy groups also sent a joint letter to Senate and House leaders encouraging them to make this healthcare summit really count. Read below to find out what you can to do help. 

REAL HEALTH REFORM: NOW is the
TIME for CONGRESS to VOTE YES or NO

     Americans deserve real health reform and President Obama's health care proposal will deliver it -- for our families, our communities and our state.
     Here's how: 

   --- It makes insurance more affordable for more than 31 million Americans who can't afford care today -- and lowers the cost of coverage for many more.   
   --- It holds insurance companies accountable -- by keeping premium costs down and preventing insurance company abuses and denial of care due to pre-existing conditions. 
   --- It helps stabilize our economy. This legislation will reduce our deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years and by roughly $1 trillion over the second decade -- all by cutting government overspending and reining in waste, fraud and abuse.
         THIS TIME WE REALLY MEAN IT!!! THE KEY "FINAL" VOTE IN THE HOUSE WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN NOW AND EASTER.

    PLEASE CALL the SEIU hotline at 1-866-308-6259 to tell your Congressman to VOTE YES for real health insurance reform.

    Click below for a flyer with this information in pdf format.
    healthreformflyer     healthreformflyer

     

    Andy Stern: Time now for 'up or down vote'

    (March 3, 2010)

         After the President's remarks regarding the path forward on healthcare reform, Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern released the following statement:
         "For too long, insurance companies have called the shots - standing between people and their doctors. Refusing coverage because you were once sick. Denying you needed treatments because they say so. Dropping your insurance because you got too sick.
         "The President made clear today, no more. Insurance companies cannot and must not be the ones to determine our country's future."
         "That is exactly why it is time to move forward with the President's proposal."

    Read Andy Stern's complete statement at seiu.org
    President Obama: No excuses on health care reform (seiu.org)

     

    SEIU's Stern: Time for Democrats
    to move forward on health reform

    Washington
    February 26, 2010

         Today, SEIU released a statement from SEIU President Andy Stern after President Obama's healthcare summit:

        "During the Summit, 4,083 more people lost their health insurance. Another 708 filed bankruptcy because of their medical bills. And, thirty five died because they could not afford care."
         "By continuing to ignore the reality facing families across our country, the Republicans remain the party of no - abandoning bipartisan ideas and choosing to obstruct in the hope of political gain in the next election."
         "It is time for the Democrats to move forward."

    Click here to read Andy Stern's entire statement (seiu.org)
    VIDEO: A bipartisan meeting on health reform (whitehouse.gov)
    The misinformation campaign around reconciliation (seiu.org)
    How does the G.O.P. spell bipartisan? O-B-S-T-R-U-C-T (seiu.org)


    WE NEED YOUR HELP:
    TELL CONGRESS 'FINISH REFORM, FINISH IT RIGHT'

    healthcareadopt242

         While Congress waits to act, people are dying for lack of affordable health insurance.
         So here's the plan: Let's inundate Congress this Wednesday (February 24th) with one million phone calls, email messages, tweets, blog posts, faxes, social networking updates and office visits -- all in one day.
         The message is clear: "Finish Reform and Finish It Right."

    Click here to call your members of Congress
    Click here to email your members of Congress
    Click here to join a virtual march for health reform
    VIDEO: Melanie's march for health insurance reform

    » Read more

    SEIU: This president's priorities are our priorities

    sotu2010124

    (White House photo / Pete Souza)

    seiu.org
    January 27, 2010
          Following President Obama's State of the Union address, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger issued this statement: 
         "Tonight, President Obama gave a dramatic reminder of why so many of us joined his unprecedented call for change two years ago.
          The fact is, this president's priorities -- creating millions of new jobs, reforming our broken healthcare system, and holding accountable the parties that crashed our economy in the first place -- are our priorities.
          They're the priorities of the men and women across this country who get up each morning with no greater hope or desire than to provide decent lives for themselves and their kids.
     
