H.R.676-the United States National Health Insurance Act
February 9, 2008 by cornerhousecomments
Health care has been one of the major issues of this current presidential campaign. Minnesota Central, a frequent visitor to Corner House comments, has left a comment about one of my previous posts which mentioned this issue and H. R. 676. Introduced by Representative John Conyers (D), of Michigan, HR 676 would institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.
A recent email from Unions for a Single Payer described H. R. 676 as this:
HR 676 would cover every person in the U. S. for all necessary medical
care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient
services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental
health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including for
substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long term care. HR 676
ends deductibles and co-payments. HR 676 would save billions annually by
eliminating the high overhead and profits of the private health insurance
industry and HMOs.
HR 676 currently has 88 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. Currently, the only member of the Minnesota congressional delegation that I am aware of to sign on as a co-sponsor is Rep. Keith Ellison, (DFL) from the 5th CD.
HR 676 has been endorsed by 367 union organizations in 48 states including
95 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 32 state
AFL-CIO’s (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV, SD, NC, MO,
MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN, AL & CA). The Minnesota AFL-CIO is one of the state federations that has passed a resolution of support.
UPDATE: 02/10/2008: additional endorsers of HR676 in Minnesota include: Duluth Central Labor Body/AFL-CIO, Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE), Southern Dakota County Labor Council/ AFL-CIO, Apple Valley, MN, Minnesota State Council of Machinists, IAMAW, Vandais Heights, MN, Council 5, AFSCME, St. Paul, MN, and United Steelworkers (USW) Region 10 (which includes Minnesota).
Jason over at IDHA takes a look at the issue and the recent recommendations from the Minnesota’s task force appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
It is always good to have thoughtful dialogue about the issues but I think we have about maxed out on dialogue, task forces, and commissions. The health care system is not a crisis, it is a disaster! Conyers’s H. R. 676 is ready to act on whenever our political leaders decide to stop talking and start passing legislation.
Contact your representatives and tell them to support H. R. 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act.
Peace & solidarity,
CHC
[...] HR676-the United States NationalHealthInsurance Act [...]
[...] 2/10/08* Corner House Comments writes his analysis of H.R. 676, the most well-known push for universal healthcare at the federal [...]
where is alabama!!!! i think this is a good thing! I contacted our senater ! he replyed! it would raise taxes on the people! well if you took all the money people spend on insurance,perscriptions,co-pays,plus money out of pockets that the insurance does not cover and peoples life! well there you have it! some people don’t think of other people! GOD help us all come judgment day! because we’re suppost to help our fellow man!