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September 1, 2009 |
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Tues
Major
health insurance reform rally this Thursday in Seattle
All union members and supporters of quality universal health care coverage are urged to participate in a "Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform" rally this Thursday at 6 p.m. in Seattle's downtown Westlake Park. As Congress prepares to reconvene in Washington, D.C., this is our opportunity to make a clear statement to our delegation, to the rest of Congress and to President Barack Obama that we want them to finish what they started by reforming our ailing health care system. Read more.
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Health care events Tell your member of Congress to support health care reform with universal coverage and a public plan option.
► TONIGHT
-- Join Rep. Jim McDermott
for a Seattle town hall meeting on
Tuesday at 7 p.m at Meany
Hall, University of Wash. main campus.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and
seating is first-come first-served. Meany Hall can accommodate
1,200 people, with additional capacity just outside the auditorium, if
needed. |
Local health care news:
► In today's Olympian -- Baird hears from crowd on health bill -- Advocates for reform urge U.S. Rep. Brian Baird during a town hall meeting Monday evening to push for a national plan that includes a “public” insurance option like Medicare. “I have not made up my mind where I stand on this bill, in part because the bill is in process,’’ Baird told the crowd in introductory remarks.
► In today's Peninsula Daily News -- Dicks hosts health care town hall -- Rep. Dicks espouses reform so more can receive coverage through either public sector insurance programs or private sector insurance companies. He says the legislation would improve the access to health care specialists and improve the quality of health care while decreasing costs. "We're paying twice as much as other countries and we are not getting a good return on out investment," Dicks tells the audience peppered with boos and cheers throughout his presentation.
► In today's Kitsap Sun -- Rep. Dicks faces skeptical crowd at town hall -- The audience held their tongues through most of the introduction until Dicks said he favored a “public option” insurance program as part of the solution. That was met with a mix of cheers and grumbles.
► In today's Yakima H-R -- Both sides of health reform rally in Yakima -- Supporters held a rally at Millennium Plaza and then delivered about 1,500 signatures to the office of Rep. Doc Hastings, urging the Pasco Republican to back legislation to make health care affordable to everyone.
►
In the Daily Record --
Ellensburg
health care forum civil, informative -- A local retired doctor points
out that the World Health Association ranks health care in the United States
as 37th, the overall health of Americans is 77th and that U.S. health care
is by far the most expensive -- on average twice as much as other developed
countries.
“So we have poor care and we pay twice as much for it,” Dr. Tom
Friedland said. “Fifty percent of bankruptcies are due to medical debt and
75 percent of those people have some sort of health coverage.”
National health care news:
►
At Huffington Post -- Sen.
Baucus: Health care reform will happen this year with or without Republicans
-- Baucus is leading a
panel of three Democrats and three Republicans that is being watched closely
by everyone from the White House and beyond. Chances of a bipartisan
breakthrough appear to be diminishing in the face of an effective public
mobilization by opponents during the August congressional recess.
► In today's NY Times -- Election set to fill seat vacated by Sen. Kennedy -- Amid fevered speculation about possible contenders for the seat, Gov. Deval Patrick schedules a special election for Jan. 19 and said he would keep pushing the state legislature to change the law so he could name an interim successor. The legislature reconvenes after Labor Day. Soon after, Congress may vote on health care reform -- which Kennedy called “the cause of my life” -- and the legislation’s fate could hinge on whether a successor is in place in time for the vote.
► At Talking Points Memo -- Majority doesn't understand Obama health care proposal -- About 67% of those questioned in a new CBS News poll said they don't understand the reforms; 69% of Republicans find the new reforms confusing as do 58% of Democrats.
Health care opinion:
► In today's Bellingham Herald -- Health care reform is absolutely necessary (editorial) -- The U.S. health care system is broken and needs an overhaul. Too many people lack insurance coverage, meaning too many either don't get health care or, when illness and catastrophic events happen, they receive medical attention they cannot pay for. That cost is always borne by hospitals and doctors, who must pass on the costs to people who do have coverage.
► In today's Everett Herald -- We deserve choice of public option (letter) -- If a public plan works for Rick Larsen, every American should have a public health insurance option if they want it.
► In today's Everett Herald -- Help shouldn't require destitution (letter) -- People lose their homes because of a medical situation, and it happens more than the average American realizes.
Boeing news:
►
In today's Everett Herald --
More
change at Boeing -- Commercial Airplanes president
Scott Carson, 63, will retire at the end of 2009 but will work with his
replacement Jim Albaugh, CEO of Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems in St.
Louis, on projects for the remainder of the year.
Albaugh will shoulder the burden of improving division's relationship with
its unions. “The heart of this company is the skilled machinists,
technicians and mechanics -- true craftsmen and wizards -- who deliver on
their promises everyday,” Albaugh wrote in a note to employees.
► In today's Seattle Times -- Boeing fix-it guy leads airliner unit -- Boeing continues a shift within it toward leaders drawn from the defense division. The new local boss, who takes over today, has no experience with airline customers or with the marketing side of the civilian aircraft business.
