Thoughts on the Health Care Reform Rally

U.S. Census reports that 5.5 million Texans (that's 1 in 4) are uninsured. Yesterday there were well over 560 Texans rallying in support of health care reform! So, it was kind of like 1 supporter representing 10,000 uninsured Texan!

We gathered outside the AFL-CIO building on 11th and Lavaca at 1 PM, heard Congressman Doggett, Texas Senator Kirk Watson, and others speak about health care reform. I saw folks from the Capital City Young Democrats, South Austin Democrats, Texas State Employees Union, and many others standing side by side. We held signs outside the AFL-CIO and asked folks to "HONK for HEALTH CARE REFORM." -I wish I would've gotten a picture of that sign, but I was busy sweating and chanting my support! (teehee)

I did capture a short video clip of our march from the AFL-CIO down to Woolridge Park.




Also out there were debaters in opposition of Congress reforming the broken health care system. Here's one video clip from KVUE. Some of the people on the opposing side found themselves compelled to cross the street and attempt to bait people into arguments by using insults, others shouted from across the street, "Did you read the bill!" Totally valid question, and that's why I did research on the state of uninsured Texans as well as on the bill that's before the U.S. House.

So here a few facts about the uninsured, followed by reasons why to support the House Bill, and I end this week's blog with two things you can do to get behind health care reform.

• Health Insurance Coverage Facts
  
• Click on hyperlink to view source.
  
• * Fastest growing group of uninsured make $75,000 or more!
• - may be due to high premium costs
• - "The number of uninsured grows because private insurance is not affordable or available."
• * 3 in 4 low-wage workers at small private businesses did not receive health ins. coverage through their employer (2002)
• * "Over the long term, rising health care costs contribute to higher insurance premiums and make fewer individuals and companies able to afford insurance." See image below, click on image to go to source.
• * According to one study, nearly a third (30%) of U.S. health care expenses are misspent on inefficient or ineffective care.
  

• Why Support House Health Reform Bill
• based on information from the Center on Public Policy Priorities
• * The bill provides protection against high out-of-pocket costs
  
• * It would give strong affordability protections and extra help for small businesses
  
• * Steps would be made to improve health care and reduce wasteful spending
• * House Bill 3200 America's Affordable Health Choices Act includes a child-specific benefit package so that children who get health coverage through the new Health Insurance Exchanges will have the benefits they need.

• *Bonus* The Congressional Budget Office indicates that the bill would be cost-neutral over the 10-year budget window, and would -in fact- create a $6 billion surplus!

• Action Items
  
• * On 7/28 call Democratic Members of Texas Delegation at 1-877-264-4226, a Health Care for America Now (HCAN) event.
• * Call U.S. House members at the Capitol Hill switchboard toll-free at 1-866-277-7617; or 1-202-224-3121 if toll-free lines are busy -voice your support for the bill, ask the House to send a strong bill to the Senate.
  

Have a great week!

Health Care Reform Rally

Rally for health care reform on Saturday! Come out and support health care reform that reduces costs and ensures quality care.

Details
Hosted by Mayor Lee Leffingwell
Co-sponsored by City Council Members Sheryl Cole and Bill Spelman
Featuring Hon. Lloyd Doggett, U.S. Congressman; Hon. Kirk Watson, State Senator; and Hon. Ann Kitchen, former State Representative.

Date: 7/25, Saturday
Time: 1 to 3 PM
Location: 1106 Lavaca St., Ste. 200
View MapQuest Map

More info at: Organizing for Austin - Central Texas

Send questions to: AustinOFA@gmail.com

Free campaign training camp!

Ever wanted to work on a political campaign but didn't know where to start? Interested in honing your messaging or campaign fundraising strategies? Then consider signing up for one of the day and a half long campaign camps hosted by the Texas Democratic Party!

Attendees will learn the fundamentals of campaigns from experienced political professionals. Participants will apply newly acquired knowledge through live practice and receive individualized feedback on the techniques demonstrated during interactive segments. The camp also provides an opportunity for attendees to connect with other political novices, enthusiasts, and professionals.

RSVP by visiting TDP-Mini_Camp and selecting the camp that fits your schedule!

• August 1-2: Austin
• August 15-16: McAllen
• September 19-20: El Paso

Additional dates in San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas/Fort Worth will be scheduled for September and October and posted on the Texas Democratic Party Grassroots Training website once those dates are confirmed.

Space is limited for this FREE training camp. Reserve your spot today by registering at http://www.txdemocrats.org/grassroots/mini_camps.

If you can't make it to one of the camps, but you want to donate or volunteer with the Texas Democratic Party click on the appropriate button below.

Call, email, text, post for health care reform

UPDATE excerpt from TVfHR newsletter:

What Has Already Been Gained from Health Reform

Despite the cautions that we must address in these new draft bills, in his weekly health reform update, Michael Miller of Community Catalyst encourages advocates to keep in perspective the gains that are already being made. He reminds us that,

“The bills that are being discussed represent an enormous step forward from the status quo. There is virtually across-the-board consensus on key reforms including:

• Expanding Medicaid to at least the federal poverty level (FPL)
• Eliminating pre-existing condition exclusions and experience rating
• Improving the value of health insurance by eliminating annual or lifetime caps on benefits
• Providing sliding-scale subsides for low- and moderate-income households
• Reorienting the health care system to strengthen primary care, improve care coordination, and increase clinical effectiveness”

---------------------
Post is from www.texasvoiceforhealthreform.org
Written by Kymberlie Quong-Charles
July 7, 2009

This week several national groups, including SEIU, AARP, Consumer’s Union, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and Families USA, are urging people across the country to call Congress and tell them to pass health care reform this year.

