PA Health Care for America Now, SEIU and Partners Hold Huge Statewide Effort for Health Care Reform
Governor Howard Dean kicks-off Aliquippa Event
Health Reform Advocates Reach Out to 10,000 Pennsylvanians In Support of President Obama’s Health Care Reform Plan
Jenkintown, Upper Darby, Middletown (Bucks County), Allentown, Wilkes-Barre, Pottsville, Reading, Williamsport, Aliquippa, Erie, and Sunbury, PA— The dog days of August did not keep over 400 activists from spending hours reaching out to their neighbors in support of President Obama’s health care reform plan in twelve locations in every corner of Pennsylvania. Canvassers talked to over 5,000 Pennsylvanians and left fliers at the homes of another 5,000.
In Aliquippa, PA, former Presidential candidate and DNC Chair, Governor Howard Dean gave an inspirational speech to over 50 canvassers. He was joined by Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU. The largest turnout of canvassers was in Jenkintown, PA where over 100 people attended the event.
Canvasses also took place in Upper Darby, Allentown, Wilkes-Barre, Pottsville and Williamsport.
In addition to canvassing, HCAN activists have tables set up every day of the Middletown Grange Festival in Bucks County, at the Celebrate Erie Festival; and at the Sunbury Festival in Northumberland County.
The effort was particularly directed towards building support for reform in the districts represented by Pennsylvania members of the Blue Dog caucus, Representatives Jason Altmire (D-4), Chris Carney (D-10), Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3), Tim Holden (D-17), and Patrick Murphy (D-8).
Marc Stier, PA State Director of HCAN said, “Since we started in July 2008, our goal has been to build a campaign that had the capacity to reach out to and educate citizens all across the state even in the face of an opposition bent on misleading the public about health care reform. Today we talked to over 5000 Pennsylvanians. We presented them with specific information about how the legislation before Congress will benefit them. When they hear the truth about how health care reform will lower the cost of health insurance for individuals and small businesses, end the thousands of bankruptcies that occur every year due to health care costs, and improve Medicare, the vast majority of people agree to call their member of Congress in support of it. ”
Some activists were particularly dedicated. Antoinette Kraus, of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project and the coordinator of the Jenkintown Canvass said, “People understand how important this issue is and want to do something. One woman canvassed a few blocks in her wheel chair. And man recently released from the hospital after a heart attack talked to twenty of his neighbors.”
Prior to the statewide canvass, on Friday August 14, SEIU and other labor partners visited over 350 worksites, to encourage 6000 union members to voice their support for health care reform. Diane Topakian of SEIU said, “Our members understand that there is no way to rebuild our economy from the bottom up, with rising wages for working people, until health care costs are brought under control. That won’t happen without real reform and the competition provided by a public health insurance option.”
The events of this weekend were lead by Health Care For America Now Pennsylvania, a coalition of community, labor, religious, and other groups; the Change that Works Campaign of the Service Employee International Union (SEIU) and coalition partners including the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, ACORN, the AFL-CIO, Penn Action, United Food and Commercial Workers. President Obama’s organization, Organizing for America, joined in support the events as well.
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Thank you,you did a great job making it all happen.