May 08 2009
Make Health Not War
Dear Friends,
Two issues that we work on are coming together - war funding and health care reform. I'm writing to urge you to join in our efforts to make health not war.
Earlier this week I was one of eight health care advocates to stand up and "testify" before the Senate Finance Committee. They have excluded the most popular health care reform - single payer national health care - from the discussion of reform. Senator Baucus, known as the senator for K Street, is only allowing the insurance industry, HMO's, pharmaceuticals and business interests testify. These are also his biggest contributors. This is pay to play politics at its worst, on one of the critical issues facing the nation. Ed Schultz did an excellent job of explaining the situation in a segment that featured my testimony and interviewed one of my colleagues, Dr. Margaret Flowers. Click here to watch MSNBC's report on the action.
I'm asking you to do two things:
* Call the Senate Finance Committee at (202) 224-4515 and ask: Will there be seats for single payer at the round table hearing next Tuesday? Tell them that since single payer is the most popular reform among Americans, doctors, nurses and economists the majority of seats should be for single payer, not for those who have made the health care mess and profit from it. Next Wednesday is the National Lobby Day and Rally for Single-Payer. Please join that effort as well.
* Voters for Peace is joining in the National Call-In day scheduled for next Tuesday, May 12th. The Obama Administration has asked Congress for another $83.4 billion in Supplemental funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As it stands now, the House Appropriations Committee has actually increased this amount to $94.2 billion. Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents that this war funding bill is not acceptable! On May 12, Join the National Call-in Day and let Congress know you oppose more war funding and only want to see funding for the safe withdrawal of troops, diplomacy, economic assistance and humanitarian aid. The Congressional switchboard number is 1-800-517-5696.
We are working hard to build the peace movement response to expanded wars as well as to build a movement for health care reform that puts the interests of Americans before the profits of big business campaign contributors. Please make a donation today. We need your support.
Please join the Make Health Not War effort by making the calls to the Senate Finance Committee today and to your member of Congress next Tuesday. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Kevin Zeese
Executive Director
Two issues that we work on are coming together - war funding and health care reform. I'm writing to urge you to join in our efforts to make health not war.
Earlier this week I was one of eight health care advocates to stand up and "testify" before the Senate Finance Committee. They have excluded the most popular health care reform - single payer national health care - from the discussion of reform. Senator Baucus, known as the senator for K Street, is only allowing the insurance industry, HMO's, pharmaceuticals and business interests testify. These are also his biggest contributors. This is pay to play politics at its worst, on one of the critical issues facing the nation. Ed Schultz did an excellent job of explaining the situation in a segment that featured my testimony and interviewed one of my colleagues, Dr. Margaret Flowers. Click here to watch MSNBC's report on the action.
I'm asking you to do two things:
* Call the Senate Finance Committee at (202) 224-4515 and ask: Will there be seats for single payer at the round table hearing next Tuesday? Tell them that since single payer is the most popular reform among Americans, doctors, nurses and economists the majority of seats should be for single payer, not for those who have made the health care mess and profit from it. Next Wednesday is the National Lobby Day and Rally for Single-Payer. Please join that effort as well.
* Voters for Peace is joining in the National Call-In day scheduled for next Tuesday, May 12th. The Obama Administration has asked Congress for another $83.4 billion in Supplemental funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As it stands now, the House Appropriations Committee has actually increased this amount to $94.2 billion. Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents that this war funding bill is not acceptable! On May 12, Join the National Call-in Day and let Congress know you oppose more war funding and only want to see funding for the safe withdrawal of troops, diplomacy, economic assistance and humanitarian aid. The Congressional switchboard number is 1-800-517-5696.
We are working hard to build the peace movement response to expanded wars as well as to build a movement for health care reform that puts the interests of Americans before the profits of big business campaign contributors. Please make a donation today. We need your support.
Please join the Make Health Not War effort by making the calls to the Senate Finance Committee today and to your member of Congress next Tuesday. Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Kevin Zeese
Executive Director
