January 9th, 2013
Dear ROPnet,
In just a few weeks the Oregon Legislature will convene in Salem and policy-making for Oregon will be in full force. During the Legislative Session ROP will be sharing updates and calls to action, details on the issues we care about and opportunities to rally in Salem and participate in Legislative Action Days. Look for “Legislature” in the subject of ROPnets.
To kick off this session we share an invite from ROP Board members Bill Whitaker (Union County), Rosalie Pedroza (Marion County) and Kathy Paterno (Crook County) about a Healthcare for All rally on Feb. 4th. If you can’t make it to Salem, scroll down for action to take from home.
Join ROP at Health Care is a Human Right Rally Feb. 4 in Salem
Rural Organizing Project is a founding member of the 62-member coalition Health Care for All Oregon (HCAO). We encourage all ROP Human Dignity Groups to join us on the steps of the Capitol in Salem on February 4 for a massive rally affirming Health Care is a Human Right.
February 4 is the first day of the legislative session. The HCAO rally on the Capitol steps will demonstrate the breadth and depth of support for our cause. Your presence will help get our issue on the agenda of Oregon legislators and gain additional cosponsors for the Affordable Health Care for All Oregon Act reintroduced by Rep. Michael Dembrow. A massive rally will encourage news media coverage and increase public awareness of Oregon’s Health Care is a Human Right movement.
Will your human dignity group commit to be there on Feb. 4? Let us know. (See below) There will be coordinated transportation (buses, carpools) from many areas of the state. If you would like to join a carpool or find others coming from your area contact Ross at organize@hcao.org.
Rally schedule:
10:00 – 10:30 Sign In at Room 50 of Capitol Building
10:30 – 11:00 Lobbying Training with Packets for Legislators
11:00 – 11:30 March to Capitol Steps
11:30 – 12:30 Rally: Health Care is a Human Right
12:30 – 3:00 Brown Bag Lunch & Lobby your Legislators
3:00 – 3:30 Closing Plenary & Debriefing
3:30 – 5:30 Optional Social Hour
Please wear red sweaters or jackets if possible to show your support for Health Care is a Human Right. Red “Health Care for All Oregon/Health Care is a Human Right” t-shirts will be available for sale at the rally for a contribution of $10.
If you know your Legislative District number, it will help smooth the sign in process at the Capitol. You can find your district here: http://www.leg.state.or.us/findlegsltr/ Please call your legislators’ offices (House and Senate) to let them know that your group would like to meet with them between 12:30 and 2:30 PM. It’s fine to meet with a staff member if the legislator is unavailable. Materials for distribution to legislators will be provided at the lobbying training.
Volunteers needed. HCAO needs at least 60 volunteers for the rally and would love your help. For details, contact:http://hcao.org/contact/
Action if you cannot attend the rally—please call your legislators on Feb 4 and tell them that you support Health Care for All Oregon and Health Care is a Human Right.
The Oregon Health Care Reform Campaign
600,000 Oregonians have no health insurance. Each year 558 Oregonians die from causes related to their lack of health insurance. Helping prevent these unnecessary deaths is part of ROP’s commitment to social justice.
HCAO is building a massive grassroots statewide movement to convince the Oregon Legislature that Health Care is a Human Right and should be available to everyone. This is the first step in a multi-year campaign to bring affordable, comprehensive, publicly funded, high quality systems of health care to everyone in Oregon and ultimately the United States.
Some think the Affordable Care Act (“Obama Care”) has solved the problem. However, while the ACA achieves some modest reforms, health insurance costs are soaring, making insurance unaffordable to many Oregonians and leaving thousands more with only catastrophic coverage. ACA required state insurance exchanges will make insurance available to some who are currently uninsured but will not provide comprehensive coverage at affordable rates. Fundamental reform of health care financing is essential to ensure health care with “Everybody in, nobody out!”
The HCAO campaign is using petitions, photo petitions, presentations, films, house parties, and surveys of the experiences Oregonians have had with health care — good or bad– and is filming brief stories about our experiences.
We will provide all the information and materials your human dignity group needs to participate effectively in this exciting movement.
For information contact ROP board members:
Bill Whitaker wwhitak@boisestate.edu 541-663-1358
Rosalie Pedroza redped@earthlink.net 503-743-4591
Kathy Paterno kppaterno@msn.com 541-548-5131
Check out the Health Care for All Oregon website: www.HCAO.org