Citizen Action of WI Invites you to join the Health Care Reform Call to Action

Please join us this Wednesday at 10 am for a statewide coalition call to discuss the final push for national health care reform. 

Report back from Washington DC protest of health insurance lobby on March 9: Our bus to DC started in St. Paul, MN, with 17 people, and picked up another 15 in Milwaukee, one in Chicago, and eight in Youngstown, OH. We did press events at each stop in Wisconsin. The primary goal of the event was to generate significant press coverage that framed the event as a protest by Americans who are angry at the insurance companies for blocking reform, and we were very successful in doing this at the state and national levels. I’ve pasted all the Wisconsin and national press clips below. Thanks to everyone who helped recruit for the trip, raised money, and especially to those of you who took time out of your busy schedules to be there! Click on "Read more" for call details:

 Wed/ 3/17 - 10 AM - Call-in number: (218) 844-8230; Participant Access Code: 324222#

Ongoing organizing activities:

Organizing for America: Over the past week OFA submitted approx. 90 letters to the editor across the state, held a march in Appleton Saturday and has Rapid Response teams making thousands of calls into several priority districts out state. Fox 11 News:  People March for Health Care Reform - Appleton, WI 

 

WFRV TV 5 (CBS) Green Bay (March 13, 2010) March for Health Care http://www.wfrv.com/mediacenter/local.aspx (listen for very positive comments from Congressman Kagen)

 

Monday, March 15, 5pm-9pm: City-wide Phone Bank for Reform in Milwaukee at the OFA Office, 316 N. Milwaukee. To find out more click here. Prior to the phone bank, at 4pm, we will head over to Congresswoman Moore's office for a brief visit. 

 

OFA has several events happening throughout the state this week. Click here to find an event near you! 

 

Wisconsin Tea Party activity:  Green Bay: Saturday, March 20

Marc Sevard, who is running against Congressman Steve Kagen, is once again organizing a Tea Party. The event kicks off at 11:00am. If you are interested in joining of a pro-health care reform counter rally contact Sherry Lacenski at lacens@juno.com.

 

 

Press clips: Health Care for America Now protest at Insurance Lobby Conference, Washington DC, March 9

 

Wisconsin Coverage

 

WXOW TV 19 (ABC) La Crosse (March 7, 2010) Protesters Push for Health Care Reform http://www.wxow.com/global/story.asp?s=12100133

(featuring Leroy’s OMGWTFBBQ t-shirt)

WTMJ TV 4 (NBC) Milwaukee (March 7, 2010) Riding to DC for Health Care Protest http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/86777082.html

(featuring SEIU Local 150 member Dorothy Sykes)

 

WISN TV 12 (ABC) Milwaukee (March 7, 2010) Wisconsin Group Ads Voice to Health Care Debate http://www.wisn.com/news/22770534/detail.html

 

CBS TV 58 Milwaukee (March 7, 2010) Road Trip for Health Care Reform http://www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=11456

(featuring Jackie Muehlenkamp and Bruce Coburn of SEIU)

WEAU TV 13 (NBC) Eau Claire (March 7, 2010) Group Headed to Washington to Push for Health Care Reform http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/86774572.html

(featuring Remy Ceci)

 

La Crosse Tribune (March 8, 2010) Wisconsin Residents Take Bus to DC Health Care Protest http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_02eec146-2a6f-11df-91e1-001cc4c002e0.html

 

WORT 88.9 FM, Madison (A Public Affair, March 9, 2010) Citizen Action’s Brian Rothgery Live from Health Insurance Industry Protest in Washington http://archive.wort-fm.org/

 

WTMJ 620 AM, Milwaukee (Afternoon Hourly Newsbreaks, March 9, 2010) Dorothy Sykes of SEIU Local 150 and Brian Rothgery interviewed from DC on AHIP protest. [not archived].

WORT 88.9 FM, Madison (In Our Back Yard, March 9, 2010) Activist Remy Ceci Discusses Life with Pre-existing Condition and Citizen Action’s Brian Rothgery Discusses Health Insurance Industry Protest in Washington http://archive.wort-fm.org/ (starts at 6:00)

 

Shepherd Express (March 11, 2010) Issue of the Week: Pushing for Health Care Reform http://npaper-wehaa.com/shepherdexpress/2010/03/10/#?article=791609

 

WCLO Radio Janesville (Stan Milam Show, March 12, 2010) Citizen Action’s Brian Rothgery discusses Health Insurance Industry Protest in Washington http://www.wclo.com/podcasts/stan-milam-show/2010/mar/12/lilly-ledbetter-citizen-action-wis/ (first 15 minutes)

