Another week, another 17 health care events
Posted on November 15th, 2009 by admin in PA News
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Pennsylvania HCAN and our partners did another seventeen events to push health care reform along this week. Click on the links to go to detailed accounts of these events along with pictures and press reports.
Our Erie Coalition met Congresswoman Dahlkemper at the Erie Airport on Sunday November 8 to thank her for vote.
We held a health are forum in Williamsport the same day with citizens who have been active in lobbying Congressman Carney.
We did a thank you event for Representative Patrick Murphy on Tuesday November 10.
And we did nine other events on Thursday November 12, thank you events for Representatives Carney, Dahlkemper, Doyle, Kanjorkski and Schwartz who voted for the legislation and shame on you events for four Representatives who voted against it Altmire, Dent, Gerlach and Holden.
Over six hundred Pennsylvanians took part in these events!
by Erie Health Care Coalition.
On Sunday November 8 HCAN, OFA PHAN and other coalition partners welcomed Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper with a big thank you for voting for the health care reform bill the previous evening.
Newspaper and television reports follow.
Dahlkemper Back in Erie after House Passes Health Care Reform Bill
November 8, 2009, 4:53 pm
Applause Sunday afternoon, as Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper arrives back in Erie, “everybody here realizes this is history in the making, just like Social Security and Medicare, a historical moment and we want to be a part of it and congratulate Kathy Dahlkemper,” says Richard McVay of Penn Action.
Dahlkemper says the past few weeks have been very intense, meetings and negotiating, but she’s pleased with the outcome, “I’m feeling relieved, obviously very happy we passed the legislation last night. It was really up to yesterday, we weren’t sure if we had the votes to make it pass.”
Dahlkemper says the Health Care Reform Bill will give everyone stability and security, “it will strengthen Medicare, help small businesses, help all individuals and those people denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.”
Even more meaningful to the Congresswoman, an amendment she co-sponsored, passed. The amendment bans government funded abortions, “I did not believe the American people, whether pro-choice or pro-life, wanted federal funds to go to pay for abortions.”
While the bill now goes to the Senate, Dahlkemper says her work is not finished, “I will be out over the next couple of months continuing to explain the legislation and answering questions and concerns.”
Dahlkemper says she hopes the American people will have a bill by the end of the year.
Report from YourErie.com http://yourerie.com/content/fulltext/?cid=86492: Dahlkemper in Erie After Public-Option Vote
Reported by: Jeremy Beecher
Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 @04:56pm
Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3rd) returned to Erie Sunday afternoon after casting her vote for a landmark healthcare reform bill that would create a government-run public insurance plan.
The Erie County GOP blasted Dahlkemper’s vote in a statement Sunday, calling the bill “the most irresponsible piece of legislation in memory” and warning that “Congresswoman Dahlkemper will have to answer why she has chosen to support Nancy Pelosi and her radical agenda over 90% of the time — particularly this piece of legislation.”
The statement said the House plan would explode the defecit, devastate small businesses and create a slippery slope toward a single-payer system.
Those concerns have several prominent senators, including Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) vowing to block any bill containing a public option from passing the Senate.
TV Report from: WJET
http://yourerie.com/content/fulltext/?cid=86492
Erie Times Report: Dahlkemper in Erie After Public-Option Vote
Reported by: Jeremy Beecher
Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 @04:56pm
security when it comes to their healthcare,” Dahlkemper said, “and I think in
the end that’s really what it’s all about.”
HCAN and PHAN co-sponsored at health care forum in Williamsport on Sunday, November 10. It was attended by about 75 people, most of whom have been active in support of health care reform.
Saying Thanks to
members of Congress
Who
Voted for HR 3926On Monday, November 9, On Monday, HCAN along with PUP, PHAN, UFCW Local 1776, SEIU and our partners did drop-in visits at the offices of Representatives Brady, Carney, Doyle, Fattah, Kanjorski, Schwartz, and Sestak to thank them for their votes in favor of HR 3962.
Thank You Event for Patrick Murphy
Organized and reported by Robin Stelly, Penn Action
Congressman Patrick Murphy joined 50 people at the Bucks County Association for Retired and Senior Citizens on Tuesday, November. Fifty four people were there, Congressman Murphy addressed the crowd. He introduced a
nurse and a retired school teacher who shared their
reasons for supporting the bill. The Congressman mentioned
OFA and HCAN multiple times and thanked the assembled activists. He referred to us as his “battle buddies”. Speakers besides Congressman Murphy included Tariq Khan, member of American Nurses Association and Ida Tino a retired school teacher and member of OFA Murphy said that there is a lot of to do in the weeks ahead and that we have to keep working.
n 
for
Representative Tim
Holden
Organized by Diane Topakian of SEIU and John Herr of Move On; Report from Diane Topakian
We had a great event at Holden’s HBG office, right on Front St- lots of beeps in support!!
