Montana AFL-CIO State Convention Reaffirms Endorsement of HR 676--Baucus is in bed

with Kennedy and the WH on this issue--they own their souls to campaign contributions.

On Sun, May 17, 2009 at 9:20 PM, Unions for Single Payer HR676

<Editor@unionsforsinglepayerhr676.org> wrote:
Montana AFL-CIO State Convention Reaffirms Endorsement of HR 676

Helena, Montana. The 53rd Annual Montana AFL-CIO State Convention
reaffirmed its previous endorsement of HR 676, single payer health care
legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). The Montana
AFL-CIO endorsed HR 676 for the first time at its 2008 Convention.

This year’s Convention resolution resolved “that the Montana State AFL-CIO
reaffirms its endorsement of and commitment to a single payer universal
system of health care such as HR 676” and further resolved “that until
such a time as there is a single payer universal system of health care in
our nation, the Montana State AFL-CIO adamantly opposes federal and/or
state taxation of union bargained, employer provided health care
benefits.”

The Convention directed that Jim McGarvey, Executive Secretary of the
Montana AFL-CIO, deliver copies of the resolution to the media and to the
state’s congressional delegation including Montana Senator Max Baucus who
spoke to the convention on May 2nd.

Baucus is a leading proponent in Congress of taxing health care benefits.
Baucus is Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee where 13 people were
recently arrested for protesting the exclusion of supporters of single
payer from two Committee Round Tables on May 5th and 12th.

Senator Baucus raised the idea of taxing health benefits at the May 12th
Senate Finance Committee Round Table. In response, Gerald Shea, Assistant
for Government Affairs to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, deemed Baucus’
proposal to tax health benefits a “radical change” and said, "If we're
going to do a radical change, I think that single payer is really the way
to go."

While Senator Baucus continues to say, without offering any evidence
whatsoever, that single payer is “(not) going to work in this country,"
two more U.S. Senators announced that a single payer system is best for
America.

Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown told an April 17th Cleveland Heights rally that
“I would love to see a single payer system,” and New York Senator Chuck
Schumer, a member of the Finance Committee, is quoted in The Albany
Times-Union as saying: "I believe that a single-payer system would be the
best way to ensure that all Americans have access to health care.”

Despite acknowledging that a single payer health care system would be the
best way to solve the health care crisis, neither senator is supporting
it. #30#

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 75 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has introduced SB 703, a single payer bill
in the Senate.

HR 676 has been endorsed by 517 union organizations in 49 states including
125 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).

For further information, a list of union endorsers, or a sample
endorsement resolution, contact:

Kay Tillow
All Unions Committee For Single Payer Health Care--HR 676
c/o Nurses Professional Organization (NPO)
1169 Eastern Parkway, Suite 2218
Louisville, KY 40217
(502) 636 1551
Email: nursenpo@aol.com
http://unionsforsinglepayerHR676.org
05/17/09

:kick: