Dear friends,
We in Pennsylvania have built a huge movement for health care reform, so it is not surprising that we were one of the first places to witness the right wing’s vicious campaign of lies and intimidation at the Town Hall held by Senator Specter and HHS Secretary Sebelius in Philadelphia last week.
We are fighting back. And if you are willing to step up and join us I guarantee that this opposition will not stop our movement for quality, affordable health care for all.
I don’t want to take up space here to explain the right wing strategy and how we will overcome it. Click here for detailed analysis of the situation.
Instead let me tell you what you can do in the upcoming week to move health care reform forward.
First, participate in health care weekend in Pennsylvania.
On Friday August 14, a number of unions will be doing worksite canvassing around the state.
On Saturday, August 15, we will be holding canvasses in ten locations. Click on the names of the cities to sign up to join us: Jenkintown, Upper Darby, Wilkes-Barre, Allentown, Reading, Pottsville, Williamsport, Aliquippa, Erie. In Bucks County tabling at the Middletown Grange Fair will take place from August 12 to August 16. If you can’t get to one of the organized canvasses and want to canvass in your own neighborhood or do some phone banking, contact me at MarcStier@hcanpa.org.
On Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16 we hope to have religious services focus on health care reform. You can help organize this by asking your Minister, Priest, Pastor or Rabbi to devote some time during the service to health care reform. Have him or her contact me at the above email address or (215) 880-6142 to get more information.
Second, you can stand up for health care reform at four town halls around the state being held by members of Congress. Click on the city and date for details on Senator Specter’s Town Hall events and to let us know if you can come: Lebanon, August 11, 9:30am; Lewisburg, August 11, 3:45pm; State College, August 12, 8:30 am; Kittanning, August 13, 3:00 pm. Representative Sestak will be holding an town hall in Philadelphia on August 12.
We expect these events to be targeted by the right wing. We are heavily recruiting for them and have assigned a team leader for each event. We need you to come early, sign in with the team leader, get a sticker, poster, and instructions from him or her. We have also prepared a guide for health care activists that will tell you more about our strategy and help you prepare for the events.
We are also looking for people who have issues with health insurance to testify at these town halls. If you live in these areas are uninsured or have had difficulties securing good health care from your insurer, please let me know.
Third, take part in our where’s the health care banner campaign. During rush hour tomorrow morning, at four locations in Philadelphia, members of SEIU will be holding a banner from a bridge calling for health care reform now. We would like to see this banner appear at various places around the state over the next month. All it takes is four people and a bridge over a road that gets a lot of morning traffic: three people to hold up the banner and one to talk handle the press. If you would like to do a banner hang one day this month, contact me and I’ll get you the banner ASAP.
Fourth, click here to invite your friends to join the campaign and take part in these events.
There will be many more town halls and other events at which you can support health care reform. From now until the end of the campaign, I’ll be in touch with frequent updates.
Thanks for all you do for health care reform.
Marc
Marc Stier
PA State Director
Health Care for America NOW
MarcStier@hcanpa.org
(215) 880-6412