Washblog

Status of state single payer legislation
PNHPWW is part of the Washington State Health Security Trust Coalition (PNHPWW, HCFA-Wa, HCTW) formed to organize support of the WHST legislation introduced in the Senate (SB 5756) by Sen. Rosa Franklin with 7 co-sponsors and in the House (HB 1886) by Rep. Sherry Appleton with 15 co-sponsors. The Coalition has agreed to lead an organizing effort to solicit support from other legislators, gain endorsements from other organizations and commission a study of WHST's economic feasibility and impact. Finally, assuming WHST may not be passed in this session, the Coalition agreed to carry it into the next legislative session and on into the 2008 election season where WHSTcould morph into a state voters¹ initiative. Needless to say, tremendous amount of grass roots organizing will be necessary over this period.

So far, Washington Community Action Network (Wa-CAN, formerly, Wa Citizen Action) has formally endorsed WHST. The Wa State Labor Council has agreed to sign in at the Senate hearing on WHST described below.

Campaign to Support WHST
We need to get legislators, organizations, and individuals to formally support WHST

ACTION PLAN: Ask organizations that you may belong to or have influence with to endorse WHST. Ask your local political party district organization to endorse a WHST resolution (sample resolution appended)

Lobby Day, Monday, Feb 19th, in Olympia. The Children's Alliance is spearheading the Lobby Day events. Meet at church, hear presentations, parade to Capital, meet with legislators. Our plan is to get as many members as we can to carpool to Olympia, join the parade with a large PNHP Washington banner and signs. The banner would have the PNHP logo with attachable/changeable message. For this parade the message would be something like Healthcare for All Children AND their Families Support the Washington Health Security Trust. We will have similar, more detailed flyers.

As well as PNHPWW, HCFA-Wa and HCTW, the single payer mission will be supported by Advocates for the Underserved, a UW student group.

Agenda for Lobby Day
Meet at UNITED CHURCHES in OLYMPIA, 110 11th AVE SE
8:30: Registration and coffee
9:00: Nancy Amidei from UW speaks
9:45: Briefing on children¹s issues
10:15: Issue caucuses:  foster care, early learning, child health, WHST

Coalition meeting place to be announced

11:45: Lunch
12:45: March to capitol ­ small WHST Coalition table in Columbia Room of Capital Building
1:00: Rally on capitol steps   Frank Chopp will be there.
1:30: Visit legislators

ACTION PLAN: Let David McL know if you are going. Will coordinate carpool

ACTION PLAN: Let David McL know of any appointments you may have so we can create a master list for others to join in

Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee Hearing on WHST, Wednesday, Feb 21st.
This hearing starts at 8AM. A carpool would have to leave Seattle around 6:30 AM. The format is to sign in for the bill and check whether or not you wish to testify (usually 1-3 minutes before they cut you off). This is also a time to request appointments with legislators and staff. We will issue a press release and consider a press conference.

ACTION PLAN: Let us know if you are going and if you are willing to testify. Would you testify as an individual or a member of a group? We will coordinate carpool and testimony with HCFA & HCTW to ensure all points are covered and to avoid overlap and maximize impact.  Point person: David McLanahan

ACTION PLAN: Ask for a meeting with your district legislators or assistants on Feb 19th. WHST support packets will be available. Point person: You

ACTION PLAN: Ask for group meeting with sponsors to thank them and ask what we need to do to build support and what next steps to take. Point person: You

ACTION PLAN: Pass out a WHST support packet at the hearing and at meetings with individual legislators and staff. Point Person - Bob Fithian

ACTION PLAN - Media coverage - Press release in conjunction with Senate hearing. Possible press conference. Point Person: Sherry Weinberg

Economic Study of WHST
The WHST Coalition authorized Doug Conrad, Frank Fox (who authored a prior study of the similar bill in 2000) and Ann Derleth, a PhD research health policy associate to conduct a study of the WHST financial impacts. How much money is being spent on HC now in Wa, what would be the impact of a single payer bill in terms of increased expenses from increased demand, would there be enough funds generated by the financing mechanisms (business, individual, and state funds now used for healthcare) in the bill to cover these expenses? They will also include limited evaluation of what might be the ³behavioral² effects on business in terms of employment and wages? They will provide numbers with and without inclusion of federal funds from Medicaid and Medicare. As much as they can reasonably estimate, they will factor in cost savings from reduced administrative dollars when eliminating the private insurance industry.

Although Doug has very graciously volunteered his labor, this study will cost a maximum of $10,000. They hope to have preliminary findings available by the end of the month, but the goal is to produce a non-biased study with legs that will be useful as an organizing tool over the next two years (assuming this academic study's conclusions favor our position).

PNHPWW members who are able are asked to step forward to make large Up Front pledges to guarantee that the researchers have the funds necessary for overhead and hourly fees. These would be in $500-$1000 bundles, refundable down to $100-$200 Personal Contributions, as the smaller donations flow in from the fundraising campaign. PNHPWW commits to refund down to the Personal Donation, though this might require several months and fund-raising events. So far, PNHP members have pledged $5250 Up Front and at the meeting the Board voted to add $1000 from the PNHPWW treasury. HCFA-Wa treasury in considering another $1500- $2000, so we are well on the way.

ACTION PLAN: Send checks to PNHPWW, WHST Educational Fund, California Ave SW, Seattle 98136. This is TAX DEDUCTABLE and you will receive an acknowledgment letter so stating. Any checks more than $200 will be considered Up Front contributions. When repaid, another refund letter will be generated for tax purposes.

March 16th Public Event
We are lucky in that Jim McDermott has agreed to participate. Unfortunately, after 8 weeks we are still stymied by Dennis Kucinich's inability to tell us yes or no. We have sent a feeler to John Edwards, with no response so far. Sheila Kuehl has another commitment on this date. The Board talked about having Michael Moore discuss his upcoming movie on health care in America. He certainly would be a media draw. We will explore this possibility. Other possible speakers to invite would be Rosa Franklin and Sherry Appleton.

I will attempt to keep the PNHPWW web site updated on a daily basis in a new home page box the WSHT Coalition Campaign Latest News, so please check frequently. It is likely a more reliable place to rapidly find out what's going on than by searching through piles of emails.

We need to work very hard during February and March to take advantage of this opportunity that WHST gives us push things forward!

David McLanahan
PNHPWW Coordinator

PS: www.pnhpwesternwashington.org will be updated later today (2/11/07)

PPS: Chuck Richards has put together a very nice Puget Sound Network for Universal Health Care newsletter aimed at the grass roots that is featured on a link from the PNHPWW web site. Check out Newsletter #4