UPDATE ON HR 676
HR 676
Text John Conyers sponsor of HR 676 text taken from Conyers spoke June 10 on Capitol Hill at a dinner in honor of outgoing Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook.
“There are three committees that have been designated to work on (health care) on the House side,” Conyers said. “[They are headed by] three dear buddies of mine – Charlie Rangel, Henry Waxman and George Miller. Guess what? All of them were on single payer (HR 676).”
“Guess what? All of them got off except for George Miller of California. Not only did he not get off, he said — you want a hearing, you got a hearing.”
“It’s one thing to go down in defeat, which I don’t plan to do by the way,” Conyers said. “But it’s another thing to say – we don’t want to hear the most popular bill. I’ve got 79 co-sponsors. Seventy-nine men and women saying – let’s get this thing on. We’ve got 300 to 400 unions. We’ve had three polls. The American people have spoken.”
“And here I am in the most Democratically controlled legislature in my life. And they are saying – it’s kind of too late because we have to get this thing through by the end of July. And we don’t have time.”
“Hey look – I’ve worked on this too damn long to let anybody – I’m going to every Committee not just Miller’s. Charlie Rangel – get ready for your pal to come to your Committee.”
“Henry Waxman, my brilliant friend, open up your door. And then if you want to try to pull something that’s okay. But to tell me it’s too late – I’ve got news for you. That means you really didn’t know me all of these years.”
“We’re going to have HR 676 heard in every committee of the House of Representatives or my name ain’t John Conyers.”
“I don’t mind losing a debate or losing the vote, but Jesus Christ don’t tell me that my proposal is off the table before we start, without even a hearing,” Conyers said.
“What kind of a Democratic congress is this?” he asked.
Conyers also gave the back of his hand to President Obama.
“I’ve finally persuaded my favorite president in life to – not put single payer on the table – but to at least let me in the room,” Conyers said. “That was a great complement I suppose.”
“How are you going to have a transformational health care program that has been vaunted and touted for so long if you take the most popular remedy for it off the table to begin the negotiations?” Conyers asked. “You won’t get it.”
“The reason is elementary Dear Watson,” Conyers said. “The corporate health care people, the insurance people don’t want to leave the room. And they are not leaving the room. And as long as they are there, you are going to have some sad version of the same crap you were supposed to be fixing in the first place"
What is HR 676
Currently in the United States of America, there is at least 50 million Americans without health care. Workers who are fortunate enough to have health care are often one medical crisis away from financial ruin. HR 676 is legislation that is currently being debated in the House of Representatives. This legislation calls for needed reform in the way health care is administered in America. The bill was proposed in the House of Representatives by John Conyers (D-Michigan 14th district). Here are the key highlights of the this bill.
1. Convert Health Care to non profit:
50 million Americans are living without viable health care and a medical crisis can lead to bankruptcy for those that have health insurance. There are two questions that must be asked, first question is why?
Health Care in America is ran as a business, a very big business. All the major players in the Health Care field have offered stock options to investors. Businesses are required by law to make a profit for investors. These facts place your health care needs directly against the needs of the businesses who must show a profit. Health Management Organizations (HMO's) have acheived this by denying health care that is deemed too expensive or too risky. Past medical conditions is a frequent excuse for denying health care to workers in America.
The second question is how can this be changed?
Change will be acheived by no longer allowing HMO's to offer stock, thus the desire of profit that is inherent in the business practices of Wall Street will no longer compete against you and your families need for necessary medical procedures. Doctors, clinics and hospitals can remain private entities but may not offer stock.
Currently, the average family of four covered under an employee health plan spends a total of $4,225 on health care annually – $2,713 on premiums and another $1,522 on medical services, drugs and supplies (Employer Health Benefits 2006 Annual Survey, Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust; U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey.) This figure does not include the additional 1.45% Medicare payroll tax levied on employees. A study by Dean Baker of the Center for Economic Research and Policy concluded that under H.R. 676, a family of four making the median family income of $56,200 per year would pay about $2,700 for all health care costs. ( Conyers.house.gov)
3. All Americans are covered
50 million Americans are without Health Insurance. HR 676 would bring this total amount of uninsured down to zero.