► Also see: Sen. Patty Murray's statement and coverage in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, (Tacoma) News Tribune, the N.Y. Times, the L.A. Times, BusinessWeek and from Bloomberg.
Election news:
► In today's Seattle Times -- Battle to sway voters begins as R-71 makes ballot -- The state's "everything but marriage" law, granting a wide array of benefits to same-sex couples, appears headed for a public vote, and both sides are preparing for the next phase of battle: fundraising, phone banking, educating voters. Although the count isn't final, the Secretary of State's Office announced that it had 121,617 signatures -- more than the 120,577 needed.
► At SeattlePI.com -- Laws or technicalities? Judge to decide R-71 challenge -- Is a requirement that people who sign referendum petitions be registered Washington voters when they sign an important tenet of state law or a "hyper-technicality?" That's one question a King County judge must answer as she decides whether to grant an injunction keeping R-71 off the ballot.
► In today's Seattle Times -- R-71 may open race for mayor to write-in bid by Ed Murray -- If he launches a write-in campaign, a referendum on a gay-rights law likely would bring extra attention to his candidacy. Dave Freiboth of the M.L. King County Labor Council says voters might see it as condescending to have a third candidate foisted on them after the primary. "I'm not sure that the vast majority of Seattleites are saying, 'Oh my God, what have we done?' "
► At The Slog -- The 800-pound gorilla that wants to make a mayor -- The value of a fairly unified labor endorsement cannot be overstated in Seattle politics. More than their organization's name on a mailer and money, support from the labor council brings fleets of door-knocking union workers and phone banks staffed by volunteer union reps speaking to their candidate's virtues.
Local news:
► In today's Spokesman-Review -- City, firefighters reach deal to avoid cuts -- Spokane firefighters likely will be spared layoffs thanks to a deal reached between union leaders and city administrators. The sides agreed to create a new early retirement program expected to save the city $700,000 next year and about $350,000 each year after, at least through 2011.
► Today at SeattlePI.com -- Seattle teachers approve new contract -- All three Seattle Education Association units -- teachers, paraprofessionals and office professionals -- vote to approve a one-year contract with a 1% pay raise. It goes to the School Board on Wednesday for approval.
► In today's Yakima H-R -- Red Cross vote would OK strike -- A majority of American Red Cross workers in the Tri-Cities and Yakima who successfully unionized last year recently authorized union leaders to call a strike if necessary to get a contract. The vote drew 80% approval.
National news:
►
At AFL-CIO Now -- "Young
Workers: A Lost Decade" -- Something bad
happened in the past 10 years to young workers in this country: Since 1999,
more of them now have lower-paying jobs, if they can get a job at all;
health care is a rare luxury and retirement security is something for their
parents, not them. In fact, many -- younger than 35 -- still live at
home with their parents because they can’t afford to be on their own.
These are the findings of a new report based on a July 2009 nationwide
survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates.
► Today from Bloomberg -- Manufacturing in U.S. expands more than forecast -- Factories in the U.S. expanded in August for the first time in 19 months, helping lead the economy out of the worst recession since the 1930s.
► In today's Wash. Post -- A small price to pay to fix the federal hiring process (Joe Davidson column) -- The CBO says a bill designed to fix the broken federal hiring process would cost $40 million over five years. That's a pittance compared with the aggravation many job seekers encounter.
► In today's NY Times -- Federal workers' 2010 raises are reduced (brief) -- President Obama has notified Congress that he is reducing 2010 pay increases for federal workers to 2% from 2.4%.
TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 1, 2009
Health insurance reform rally
Thursday in Seattle
All union members and supporters of quality universal health care coverage are urged to participate in a "Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform" rally this Thursday at 6 p.m. in Seattle's downtown Westlake Park. Speakers at the rally will include U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, the Rev. Leslie Braxton, and Molly Moon, owner of Molly Moon’s Ice Cream.
As Congress
prepares to reconvene in Washington, D.C., this is our opportunity to make
a clear statement to our delegation, to the rest of Congress and to
President Barack Obama that
we want them to finish what they started by reforming our ailing health
care system. Led
by Organize for America, this rally is one of a series of national events
on Sept. 3. It is supported by a wide assortment of organizations
and coalitions -- including the Washington State Labor Council and the
Healthy Washington Coalition -- that are focused on achieving health care
for all in 2009.
All WSLC-affiliated unions and members of the Healthy Washington Coalition are urged to mobilize rank-and-file members, friends, neighbors and family to attend this important rally. This a very important opportunity for Seattle and surrounding area residents to speak with a resounding voice. Bring signs and union banners, and come Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform!
We'll see you this Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Westlake Park.
Can't make it to the rally? Health Care for America Now is setting up a text message alert system so you receive text alerts at key moments when we need to take action to support health insurance reform in the next few months. Please text "STAND" to 94553 to join the HCAN campaign and "Stand Up for Health Insurance Reform."
Copyright © 2009 -- Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO