Unions & Kay Tillow

Kay Tillow keeps plugging away - I get an email from her a couple times a week saying that this or that union has joined the movement and endorsed HR 676, Rep. John Conyers' bill that would create an American single-payer healthcare system by expanding an improved Medicare system.

Four hundred and twenty union organizations in 48 states have endorsed it, including 107 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 33 state AFL-CIOs (in the order in which they endorsed: 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 & AK).

Today Kay's email reads:

IBT, APWU Locals and Building Trades Council Endorse HR 676

Teamster and Postal worker local unions and another building trades council have all endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).

In New York City, Teamster Local 805 (IBT) has endorsed HR 676, reports Local President Sandy Pope.

In Medford, Oregon, the Southern Oregon Area Local of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has also endorsed the Conyers legislation.

In San Diego, California, the San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council unanimously endorsed HR 676, reports Council President Tom Lemmon.

#30#

So how improved would this "improved" Medicare be? Sounds pretty good. As Kay puts it, 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. The resolution currently has 90 co-sponsors in addition to Conyers. Co-sponsors and bill text are at the Library of Congress's "Thomas."