On the St. Paul Issues Forum e-mail list a new, forwarded e-mail calls for a primary challenge to Rep. Betty McCollum based on her failure to support the popular Conyers bill HR 676, "The United States National Health Insurance Act". This bill is supported in the Minnesota State Democratic-Farmer-Labor platform. This spring, in a lead up to the St. Paul City DFL caucuses I wrote a series of diaries in support of a resolution calling on McCollum to co-sponsor and champion the Conyers bill. The resolution was submitted and adopted in multiple caucuses and ward conventions across the city on February 3rd.
Betty McCollum has remained mute on this issue, and people in CD 4 are clearly fed up at the lack of engaged representation in what is a very progressive district that is entitled to progressive representation in Congress.
Here is part of that forwarded e-mail, originally authored by musician and healthcare activist Papa John Kohlstad and forwarded to the list by David Shove:
Solution: People of the Fourth District should begin now to seek and groom candidates for the 4th CD seat. Ideally there should be two or more
challengers, each supporting Universal Single Payer Health Care, ending
the wars, cutting the War Budget (it is not a defense budget), support a
real national energy policy, and holding the criminal bankers and Wall
Street Companies accountable for the disaster they created.
One or more of these candidates could seek the DFL endorsement; however, I
have little faith in the DFL. Case in point: Universal Single Payer
Health Care has been in the DFL Platform since at least 1994, yet the DFL
repeatedly endorses candidates who do not support this position. By the
primary those seeking real change and real leadership from the Fourth
District should select their best and strongest candidate to challenge in
the Primary. Health Care is a huge issue for people of all economic
levels. With a staff of focused volunteers, the Primary can be won.
Even if this group does not win the primary, Rep McCollum will be put on
notice that she needs to get HF 676 passed in the House.
It is important to start now. Seek the true leaders in the District and
avoid those with the big money backing. Groom, educate and support these
candidates. Create forums, rallies, and speaking opportunities.
Either we all work together to get true leadership in Congress or we all slowly go bankrupt on our own.
I think there is plenty of work to be done to advance this issue in St. Paul and its suburbs, and a step towards winning my support for a challenger's candidacy I would love to see that person and their supporters step up to do some aggressive doorknocking this evening and all day tomorrow with the remaining "Healthcare NOT Warfare" (PDF file) fliers I have, in support of PDA's National Call-in Day for Healthcare tomorrow.