    Read Anna Burger's complete statement (seiu.org)
    VIDEO: The speech (whitehouse.gov), Key moments (seiu.org)

    » Read more

    HELP SEIU RESCUE
    HEALTH CARE REFORM

    72hours242wide

    By Andy Stern
    SEIU President
    January 25, 2010

         We're at a critical moment. SEIU members have fought for nearly a decade on health care.
         Now, some in Congress want to turn us back. They want to pass a scaled-back version of the health reform bill, and as one blogger put it, "hack it to pieces."
         A comprehensive bill is the only way to fix the health care system - from expanding Medicare benefits and lowering health care costs, to improving rural care and home care services.
         Now we're in a position of having to rescue comprehensive health reform. If anyone can do it, it's 2.2 million SEIU members.

    Click here to call your member of Congress
    Click here to email your member of Congress
    Click here to post on Twitter or Facebook
    Click here to read SEIU President Andy Stern's full message

    Text HEALTH to 787753 for mobile updates

    » Read more

    HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATE: WHAT
    WE'D LOSE WITH MARKET-ONLY REFORM

    By Jessica Kutch, seiu.org
    January 21, 2010

         With the election of Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate, many in Washington are debating how to proceed on health insurance reform.
         Some have floated the idea that passing an entirely new bill - one that contains only insurance market reforms - is the best way forward.
          While there is a case to be made for expediency (yes, we're all ready for Congress to finish the job), market-only reform is not just politically timid, it's borderline reckless.
         Insurance market reform would do little to address the chronic, systemic problems in our health care system.

    Click here to read the entire aritcle:  

    HEALTH CARE REFORM UPDATE: THE REAL STORY ON THE EXCISE TAX FRAMEWORK

    By Jessica Kutch, seiu.org
    January 15, 2010

         For the past 48 hours, the beltway press have woven together scraps of quotes and hearsay for stories about the excise tax. The week produced a lot of rumors - some true, some not - but most of which were decidedly premature.
         That was until yesterday afternoon, when labor leaders hosted a call with reporters describing exactly what framework had emerged from their talks with the White House.

    Click here to read the complete story
     

    MASSACHUSETTS VOTERS' MESSAGE
    TO WASHINGTON: IT'S TIME FOR ACTION

    Washington, D.C.
    January 19, 2010


         SEIU President Andy Stern released the following statement after Republican Scott Brown's victory in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts:         

         "The reason Ted Kennedy's seat is no longer controlled by a Democrat is clear: Washington's inability to deliver the change voters demanded in November 2008. Make no mistake, political paralysis resulted in electoral failure."

         "Today's vote must be a wake-up call that now is the time for bold action. Time to stand up to politics as usual. Time to stand up to Republican scare and stall tactics. And time to speak up for working families."

    Read SEIU President Andy Stern's full statement
    VIDEO: SEIU's Andy Stern on the Massachusetts election

    'Affordability' called key
    in final health reform bill

    affordsummit240

    SEIU members in Washington on February 13.

    January 14, 2010
         Fifty SEIU members attened a Health Care Affordability Summit in Washington yesterday as part of a nationwide day of actions sponsored by SEIU and other organizations.
         Activists and leaders gathered on Capitol Hill to demonstrate solidarity on this critical issue and build support for common sense efforts to meld the best affordability provisions from the House and Senate bills.

    Click here to read more about the 'day of action'
    VIDEO: Health care tales from the trenches
    Click here to check out more photos from the event
    Background: A burgeoning consensus on fixing affordability

    » Read more

    TALKING HEALTH CARE OVER THE HOLIDAYS

        This holiday season, many of you will discuss health care with loved ones.
         That's because health care is a family issue. Families struggle together, we care for one another when we're sick, and we face down financial hardship as one.
         Did you hear a story from a family member about health care? Or perhaps you have a story of your own. Send it to your representatives in Congress

    Senate passes health care bill, 60-39
    The faces of health reform: How reform will impact SEIU members
    Q&A on the senate's excise tax on so-called Cadillace health plans

    Health Care Reform:
    Where do we go from here?