Texas Voice for Health Reform encourages you to take the following simple actions.

1. Make three calls:

• * On July 7th and 8th please CALL 1-866-210-3678 to tell your members of Congress: “We need National Health Reform that delivers affordable, accessible, quality coverage to ALL Texans this year.”
• * This service will only connect you to one member of Congress at a time. In order to reach all of your members, please make this call three times, making sure to speak with the office of your member in the House of Representatives and Senators Cornyn and Hutchison. To find who represents you visit this link and type in your zip code next to “Find Your Officials.”

2. COPY, PASTE and SEND this message to all of your lists and contacts

3. POST this alert on your Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter accounts

4. TEXT the following to everyone in your phone’s address book:
“Call 1-866-210-3678 to tell your members of Congress “WE NEED NATIONAL
HEALTH REFORM THAT DELIVERS AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE,
QUALITY COVERAGE TO ALL TEXANS THIS YEAR!”

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL INFORMATION

• * In Texas, our insurance premiums have risen ten times faster than our incomes in the last decade
  
  * The average group family premium in Texas is about $13,000 a year, which is out of reach for low-income working families.
  
  * But millions of Texans can’t even buy insurance at the average rate: under Texas’ weak regulations, employers today with fewer than 50 workers are paying up to $22,000 a year to cover just one employee!
  
  * Our 2009 Texas legislature has failed to pass bills to significantly improve coverage for our 1.5 million uninsured children
  
  * Ethnic and racial health disparities in Texas are severe, with Hispanics comprising nearly 60% of our uninsured population, though they make up just 38% of all Texans.

Texas Voice for Health Reform Principles
Texas Health Fact Sheet
CPPP’s Texas Health Care Primer

Celebrating the Fourth!

How are you celebrating this fourth? If you haven't signed up for BBQ hosting or potlucking and you're still debating what to check out, there's plenty of fun and *free* activities happening around Central Texas tomorrow for you to enjoy!

You can find more on About.com or Statesman.com.

• H-E-B Austin Symphony July Fourth Concert and Fireworks— 8:30 p.m. Symphony performs; fireworks display at 9:30. Auditorium Shores. www.austinsymphony.org. We'll be checking this out from a sweet view downtown.
• 
  
• East Communities YMCA July Fourth Family Fun Festival — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Swimming and other activities, food and contests. 5315 Ed Bluestein Road. 933-9622, www.austinymca.org/events.php.
• 
  
• San Marcos Summerfest— 5 to 11 p.m. Kids' parade and costume contest. Live music begins at 6:15 p.m. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. San Marcos Plaza Park, 401 E. Hopkins St. www.summerfestsanmarcos.com.

Speaking of ideas...
In preparation for the fourth, I surfed around .gov sites and the History Channel to read up on 'fun facts' about Independence Day. Here are just a few that I found on Census.gov.

• * U.S. population
  July 1776 - an estimated 2.5 million
  July 2009 - 304 million
• 
  
• How far we've come...Check out these early maps of the US!
  
  
• * Firsts
  7/4/1776 Continental Congress (13 colonies) approved the Declaration of Independence
  7/8/1776 first reading of Declaration of Independence
  9/17/1787 U.S Constitution was signed
  4/6/1789 first day Congress conducted business under the Constitution
  
  It just so happens that my birthday is 7/10...so it was neat to read that the Declaration was first read to Washington's army on 7/9 (close enough to 'my day.')
  
  
• * On the grill
  More than a 1 in 4 chance your hot dog came from Iowa
  Beef on the grill is likely from TX -whether you're in AZ or NY
  
  My ideal 4th of July menu? Hmm, that's easy! Real barbecued brisket, grilled chicken basted with homestyle sweet-and-spicy BBQ sauce, grilled corn with Tex-Mex fixins (butter, cayenne, mayo), classic Deviled Eggs, my Momma's potato salad, and for dessert...chilled watermelon cut in slices for easy chompin' and whipped cream topped strawberry shortcake. Bevies: homemade sweet tea and lemonade, beer optional.
  Ah, ya' gotta love summertime celebrations!
  
  
• * Fireworks*
  $217 million worth of fireworks were imported to the US
  $14.9 million were exported
  *2007 figures
  
  I don't know what it is about fireworks, but I never get tired of seeing those flashy bright lights and thrillin' loud bangs!
  

• * U.S. Flag
  $4.7 million in US flags were imported ($4.3 from China)
  $2.4 million were exported -Mexico purchased $1.2 million (top purchaser)
  
  The mini-flags are easy to store but also easy to loose! I need to find mine for tomorrow. Chances are...I'll find them on the 5th. Pooh!
  

Click on Declaration of Independence for more history about the declaration and colonists.

Archives.gov is another great source for U.S. Charters of Freedom.






Happy fourth of July!