{news} Fwd: [usgp-dx] GP RELEASE Greens urge defeat of Dems' 'phony reform' health bill in the Senate, seek a rally of efforts for Single-Payer

Tue Nov 10 21:05:48 EST 2009

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Tim McKee, New Britian, CT, main number cell-860

-----Original Message-----
From: Scott McLarty <scottmclarty at hotmail.com>
To: natlcomaffairs at green.gpus.org
Sent: Tue, Nov 10, 2009 1:04 pm
Subject: [usgp-dx] GP RELEASE Greens urge defeat of Dems' 'phony reform' health bill in the Senate, seek a rally of efforts for Single-Payer

REEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
ttp://www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
uesday, November 10, 2009
Contacts:
cott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, 
clarty at greens.org
tarlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene at gp.org

Greens urge defeat of the Democrats' "insurance industry life-support" bill in 
he US Senate and call for a rally of efforts to enact Single-Payer/Medicare For 
ll
• The US House bill passed on Saturday favors the insurance industry over 
mericans who need medical care; no heath care reform bill should be enacted 
hat doesn't allow states to enact Single-Payer, say Greens, who slam House 
emocrats for killing a vote on Single-Payer last week
• Green Party Speakers Bureau: Greens available to speak on health care reform: 
ttp://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php

WASHINGTON, DC -- In the wake of a US House vote passing a Democratic health 
are bill (HR 3962), Green Party leaders and health care activists are calling 
or a defeat of the bill, calling it little more than a program to subsidize the 
nsurance industry.
Greens are urging supporters of real universal health care to intensify efforts 
o win Capitol Hill support for Single-Payer/Medicare For All national health 
are.
"Democrats from President Obama on down know that Single-Payer is the best 
olution.  They've said so.  But instead of eliminating the waste and 
nefficiency of for-profit health insurance, the Democrats' 'insurance industry 
ife-support' plan would increase insurance company profits by forcing every 
merican to purchase their inferior products.  Many Democrats who previously 
upported Single-Payer have turned their backs, abandoning real universal health 
are out of loyalty to the President and their party," said Midge Potts, 
issouri Green candidate for the US Senate (MySpace.com/Midge_Potts_US_Senate).
The Green Party supports Single-Payer, which would guarantee quality health care 
or every American, allow patients to choose their health care providers, cut 
aperwork for physicians and hospitals, and reduce health care costs by a third 
y eliminating the for-profit insurance industry 'middle man' 
http://www.gp.org/campaigns/health/single-payer).  Greens advocate a 
ingle-Payer system run by a not-for-profit trust of health care providers, 
ealth care advocates, and taxpayers, rather than by the federal government.  
he Democratic bill accomplishes none of these goals.
"Democrats want phony health care reform, Republicans want zero reform.  Greens 
eek real reform by making health care a right instead of a privilege, just as 
e've made Social Security, education, and the protections we enjoy from fire 
nd police departments a right for everyone," added Ms. Potts, one of nine 
eaceful protesters arrested on November 5 at the Capitol Hill office of Sen. 
oseph Lieberman until the senator agreed to stop taking campaign contributions 
rom the insurance industry (video clip: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=59896394&blogId=517420995).
Greens strongly criticized congressional Democrats like Rep. Anthony Weiner 
D-NY), who withdrew his Single-Payer bill last week to support HR 3962.  House 
peaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had promised a vote after August on Single-Payer 
egislation, which sponsors of the latter have decided to withdraw.
When Rep. Pelosi, after vocal protests from Single-Payer supporters (including a 
it-in at her Capitol Hill office) finally agreed to the vote but allowed only 
0 minutes for debate, Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich 
D-Ohio) issued a public statement opposing the vote on the grounds that 
ingle-Payer had not received an adequate hearing.
"Reps. Conyers and Kucinich argued that a quick vote and perfunctory defeat of 
ingle-Payer would damage hopes for Single-Payer (http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/11/06-8).  
abling this vote made passage of the Democratic House bill possible, with yea 
otes from those who previously favored Single-Payer -- making progressive 
emocrats as responsible as Blue Dogs and Republicans for killing real health 
are reform.  The point of a vote on Single-Payer, regardless of its chances of 
assage right now, was to focus attention on Single-Payer and build momentum and 
ublic support," said Holly Hart, secretary of the Green Party of the United 
tates.
Like Midge Potts, several Green Party candidates and activists have participated 
n protests and civil disobedience to draw attention to the demand for 
ingle-Payer.  Howie Hawkins, who placed second on November 3 in Syracuse, New 
ork city council race, was arrested on November 4 in downtown Syracuse during a 
on-violent demonstration outside the office of National Government Services, a 
edicare claims processing operation owned by Wellpoint Inc., a major health 
nsurer (video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PH76jQKzaA).
Mobilization for Health Care For All (http://mobilizeforhealthcare.org), which 
s organizing the protests, was founded by Kevin Zeese, Maryland Green candidate 
or the US Senate in 2006.
"No heath care reform bill should be enacted that doesn't allow individual 
tates to enact Single-Payer," added Matt Reichel, Green candidate for Congress 
