02-19-2009, 07:25 PM
Thanks for Speaking Out!
Thanks to everyone who contacted the list of U.S. Senators and Republican House members from Michigan that was published in the last issue of the Headlight. We didn’t win with the vote in the Senate. But finally, after eight years, President George W. Bush did the right thing by releasing money from the TARP fund to temporarily fund GM and Chrysler.
Health Care Watch
General Motors has missed the last two deadlines for funding the retirees’ health care VEBA. It is rumored that the UAW may be forced to take an equity stake in the fund, meaning GM would fund the VEBA with GM stock instead of cash. Retiree health care could be in trouble in the future.
Therefore, it is in our best interest to take an active role now to promote “single-payer” universal healthcare as provided by Congressman John Conyers’ bill HR 676. You may remember reading my articles about the single payer system and HR 676 last year. I also helped organize a forum with the Progressive Democrats of Genesee County at the University of Michigan-Flint about a year ago. The panel included Conyers and Congressman Kildee, who spoke about this health care bill.
President-elect Obama has been taking comments on his website change.org about the issue. He is a proponent of universal health care. However, he is not a proponent of the single-payer health care system. Single-payer is the standard for universal health care around the world. It is the only plan that eliminates for-profit private insurance companies.
Tom Daschle, who is Obama’s nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, and also Obama’s point man for universal health care, leads Obama’s Health Policy Transition Team. They have been asking for input as they reform health care. In Flint, there were two meetings over the holidays held by HealthCare-NOW! Of Genesee County, and local comments were reported to the Transition Team as it formulates a national health care policy. By eliminating employer-paid health care, our manufacturing sector will much better able to compete with other countries, which already offer national health care. During the auto bridge loan hearings, it was stated that the Big Three had a $1,200 disadvantage per vehicle because they provide health care for their workers and retirees. Now it is time to level the playing field. Here is why the UAW should join other unions in support of the single-payer health care system and specifically House Resolution 676 (HR 676), the United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act). It 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 substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long-term care.
Remember To Call MARVIN
Don’t forget to call MARVIN on your hit day.
January Office Hours
Most of the site is down for January, so if you need to contact me, call (810) 238-1616 ext. 15 and my voice mail will tell you what days I will be in the hall this month.
Thanks to everyone who contacted the list of U.S. Senators and Republican House members from Michigan that was published in the last issue of the Headlight. We didn’t win with the vote in the Senate. But finally, after eight years, President George W. Bush did the right thing by releasing money from the TARP fund to temporarily fund GM and Chrysler.
Health Care Watch
General Motors has missed the last two deadlines for funding the retirees’ health care VEBA. It is rumored that the UAW may be forced to take an equity stake in the fund, meaning GM would fund the VEBA with GM stock instead of cash. Retiree health care could be in trouble in the future.
Therefore, it is in our best interest to take an active role now to promote “single-payer” universal healthcare as provided by Congressman John Conyers’ bill HR 676. You may remember reading my articles about the single payer system and HR 676 last year. I also helped organize a forum with the Progressive Democrats of Genesee County at the University of Michigan-Flint about a year ago. The panel included Conyers and Congressman Kildee, who spoke about this health care bill.
President-elect Obama has been taking comments on his website change.org about the issue. He is a proponent of universal health care. However, he is not a proponent of the single-payer health care system. Single-payer is the standard for universal health care around the world. It is the only plan that eliminates for-profit private insurance companies.
Tom Daschle, who is Obama’s nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, and also Obama’s point man for universal health care, leads Obama’s Health Policy Transition Team. They have been asking for input as they reform health care. In Flint, there were two meetings over the holidays held by HealthCare-NOW! Of Genesee County, and local comments were reported to the Transition Team as it formulates a national health care policy. By eliminating employer-paid health care, our manufacturing sector will much better able to compete with other countries, which already offer national health care. During the auto bridge loan hearings, it was stated that the Big Three had a $1,200 disadvantage per vehicle because they provide health care for their workers and retirees. Now it is time to level the playing field. Here is why the UAW should join other unions in support of the single-payer health care system and specifically House Resolution 676 (HR 676), the United States National Health Insurance Act (or the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act). It 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 substance abuse), vision care, chiropractic and long-term care.
Remember To Call MARVIN
Don’t forget to call MARVIN on your hit day.
January Office Hours
Most of the site is down for January, so if you need to contact me, call (810) 238-1616 ext. 15 and my voice mail will tell you what days I will be in the hall this month.