    Andy Stern medium

    A letter from President Andy Stern to SEIU members:

    (December 17)
    Dear Brothers and Sisters,
         I am writing to you today because I believe this is the moment when we must stand as one and say enough ...
         At the very moment that we saw real and meaningful changes within our grasp, one senator came forward to say "no we can't" ...      
         Now, more than ever, all of us must stand up, remember what health insurance reform is all about, and fight like hell to deliver real and meaningful reform to the American people.

    Click here to read Andy Stern's complete letter:
    Video: Andy Stern on MSNBC's 'The Ed Show' (12/28/09)
    Click for additional health care reform coverage at nytimes.com

    » Read more

    Senate votes to move forward with health debate

    caphill242

    (November 21)
         Democrats and independents closed ranks Saturday and voted to move forward with debate on landmark legislation that would overhaul the nation's health system.
         This is a major step in moving reform through a series of procedural hurdles -- with the ultimate goal being a full senate vote.

    Click for coverage at www.seiu.org
    Click for additional coverage at nytimes.com
    Click for additional coverage at washingtonpost.com

    » Read more

    HOUSE PASSES HEALTH INSURANCE OVERHAUL BILL

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    November 8
             In a tight vote, the House passed its sweeping health bill late Saturday, marking the biggest victory yet for Democrats in their drive to create near-universal health insurance.    

    Majority savors a historic vote (rollcall.com)
    House passes historic health bill (cqpolitics.com)
    Republicans take aim at Dems in health war (politico.com)
    VIDEO: House passes health reform bill (cnn.com)
    VIDEO: Obama on historic vote (msnbc.com)
    VIDEO: Fate of reform now in the Senate (msnbc.com)

    » Read more

    Adopt-a-State: Join our fight to win on health care reform

    healthcareadopt242

         SEIU is launching a campaign that mobilizes health care voters to make sure that the Senate, after months of work, does actually vote on health insurance reform.
         Such a vote could be blocked by three Democratic senators, Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson and Blanche Lincoln or Independent Joe Lieberman.
        While we all may not live in Louisiana, Nebraska, Arkansas or Connecticut, we can still reach out to voters who do live in those states and encourage them to contact the four senators. 

         To join our campaign, click below:
    Team Arkansas (Blanche Lincoln)
    Team Connecticut (Joe Lieberman)
    Team Louisiana (Mary Landrieu)
    Team Nebraska (Ben Nelson) 

    Make yourself heard in Washington: Tweet your senator
    Yes We Can: Watch SEIU's newst health reform commercial

    » Read more

    THE PUBLIC OPTION:
    WHAT TUESDAY'S VOTES REALLY MEAN

    by seiu.org, September 30, 2009
        The media is desperate for a story here - they're sniffing around for a new angle.
         Back in August, Republican opponents were declaring the public option dead. Health care reform, itself, seemed increasingly unlikely of passage. Well, no more.
         The public option has momentum, and despite dire predictions from the right, it's on the move. Thanks to your phone calls, we picked up two additional votes in the Senate's most conservative committee.

    Read more at seiu.org
    Video: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on MSNBC's 'Hardball'
    Click here for additional coverage of the story on latimes.com



    PRESIDENT OBAMA: NOW
    IS THE SEASON FOR ACTION

    obamasouza002

    (Official White House photo by Pete Souza)

    September 10, 2009,
    By L. Toni Lewis, MD
             With the president's speech and movement in congress, it's clear we now have all the pieces in place to move on real health insurance reform.
              This is OUR month. We have a plan; we have real solutions to this health care crisis. And it's time to ask each and every member of Congress whether he or she is in or out.
        
    Video: Watch Obama's speech (msnbc.com)
    Video: Sen. McCain reacts (msnbc.com)
    Read the text of Obama's speech (nytimes.com)
    Editorial: Obama steps forward (nytimes.com)
    Armed with details, Obama pushes plan (nytimes.com)     

    » Read more

    SEIU: Honor the Kennedy legacy, pass health reform

    TedKennedy242

    August 26, 2009

         SEIU President Andy Stern has released the following statement on the passing of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy:
         "In Senator Kennedy's America, every family has access to affordable healthcare, every worker has a paycheck that supports their family and a secure retirement, every child has a right to a quality education, and every immigrant can achieve the American Dream.
          "Kennedy spent his entire adult life, through tragedy and triumph, in pursuit of this America. From his first major speech in support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to his last vote on President Obama's economic recovery plan, his vision of a more perfect nation never wavered.