 

WORT Radio Madison (Labor Radio, March 12, 2010) Citizen Action’s Brian Rothgery discusses Health Insurance Industry Protest in Washington http://archive.wort-fm.org/ (starts at 10:30)

 

 

National Coverage

(featuring MN and WI activists)

 

WUSA TV 9 (CBS – Washington, DC) DC Protesters Try To Arrest Health Insurance Executives

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=98256&catid=187

(featuring WI delegation at the very beginning and swearing in of members of MN delegation at 1:07)

 

WABC TV 7 (ABC – Washington, DC)

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0310/713959_video.html?ref=newsstory

(featuring Citizen Action got healthcare? cow at 1:32, Jeb from MN at 1:54 (yellow bandana)

HCAN video summary of the event, featuring Jeb at :50 and also at 1:07

http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/s/housepledge

 

Other national coverage

MSNBC: 1) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35787218#35788747  2) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/35787218#35788747

CNN: 1) http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2010/03/10/am.acosta.health.protests.cnn  2)  http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/03/09/health.care/  3)

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0310/713959.html

 

Daily Show (Comedy Central) http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-11-2010/health-care--the-ultimate-last-final-push

 

HCAN pictures: http://healthcareforamericanow.org/

USAction pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=159328&id=175886458122

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPn2a5RuDXg

At the mass citizens' arrest of the insurance lobbyist. A family physician from Michigan tells his member of congress, "If you don't vote for health care, I probably won't vote for you."

 

Politico Pulse’s Clip of the month: KIRSCH VS. TUFFIN: HCAN’s Richard Kirsch and AHIP’s Mike Tuffin go head-to-head on "NewsHour." This instant classic boils down an entire year of debate into a neat, 11-minute package. http://to.pbs.org/bXFmA6 

 

Thousands rally to support health-care reform in downtown Washington - Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/09/AR2010030903877.html

Rally backs health plan - LA Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-health-protests10-2010mar10,0,908464.story

Health Care Protesters Face Off Against Insurance Lobbyists - Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/09/health-care-protesters-fa_n_492011.html

 

Other news:

Chamber of Commerce and Insurance Lobby Gears Up for Another Round of the Fight:

Business Buys Ads vs. Health Overhaul  - Wall Street Journal
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704145904575112103505931106.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_HealthCareReform26_2
Some of the largest U.S. business groups announced a multimillion-dollar television advertising campaign aimed at defeating the Democrats' pending health-care legislation, as both backers and opponents of the initiative sought to target wavering lawmakers in what is expected to be the final phase of the legislative process.

http://www.kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm111006oth.cfm

U.S. Chamber to run anti-health-reform ads

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-chamber-to-run-anti-health-reform-ads-2010-03-09?reflink=MW_news_stmp

 

By Kristen Gerencher
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- A business coalition of trade groups representing the retail, construction and manufacturing industries announced on Tuesday a multimillion dollar TV ad campaign opposing the health-care reform bills President Obama is trying to enact into law. The ad buy is worth between $4 million and $10 million, Bruce Josten, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said in a conference call with reporters. It's targeted at U.S. lawmakers in the House of Representatives in 17 states, and will air on cable first. "We're calling on viewers to tell Congress to stop this bill simply because we can't afford to pay for it," Josten said. Some health-insurance companies contributed to the ad campaign, he said.

Business group launching multimillion ad campaign pressuring swing votes on health bill

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/85707-business-groups-launching-multimillion-ad-campaign-pressuring-swing-votes-on-health-bill

 

Chamber is spending a million a day to stop us:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011300826_health10.html

 

 

Most Recent Press Clips:
Democratic leaders say health bill will pass - Washington Post
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/14/AR2010031402793.html?hpid=topnews
Democratic leaders scrambled Sunday to pull together enough support in the House for a make-or-break decision on health-care reform later this week, expressing optimism that a package will soon be signed into law by President Obama despite a lack of firm votes for passage.

Obama officials confident health bill will pass House this week - LA TImes
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-obama-healthcare15-2010mar15,0,2105314.story
Senior White House officials predicted Sunday that President Obama's healthcare initiative would pass the House this week and warned Republicans that if they made it an issue in November elections, they did so at their own political peril.

Millions Spent to Sway Democrats on Health Care - New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/health/policy/15health.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y
The yearlong legislative fight over health care is drawing to a frenzied close as a multimillion-dollar wave of advertising that rivals the ferocity of a presidential campaign takes aim at about 40 House Democrats whose votes will help determine the fate of President Obama’s top domestic priority.