75 people attended, did some chanting, heard some remarks from Marc Stier, from local constituents, and from the Vice President of the Harrisburg City Council Dan Miller. A group went inside and met with Tim Smith, .Congressman Holden’s district director.. People took sample LTEs to write letters to Patriot News.
Folks felt good expressing their anger and disappointment at Holden, who couldn’t vote for the bill because the polling was bad.
TV coverage:
http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Protesting-Healthcare-Vote/0iQy7q8H-kGV0KvFgv7MAA.cspx
Protesting Healthcare Vote
Reported by: CBS 21 News
Email: news@cbs21.comLast Update: 9:23 am
| Shame on you! That’s what dozens of people are saying to Congressman Tim Holden after he voted no to the reform bill earlier this week.
They marched on Front Street in Harrisburg. The group says Holden should have voted for the bill, because it affects many people in his district. Eileen Connelly: “Well, there’s what 48 million people in our country that are uninsured and millions more that are under insured. Many of them are working people or seniors and feel that the time is now to do health care reform.” Congressman Holden’s office didn’t return our calls, when we called him for a comment today. |
Copyright 2009 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newspaper coverage: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2009/11/healthcare_reform_supporters_r.html
Health care reform supporters rally in front of Tim Holden’s Harrisburg office to protest his vote against the health care reform bill
By CHRIS A. COUROGEN, The Patriot-News
November 12, 2009, 2:00PM
CHRIS A. COUROGEN, Of The Patriot-News
Supporters of the healthcare reform bill passed last week by the U.S. House of Representatives protest outside Congressman Tim Holden’s Harrisburg office on North Front Street. The demonstrators took Holden to task for voting against the bill, which incudes the so-called “public option.”
“Tim Holden, shame on you.” That was the chant outside Holden’s Harrisburg office this morning when a group of about 50 demonstrators gathered to protest Holden’s vote last week against the health care reform bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The protesters carried signs criticizing Holden and health insurance companies and supporting health care reform in general, and the so-called “public option” in particular. The group spent about 30 minutes walking the sidewalk in front of Holden’s office in the 1700 block of North Front Street before hearing from speakers that included Harrisburg City Councilman Dan Miller. A smaller group them went inside to present Holden’s staff with letters supporting their cause written by health care professionals, small business owners and patients.
Holden (D-Schuylkill) was one of 39 Democrats in the House who voted against the bill. Holden was not available for comment this morning, but previously the Blue Dog Democrat characterized his vote as a refusal to be a “pawn” in a political game. Holden was critical of H.B. 3962, which he argued lacks language to ensure illegal immigrants won’t receive taxpayer funded health care. Holden also said he opposed what he called “drastic cuts to Medicare and Medicaid providers” called for in the bill
About twenty people from HCAN MoveOn, SEIU, UFCW and OFA attended a thank you event for Representative Paul Kanjorski at his office in Wilkes-Barre. Rosanne Kolburg was the lead speaker and Roxanne Pauline gave a brief thank you. A group of 22 went to into Kanjorski’s Office They were greeted by Paul Mayer. They presented Congressman Kanjorski with thank youcards , small gifts and the score card sheet
Barb and Rosanne Did introductions of the group to Paul and Fred. Paul and Fred spoke briefly to the group and were very grateful for the visit.
Twenty three people from OFA, MoveOn, HCAN, UFCW and two dogs representing Pets for Pawsitivie change took part in a thank you event for Congressman Carney. Rosanne Kolburg of HCAN/MOVE ON was the lead speaker. Roxanne Pauline of HCAN, Kathy Shelly OFA, and Mike Shapiro OFA gave brief remarks.
A group of 18 went to into Carney’s Office They were greeted by Paul Mackenosky and other staff members. They presented Paul the score card. Paul Makenosky spoke to the group in the conference room for 15 minutes.
Dr Peter Couple attended. He is head of the Clarks Summit State Psychiatric Hospital .
Representative Jason
Altmire
Organized by Dave Ninehouser and Ted Zimmer of PHAN and MaryEllen Hayden of ACORN
Report from Ted.
I just got back from the Altmire event in Aliquippa and it went great!
Almost 50 people were in attendance and we had a great group of speakers that were a mix of personal health care stories and folks representing various organizations.
We had excellent press coverage from KDKA TV News, Post-Gazette, and Beaver County Times (both with photographers as well).
