Washblog

This is the email I received from the management of the Lynnwood Theater (I could not attend the showing with Dr. Garratano).  I would like to share it with you:

This past  Sunday, Dr. Joanna Garratano spoke with the audience at the 7:00
showing of SICKO.  Dr. Garratano is Chair of the Western Washington Chapter of
Physicians for a National Health Program, an advocacy organization trying to
bring about a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health program and
has more than 14,000 members and chapters across the United States.   A large
part of their work involves educating health professionals about the benefits of
a single-payer system -- including fewer administrative costs and affording
health insurance for the 47 million Americans who have none.  

Here are a few of the items she talked about which stuck with me, and I promised
many of you who could not attend that I would share Dr. Garrantano's info in
this e-mail:  
a)  The U.S. spends over twice the amount of any other nation on health care, yet we rank 37th in the world for health care
performance.  1/4 of us are uninsured.
b)  Medical bills are the  #1 cause of bankruptcy in the U.S.
b)  There's a marked difference in the focus of health care between those
countries WITH a universal health plan and those without.  In those with a
national health plan, the providers dwell on overall health of individuals;
while in the U.S. especially, more dollars are made in the industry by
prescribing pills and procedures.

What can you do?  

On the national level:
     Contact REP. JAY INSLEE and ask him to co-sponsor H.R. 676, the U.S.
National Health Insurance Act, as introduced by Rep John Conyers and featuring
75 co-sponsors within the House.  When approached by Dr. Garrantano's group
about this issue, Rep. Inslee replied that he doesn't receive much input from
his constituents as to whether they care about this issue or not.  Let him know
you care.
     REPRESENTATIVE JAY INSLEE  
     403 Cannon HOB
     Washington DC 20515-4701
     Phone  (202) 225-6311   or  tollfree  1-866-338-1015
     Fax  (202) 226-1606
     E-mail address is at his webpage at http://www.house.gov/inslee/

At the state level:
     Contact your 23rd Legislative District Reps and ask them to support the
Washington Health Security Trust in 2008.  In the State Senate, the bill is
SB-5756, prime sponsor is Senator  Rosa Franklin.  In the House, the bill is
HB-1886, prime sponsor is Rep. Sherry Appleton.
     Senator Phil Rockefeller  -  (360) 786-7644
     Rep. Sherry Appleton  -  (360) 786-7934
     Rep. Christine Rolfes  -  (360) 786-7842
This bill did NOT pass in 2007 because the state legislators weren't sure people
were interested enough in it.  Your call will assure them there is indeed
interest and need.

It's incredible that Inslee doesn't receive feedback from his constituents on this issue.  Let's make that change not just for Inslee but for ALL our elected officials.