 

 

 

National March of Health Care Providers, March 22 in Washington

As we gear up for what will hopefully be the final play to win comprehensive health care reform this year, doctors, nurses, health care providers, and other activists will be taking to the streets of our nation’s capital on Monday, March 22, 2010.

 

This daylong series of events will focus on a simple core message:  “Mr. President and members of Congress, when you consider health care, you need to listen to doctors, nurses, and patients who know the system best, not the insurance companies.  Get the job done!” 

 

As a way of refocusing the health care reform debate back to first principles, providers will present special “hospital admissions bracelets” that they have collected over the previous few weeks as a sign of solidarity:  we are all patients, and patients can no longer wait for health care reform.

 

Events that day:

 

11:00 am:  White House Rally– Members of Congress, Physicians, nurses and other health professionals featured.

11:30 am – 12:30 pm:  March down Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill.

1:00 pm:  Capitol Hill Visitor Center media event with Congressional Leadership.

 

Participating organizations [list in formation]:  American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Student Association, American Muslim Health Professionals, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare, Doctors Council SEIU, Doctors for America, HIV Medicine Association, National Medical Association, National Physicians Alliance, National Doctors Alliance/SEIU Healthcare, Nurse Alliance/SEIU Healthcare, Student National Medical Association, United Nurses of America-AFSCME.

 

For information and updates visit http://www.healthmarch.org

 

 

Latest Messaging/Talking Points

 

Five Immediate CONSUMER BENEFITS under Health Reform

 

1.      Stops insurance companies from denying care based on “pre-existing conditions.” 

 

-      Immediately people who are uninsured due to a pre-existing condition can buy insurance through a special insurance program

 

-        Within 6 months of passage, no new health plan can discriminate against children with pre-existing conditions.

 

-        In a few years, no insurance plan can deny coverage to anyone for pre-existing conditions.

 

2.      Stops some of the worst insurance company abuses. Insurance companies can no longer:

 

-        Cancel insurance coverage retroactively when you get sick (rescission)

 

-        Put lifetime limits on the dollar value of benefits

 

3.      Expands coverage and care for the uninsured and people with insurance:

 

-        Allow young adults up to age 26 to stay covered on their parents’ insurance

 

-        Offer free preventive benefits

 

4.      Reduces prescription drug costs for seniors. Seniors whose spending falls into Medicare’s prescription drug donut hole will have hundreds of dollars of immediate help and the entire coverage gap will be eliminated over time.

 

5.      Saves money for small businesses. Small businesses choosing to offer coverage to workers will receive a tax benefit of up to 35% of premiums.

 

 

And these steps lay the groundwork for covering an additional 31 million uninsured Americans so that –

 

For example, a family of 3 earning $37,000 would pay less than $200 per month for good health insurance for the entire family. The family’s out-of-pocket costs would be limited, too, so even if someone in the family faced a serious illness, they would not have to pay more than $4,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.

 

Please start using these talking points now to educate partners and leaders as well as the broader public about the bill we will hopefully be passing very soon.

 

What are the most Frequently Asked Questions field partners face?

HCAN is working on other template materials to help in this stage of our work.  One of these is an FAQ about the bill that addresses the questions that most commonly come up in the field.  It would be helpful to us if field partners send us the questions you are dealing with most to make sure that we include these in that document.  You can email those questions to me.

 

 

Press clips from lat week:

 

Obama Delaying Trip For Health Care

President Obama will delay his trip to Indonesia and Australia by several days to see health care reform over the finish line, the White House announced today. An aide confirmed the president won't leave March 18 as planned and instead will stay with the expectation the House will be voting on the Senate health care bill.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/obama-delaying-trip-for-health-care.php?ref=fpblg

 

 

Ruling of Senate Parliamentarian may impact the vote timeline:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/44110-1.html

The Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that President Barack Obama must sign Congress’ original health care reform bill before the Senate can act on a companion reconciliation package, senior GOP sources said Thursday.

 

RIGHT WING MOBILIZING ACTIVELY:
For any of you who are not seeing this in your states already, here’s more evidence that we should expect an uptick in teabagger activity now that we are nearing the finish line. FreedomWorks (the might behind the tea parties) is calling on supporters to "storm the House" to tell Congress to vote against health care reform on March 16th.
http://www.freedomworks.org/blog/thale/call-to-action-march-16th-2010-stop-obamacare-20

 

Brian Rothgery

Organizing Director 

Citizen Action of Wisconsin (member group of WNPJ)

*(608) 219 - 2064 (*new primary #)

www.citizenactionwi.org

(414) 476 - 4501 (Citizen Action ofc.)