n Illinois's 5th District (http://www.mattreichel.us), referring to the 
ucinich amendment.  "Rep. Pelosi stripped the provision for state-based 
ingle-Payer from the House bill and Democrats weakened the public option to 
atisfy the insurance lobby.  These betrayals justify a 'voters revolt' against 
emocrats in 2010, if they offer a health care bill that wastes taxpayers' money 
nd favors the insurance industry over Americans who need medical care."  
Article by Mr. Reichel on health care reform: http://dissidentvoice.org/2009/11/shut-down-this-murderous-racket-change-we-need-and-crave/)
The Green Party listed reasons to reject the Senate version of HR 3962:
• The 'public option' in the bill would enroll only 2% of the population by 
019.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, the public option "would 
ost more than private plans" since it would enroll primarily the poorest and 
ickest members of society.  Insurance companies will probably end up 
dministering the public option plan.  (Single-Payer ends the provision of 
ealth coverage by insurance companies, which raise health costs by nearly a 
hird to cover overhead, administrative costs, CEO salaries, and profits for 
hareholders.)
"Democrats and their allies like Health Care for America NOW (HCAN) are trying 
o pull the wool over our eyes, pretending that this is a fight for a robust 
ublic option and universal health care.  Democrats killed the public option a 
onth ago in everything but name.  They turned the public option into fig leaf 
or the corporate option their plan embraces.  The real winners will be the 
nsurance companies, since the Democrats are using the insurance mandate to 
ift-wrap 50 million new customers for them," said Mr. Hawkins.
• Access to health insurance will still primarily be tied to employment.  An 
mployee who loses his or her job will still lose coverage. Employers, not 
mployees, will choose their workers' insurance company and their health care 
rovider.  (Single-Payer relieves businesses of the burden of providing health 
nsurance benefits and allows Americans to choose their physician or hospital.)
• The House bill further increases health care spending.  The US already spends 
early double ($7,200 per capita) what other industrial countries spend for 
heir citizens.  To reduce the increase in costs to the federal government, the 
emocrats' plan would push more and more of the financial burden for health care 
nto state governments and consumers, while reducing subsidies to consumers.  
Past studies by the GAO and CBO confirm that Single-Payer would save hundreds 
f billions of dollars annually in total health care spending.)
• The House bill denies health care for all immigrants, a restriction that would 
ltimately cost the US more in money and lives, since denial of treatment to 
nyone encourages the spread of disease among everyone, regardless of health 
overage.  (Single-Payer's financial savings would fully offset the cost of 
ealth care for immigrants and improve the quality of health care for all.)
• Tens of millions of Americans will either not be required to purchase 
nsurance or will choose to pay a penalty rather than do so.  Those who buy 
ubsidized plans, mostly the working poor, will find that many services are not 
overed and that they will lack the funds to pay the deductibles and co-pays 
eeded for medical treatment, since the plans are designed to only cover 70% of 
osts.  (Single-Payer will offer comprehensive health care for everyone.)
• Even though most Americans who presently lack health insurance are the working 
oor (75%) and those working for small employers, small employers are exempted 
rom the requirement to provide health insurance.  (Single-Payer covers everyone 
egardless of employment, ability to pay, age, or prior medical condition.)
• The AMA endorsed the Democratic bill, but only 17% of physicians (out of 
00,000 in the US) are AMA members.  59% of physicians and a majority of the 
ublic support Single-Payer/Medicare For All.  (Sources: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2008/march/most_doctors_support.php 
 http://www.healthcare-now.org/another-poll-shows-majority-support-for-single-payer 
 http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html)
"The destructive role of insurance companies is the biggest problem with the 
merican health care system," said Sanda Everette, co-chair of the Green Party 
f the United States.  "It's why we spend so much money and yet suffer a health 
are delivery system consistently ranked the worst among industrial countries, 
ven though we have some of the best doctors, nurses, hospitals, and medical 
echnology.  We can save hundreds of billions of dollars annually by eliminating 
rivate for-profit insurance and using these funds to give every American access 
o quality health care.  Instead, Democrats are offering a bill that would 
ighten the stranglehold of the insurance companies.  This is not the change 
mericans were promised last November."

MORE INFORMATION
Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
02-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
 Green candidate database and campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
 Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
 Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
 Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
 Green Party Livestream Channel http://www.livestream.com/greenpartyus
"The Green Party responds to Obama's speech: Mr. President, make health care a 
ight for all Americans"
reen Party press release, September 14, 2009
ttp://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=249
Green Pages: The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United 
tates
all 2009 issue now online
ttp://gp.org/greenpages-blog

~ END ~

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