I'm going to jump ahead of the obvious criticism of that headline and acknowledge it's premature. We don't yet know how the health care debate will come out. I'm going to expound on the lessons learned anyway for two reasons, only the weaker of which is that at this point, we've seen enough to be pretty sure what some of the lessons will be. With the acknowledgment that this assertion is arguable, I'm confident that most of what I say will hold up when a bill is passed and when some time has passed.
However, the second reason is not arguable at all: the legislative fights to which these lessons must be applied are starting already. The state legislature goes into its non-budgetary session in January, where it will be trying to reverse some of Pawlenty's unallotments, especially GAMC. There will also be the bonding bill which is always contentious, at least with Gov. Wounded Deer still in office. Congress is already working on financial reform and global warming legislation, the corporate lobbyists have already chosen their targets, and conservatives are certain to use the same tactics they've been using to obstruct health care, the stimulus, and pretty much everything. That's why the heading says "apply" instead of "learn". What particularly worries me is I see the same mistakes being made at this early stage.
The MN Universal Health Care Coalition is holding an organizing and advocacy workshop on Single-Payer health care and the MN Health Plan. Register TODAY if interested in learning more about the legislation and how you can become an effective advocate on this issue!
GO HERE TO REGISTER (*PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED): http://www.muhcc.org/upcominge...
TIME & PLACE: Saturday, October 31, 2009
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (lunch provided)
Rochester Senior Center, 121 Broadway Ave N, Rochester, MN 55906
SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE: ~Rep. David Bly (25B), Chief House Author of the Minnesota Health Act, Rep. Tina Liebling (30A), Co-Author, and a Panel of Physicians
Come to the heart of Mayo territory to learn about the MN Health Plan. Gain the skills to be an effective advocate, organizer or leader on the issue. Hear from a panel of physicians why SINGLE-PAYER is the best solution to our health care mess.
REGISTER FOR THE MN HEALTH PLAN TRAINING: http://www.muhcc.org/upcominge...
The Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition is dedicated to establishing comprehensive Single-Payer Health Care for all Minnesotans. It is devoting all of its resources to the passage and enactment of the Minnesota Health Act. The Minnesota Health Act will create the Minnesota Health Plan, a comprehensive plan that will cover all state residents.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD, ORGANIZE and PARTICIPATE in the Campaign for the Minnesota Health Plan!
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN!: http://www.muhcc.org/
I moderated the health insurance reform forum I wrote about in my last diary. There is a good summary of what the panelists said and the questions they were asked by Erica Mauter at fresh.mn so I won't try to repeat it here. In fact I couldn't because I discovered as moderator I spent enough time watching the clock and trying to gauge when questioners were hogging the mic, adjusting procedures on the fly etc. that I probably missed some things. I do have some observations however that might be of interest, including an amusing anecdote about Keith Ellison, which I tease in hopes you'll click "There's more".
I'm active with the DFL in senate district 62, which is the southeastern part of south Minneapolis. We try to stay active outside of campaign season (what, campaign season isn't permanent these days?) To that end we're hosting an issue forum which we hope will be just our first, and we're starting out with health insurance reform, focusing on single-payer.
Panelists include Rep. Keith Ellison, State Sen. John Marty, and single-payer advocates Elizabeth Frost and Kip Sullivan. Don't know what "single-payer" means? Or you know, but don't know what's going on with reform efforts in Congress and the state legislature?
This is being held at the CWA hall at 35th Av. and Lake St. in Minneapolis on Saturday, February 21, from 2:00-4:00.
Forums on other issues are as yet a glimmer in our minds' eyes, but we hope you'll come and help us off to a good start, as well as educate yourself on one of the biggest issues of the day.
Now is the time to address health care issues. We've got to set aside fear and implement a cost-effective and tested health care plan which will save employers and hardworking families from further hardship.
Nearly 40 percent of the uninsured population reside in households that earn $50,000 or more.1 A growing number of middle-income families cannot afford health insurance payments even when coverage is offered by their employers.
and
Nearly 47 million Americans, or 16 percent of the population, were without health insurance in 2005, the latest government data available.1
With unemployment numbers now up from 6.5 % to 6.7 % we're going to see an increase in the number of Americans without health care insurance.
Single-payer health care, which is an approach to health care financing with only one source of money for paying health care providers, would free employers from the burden of health care cost and disability cost. Assuming employers need a certain amount of employees and wouldn't pocket the extra money for themselves, the savings would allow employers to retain employees.
More jobs = consumers have more money to buy things = more jobs.
Overall cost: According to studies, Universal Health Care would cost less in the long run, and our newly unemployed wouldn't be a drain on the current system.
Today President-elect Obama selected Tom Daschle to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Here's what I suggest to Tom Daschle: Encourage state health care systems. Our nation is large and therefore our states might provide a better community for single-payer to meet needs.
To make the change, we still need more from single-payer health care proponents, and here's what I suggest: Quell worry, and act fast. How will single-payer health care affect me? Will there be good care? Will there be long waiting lines and less doctors? Who will take care of the billing?
More questions needing answers: Where has it worked and how can we improve those already enacted systems? How long would it take to enact such a system (we need a timeline so we can be hopeful)? Who is the strong leader that will guide us (is this Tom Daschle?). If these questions are already being addressed, address them again and do it on a larger scale.