Oregon Laborers Union Endorses HR 676
Portland, OR Laborers Local 483 (LIUNA) has endorsed HR 676, single
payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers
(D-MI). The local represents 900 City of Portland workers in the
Maintenance, Parks and Environmental Services Bureau.
Wesley Buchholz, Director of Political Action for the local who made the
presentation to the membership meeting, said: “Like the rest of the
nation we are in dire economic times and facing layoffs. Relief must come
for all working people. HR 676 is the most sensible way to provide
massive aid both economic and physical. Our members want to add their
voices to the demand for social and economic justice and join this
groundswell movement attempting to amend the tyrannical system that values
profits before people.”
HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a
greatly improved Medicare system to everyone residing in the U. S.
HR 676 would cover every person for all necessary medical care including
prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and
preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health,
physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision
care, hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable
medical equipment, palliative care, and long term care.
HR 676 ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save hundreds of
billions annually by eliminating the high overhead and profits of the
private health insurance industry and HMOs.
In the current Congress, HR 676 has 74 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers.
HR 676 has been endorsed by 502 union organizations in 49 states including
123 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 39 state
AFL-CIO's (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, NC, MO,
MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN, AL, CA, AK, MI,
MT, NE, NY, NV & MA).
The State of Oregon has a tool for you to see where the stimulus dollars are going click on the following link to see it and please log in to the website and leave your comments, remember registration is limited only to LIUNA 483
483 supports Mt. Tabor Masterplan to replace and upgrade Mt. Tabor Yard: This plan may qualify for Stimulus dollars
483 member Karen Trappen and field rep Lon Holston gave testimony in support of replacing and updating Mt. Tabor yard.
These buildings don't meet ada requirements, OSHA standards or current building codes for basic fire and safety hazards- Richard Beetle written testimony Portland City Council AM session December 17 , 2008
This Mt. Tabor master plan is supported by Liuna 483 because our members should not be working in or around facilities that are in such a high level of disrepute. The facilities at Mt. Tabor yard were in bad shape twenty years ago, today they are near decrepit.
483 members have advocated for years to improve the facility at Mt. Tabor yard only to come up empty handed when commissioners proclaimed other priorities of higher interest. Due in large part to the hard work that the 34 member planning commission that included all levels of Parks, Community and Liuna 483 members this dream is now a turning into a reality.
Parks Carpenter and 483 member Karen Trappen who was an active member of planning commission stated? ?(Currently) there are plastic tarps for different areas, the roofs are so low a carpenter has no room to even turn a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood. We wanted to bring you a good plan, what we are proposing will need to happen sooner or later, waiting will only expose the city to liability."
"Our organization fully supports the findings of the 34 member planning committee,? says Lon Holston Liuna 483 field rep. There isn't anyone in the room who believes that there isn't a crisis."
?We are delivering to you a damn good plan," John Laurson Mt.Tabor community activist echoed Trappen?s comments. The Community as you may recall was upset at Parks and Rec two years ago when they attempted to sell the maintenance yard with no input from the community.
On this day, there was no acrimony displayed by any of the sides, only a united front which caused the commissioners, especially commissioner Fish to praise the group for their hard work.
The motion to approve amendment was approved by the council and mayor 3-0 with Saltzman and Mayor elect Adams not present. "Today we are celebrating a plan that we can go forward with. I think it is visionary." said Commissioner Nick Fish future commissioner of Parks and Rec. "To the employees of the bureau we understand that you are working in bad conditions. I also want to thank Richard Beetle who I know is back east trying to help us capture as much federal dollars as possible (to make projects like this one which is shovel ready the funding it needs)."
This is another example of what happens when 483 members like Karen Trappen get active in advocating for the concerns of her coworkers works seamlessly with the desires of the community in helping the City make the best decision possible. Congratulations to Karen, now let?s help get this thing funded!
