President Thomas Calhoun reports that the Eastern Virginia Labor Federation (EVLF) has endorsed HR 676, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All, the single payer legislation that has 120 cosponsors in the US House of Representatives.
“We’re in a lot of trouble in regards to health care,” said Calhoun, who is also the President of the Norfolk Federation of Teachers, Local 4261, of the American Federation of Teachers. “With no mandate any more a lot of people will be out of the Affordable Care Act--as more don’t buy insurance the rates for the others go up,” he said.
He noted that for unions the rising costs of insurance have a very negative impact on pay rates. “Single Payer is the answer—I don’t see how anybody can be against it,” he said.
Calhoun pointed to the story of Trump telling Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that his country has better health care than we do. “Of course, in that instance he was right because Australia has a single payer system,” said Calhoun.
“We in the US pay the highest prices for drugs and for health care as hundreds of lobbyists work on behalf of the insurance companies. It’s the worst racket on earth and always will be until we get single payer health care.”
President Calhoun said, “Health care is now dependent on ability to pay and those who cannot pay go without. The people with big money are not suffering, but the rest are. It’s tragic. Life expectancy in the United States is now going down.”
He urged a massive effort to change those who hold political office but will not stand up for the people. And he urged the election of more labor people.
The Eastern Virginia Labor Federation is the 157th Central Labor Council or Area Labor Federation to endorse HR 676. The EVLF is one of four area labor federations in Virginia and represents workers in the populous Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Newport News, Chesapeake Bay region.
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Issued by:
Kay Tillow, Coordinator
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://unionsforsinglepayer.org
https://www.facebook.com/unionsforsinglepayer
HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system by expanding a
greatly improved Medicare to everyone residing in the U. S. Patients will
choose their own physicians and hospitals.
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 (including oral surgery,
periodontics, endodontics), mental health, home health, physical therapy,
rehabilitation (including for substance abuse), vision care and correction,
hearing services including hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical
equipment, palliative care, podiatric 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.
HR 676 has been endorsed by 636 union organizations including 157 Central
Labor Councils/Area Labor Federations and 44 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, NJ, NY, NV, MA,
RI, NH, ID).
The list of union endorsers.
The sample endorsement resolution.