TV Coverage: http://kdka.com/video/?id=65123@kdka.dayport.com
Newspaper Coverage: Beaver County Times
Protesters rail against Altmire’s ‘no’ vote on health care
Times photo by LUCY SCHALY
Thursday November 12, 2009 07:20 PM
ALIQUIPPA — Sister Mary Morgan knows a little something about forgiveness, but that doesn’t mean she’ll soon forget U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire’s vote against the health care reform bill that passed the U.S. House last weekend.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Morgan said Thursday as a protest rally outside Altmire’s district office on McLean Street in Aliquippa ended. “I love the man. I love Jason Altmire. I was just deeply disappointed.”
Morgan, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Baden who lives at a convent at St. Titus Catholic Church in Aliquippa, was joined by nearly 40 other people unhappy that Altmire, D-4, McCandless Township, opposed the bill.
Organized by the Pennsylvania Health Access Network, a coalition of pro-reform groups, the rally shortly after noon drew voters who are disillusioned that Altmire claimed the legislation did not contain costs enough.
Altmire, a former UPMC lobbyist, is a member of the Blue Dogs, a group of conservative House Democrats. Altmire is up for re-election next year, but, so far, only Pittsburgh lawyer Keith Rothfus, a Republican, has entered the race.
Another person at the rally, Baden resident Ann Stanton, said her brother had several health problems, including heart trouble, but could not get much-needed surgery because he lacked insurance and owed hospitals thousands of dollars.
Stanton said her brother’s employer had dropped medical coverage and then closed the business. Her brother tried to get government assistance, she said, but was denied because he made too much money delivering pizzas.
In March, she said, her 57-year-old brother died while driving his car.
Altmire’s vote, Stanton said, reflects his arrogance that nothing will keep him from getting re-elected next year.
“If you want to work for the insurance lobby, take that job. Go ahead. Be my guest,” Stanton said. “To me, (Altmire) didn’t come through. They call themselves Blue Dog Democrats, but you’re either a Republican or a Democrat.”
Several people said they hope Altmire would vote for a final health care reform bill if the U.S. Senate passes its own and the two versions are reconciled.
Altmire’s vote did not permanently sour supporter Dan Sainovich Jr., but, like others in attendance, the Ohioville resident said another vote against reform would raise serious doubts about Altmire come election time.
“I’m hoping that he changes his mind and … sees the light,” Sainovich said. “I hope he does the right thing.”
Newspaper Coverage: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09317/1013100-114.stm
Altmire assailed over health care vote
Congressman calls reform inadequate
Friday, November 13, 2009
By James O’Toole, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Bob Donaldson/Post-Gazette
Gilda Deferrari, of Hopewell, delivers her protest letter to a member of Rep. Jason Altmire’s staff after a rally by about 40 people outside the congressman’s Aliquippa office yesterday to protest his vote against the House version of the health care bill. MoveOn.org sponsored the rally, which featured speakers who told their stories of not being able to get health care because they didn’t have insurance.
Dozens of activists gathered at Rep. Jason Altmire’s Aliquippa office yesterday to assail the Democrat for his vote against the House version of a bill to revamp the nation’s health care system.
Reading from a copy of a letter she had sent to the second-term congressman, Charlene Gill said, “Your ‘no’ vote is the reason I will vote for whoever runs against you.”
The New Castle retiree won a smattering of applause from the crowd of about 35 as she continued, “I hope the insurance industry you’re trying to protect gives you your old job back.”
Mr. Altmire, a former congressional staffer, was a government relations executive for UPMC before winning his House seat in a district that includes Beaver County and many of the suburban communities north of Pittsburgh.
Mr. Altmire voted against an earlier version of the House measure in committee. And while he said that the version that prevailed narrowly over the weekend was an improvement in some respects, he said in a statement that he was disappointed in what he characterized as its failure to provide meaningful reform.
“This bill is inadequate in two key areas that are critical to meaningful health care reform: cost containment and delivery system reform,” he said, while emphasizing that he would work for the enactment of a more acceptable measure.
Yesterday’s demonstration was one part of the grass-roots lobbying occurring across the country as supporters and opponents of the overhaul prepare the ground for a Senate vote on the proposal and a subsequent House vote on a final version of the bill expected to be brokered by House and Senate conferees.
Mr. Altimire’s decision on the weekend vote was closely watched because he represents a swing district. He won his seat from a Republican, former Rep. Melissa Hart, in 2006. While he defeated her by a comfortable margin in a rematch two years ago, his district voted heavily for the Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain.
While his vote upset some members of his district, other demonstrations in recent months have shown that any decision is bound to irritate some segment of his constituency.
In September, a crowd of nearly 2,000 showed up in a Cranberry park, in another part of the 4th District, loudly denouncing the Obama administration over its call to change the nation’s health care system.