    Click here to sign an online card to the Kennedy family
    Click here for a video tribute to Senator Kennedy at seiu.org

     

    » Read more

    SEIU's Anna Burger speaks on health care reform and the 'public option' on MSNBC

    August 21, 2009,  by seiu.org
         Friday on MSNBC, reporter Andrea Mitchell spoke with SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger about health care reform -- and why successful reform to contain health costs needs to include a public option.
         Hear what Anna has to say about moving reform forward in this country, and why co-ops are not a viable substitute for a public health plan option.

    Watch the video on YouTube:



    Cut through the lies about death panels, health reform

    palinlies001

    August 21, 2009

         It started with Sarah Palin and it's making it's way through the GOP echo chamber; opponents of health care reform are running wild with claims that the President's plans for health care reform will create "death panels" that would decide whether sick or elderly Americans live or die.
         Here's the truth: "Death panels" are a complete and total lie.
         Do you have a friend who's skeptical of health reform? Click here to fill out a form to get them connected to the truth. 

    » Read more

    White House launches Web site to battle reform rumors

    health001

    August 10, 2009

         Don't believe everything you read or hear about health insurance reform.
         There is a lot of misinformation being spread by defenders of the status quo.
         Find out what's in health insurance reform for you, and what's not in it at all at     www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/

    » Read more

    SEIU, coalition rally for health overhaul in Chicago

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    SEIU Local 73 photo / Jonathan Labe

    August 05, 2009

         An estimated 700 supporters of the Health Care for America Now coalition rallied in downtown Chicago Tuesday to urge members of Congress to pass health care reform this fall.
         "We will rally until we win," boomed Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.). 
         The speakers also included Gov. Pat Quinn, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D.-Ill.), more than a dozen other political leaders, and represenatatives from SEIU, AFSCME and Planned Parenthood.

    Video: Gov. Quinn speaks at health care rally
    Video: Rep. Schakowsky speaks at health care rally
    Click here for more Health Care Reform rally photos

    » Read more

    Facts Are Stubborn Things:
    White House fires back in health debate

    August 04, 2009, by whitehouse.gov

         Opponents of health insurance reform may find the truth a little inconvenient, but as our second president famously said, "facts are stubborn things."
         Scary chain emails and videos are starting to percolate on the Internet, breathlessly claiming, for example, to "uncover" the truth about the President’s health insurance reform positions.
         In a new video, Linda Douglass, the communications director for the White House’s Health Reform Office, addresses one example that makes it look like the President intends to "eliminate" private coverage, when the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.

    Click here to read the blog and watch the video at whitehouse.gov

    The Play-by-Play on Health Care

    llOperation001

    What Happens Today. What Happens Tomorrow. Whether It Happens At All

    (July 30, 2009) Will they or won't they? Will we see new health care laws by Christmas? 

    Read more at abcnews.go.com

    HEALTH BATTLE'S TWO FRONTS: THE HILL, THE PUBLIC

         (July 29, 2009) The battle of overhauling the health care system is being fought out on two fronts, on Capitol Hill and in the arena of public opinion, and when it comes to public opinion, a batch of recent polls show a desire for reform but rising concerns about the proposals moving through Congress.
         One consistent theme is the disparity between public belief that an overhaul is badly needed, and anxiety among Americans about what changes will mean to them personally.

    Click here for coverage at cqpolitics.com
    Click here for coverage at rollcall.com
    Click here for coverage at seiu.org
    Click here for coverage at washingtonpost.com


        

    HEALTH PLAN TAKES STEP FORWARD

    healthwhitehouse

    July 15, 2009

         Health care reform took a first step forward on Capitol Hill Wednesday, as the Senate Health Committee approved the measure by a 13-10 party-line vote.
         The legislation eventually will be combined with a closely related, but somewhat different measure being prepared by the Finance Committee.
        
    Watch video at youtube.com
    More coverage at msnbc.com

    » Read more

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