Representative Charlie
Dent
Organized by Steve Nathan of MoveOn, Diane Topakian of SEIU, and John Meyerson of UFCW Local 1776
Report from Steve Nathan
Last evening’s rally at Dent’s Bethlehem office went very well. We had about 40 people from various coalition organizations and citizens; attend the rally to shame Dent. We also had the mayor of Bethlehem speak to us, since he announced his candidacy for the 15th Congressional District seat in the House sometime ago.
Apparently, I arrived a few minutes after the Channel 69 news crew arrived. The reporter and cameraman were finishing setting-up as I got there. Since no else wanted to say anything on camera, I stood-up and spoke on behalf of MoveOn, the coalition and the citizens there
We marched in a large oval circle at the entrance to the small office building for about a half-hour with both printed and hand painted signs (Interesting fact: the building has a ‘For Sale’ sign out front.), chanting in response to the speaker with a bullhorn.
As people arrived, they signed-in with me and the other coalition members’ leadership. Amongst those attendees were some ‘kids’ from Moravian College, about a mile away that learned about the rally through MoveOn. At first glance, they looked like, well, kids, in middle school, until they identified themselves, signed-in and talked to us for a few minutes. They are very eager to join the effort for health care reform through their student political organization. They also mentioned a similar organization at Lehigh University they will contact to determine their interest in the issue and the coalition members.
Amongst the speakers were Mayor John Callahan, of Bethlehem, and John Meyerson, Director of Legislation & Political Action, United Food & Commercial Workers 1776. Mayor Callahan’s comments were detailed about the House passed bill, current problems with our health care system and insightful with his health care plans upon winning the seat from Dent.
After the speeches, we resumed chanting for a few minutes and stayed to talk to each other about the rally and health care and to exchange information with each other.
Some members of the rally took pictures on their camera phones and digital cameras. I am expecting some pictures from an ‘Obama for America’ leader later today that I will pass on to you.
TV Coverage:
POSTED: 11-12-2009 07:18 PM ET | MODIFIED: 11-13-2009 04:24 AM ET
Callahan Joins Health Care Rally Outside Dent’s Office
>>
Mayor Callahan came out here demanding a change to the status quo. Congressman Dent calls this bill a “backdoor government takeover of healthcare leading to a single payer system.”
>> MAYOR JOHN CALLAHAN/(D)- BETHLEHEM: “The public option that I would support would be optional.”
>> Congressman Dent tells us he does have his own proposal, attempting to lower the cost of insurance. But, he predicts, the bill that passed this weekend will remain the main focus until at least Christmas. From here, it goes to the Senate. Everyone involved here will be watching.
Newspaper Coverage:
Rally planned in Bethlehem to protest U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent’s stance on health care reform
November 12, 2009, 7:46AM
Express-Times File Photo | BILL ADAMS
A news release from political group MoveOn.org accuses Dent of “siding with the insurance industry instead of Pennsylvania families.”
Thank You Event
for
Dahklkemper
Erie, Pennsylvania – On Thursday, November 12, the Erie Health Care Coalition thanked Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper on her vote for the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962).
By saying “Yes” to the Affordable Health Care for America Act, Congresswoman Dahlkemper put constituents before insurance companies.
Approximately 50 members of the coalition greeted Congresswoman Dahlkemper in the rotunda of her office at Inter-Modal left.
A unanimous resolution from the Erie City Council was presented to the Congresswoman.
“That the members of the United States Congress are respectfully requested by the City Council of the City of Erie to support President Barack Obama’s Quality Affordable Health Care Legislation for all Americans, especially the uninsured and underinsured.”
The event was covered by Erie’s WJET (ABC/Fox)
Congresswoman Dahlkemper Greets Erie Health Care Coalition
David Bielski (AFSCME) & Roann Barker NW Pennsylvnia Central Labor Council
Silas Russell, Mark Adams, Congresswoman Dahlkemper, Diana Ames, Richard McVay
Congresswoman Dahlkemper & Ron Oliver (Steelworkers Union)
About 3 dozen people attended. We didn’t get any media but the video will be posted at PAprogressive.
Representative Allyson
Schwartz
Organized by Antoinette Kraus, Athena Ford and Katy Weeks of HCAN / PHAN / PUP
A group of about twenty had a rally outside Congresswoman Schwartz. Speakers were Antoinette Kraus- PHAN/HCAN, Katy Weeks- PUP, Eloise Mullen- UFCW 1776, Teresa Mansell- Childspace CDI, Rebecca Foley- Women’s Way, Terek Kahn-American Nurses Association and Marc Stier, HAN
There were about 40 people from HCAN, PHAN. ACORN, SEIU. SOAR, Steelworkers, and Move ON, plus a few just citizens. We all had great signs and got the attention of lots of passers by who honked in support of Health Care Reform. Channel 2 and the Post Gazette were there.
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