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Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Proponents of Health Care Reform Gather for Change
by Greg Majewski, published on September 22, 2009 at 8:45PM
Storyline: Politics
Activists for health care reform gathered in front of the Blue Cross building across from the Capitol Tuesday.
Amidst cries of "Blue Cross, you're no good; treat the people like you should," the 100 people in attendance marched in a wide oval on the sidewalk. After a half hour of alternating rallying cheers, Laurie Comstock was invited to speak to the crowd. She told her personal story of how the health care system impacted her.
"I lost my health care in August when it almost doubled from $260 to $450," Comstock said over the megaphone. "It became too much for me to afford, so I had to drop it."
After her speech, organizer Lino Pedres of SEIU read a new policy drafted for Blue Cross and other health care providers. He then announced that he and a few volunteers would enter the building to deliver the proposal. Roughly five minutes later the volunteers appeared again, telling the gathering that security would not let them into the main offices to speak with anybody.
The main stipulation of the policy is as follows: "Wellpoint/Blue Cross will not use any resources -- including funds, employees, and facilities to oppose any aspect of the health care reform proposals supported by President Obama and being considered by members of the United States Congress."
Pedres stayed and continued his attempt to get access, but was unsuccessful.
Once the rally ended and the people dispersed, Comstock explained her situation in more detail.
"I am a self-employed deposition court reporter," she said. "After they raised my monthly costs, they also made me pay $1600 out of pocket just for continued coverage. I had never had a medical bill that was that much, so I figured it was not worth the cost."
She also explained struggles in other states.
"I have a friend in Oregon who actually comes down here every three months now to deal with bigger, more expensive procedures, because they cost even more there" she said.
While Pedres is covered under SEIU's plan, he is fighting for those who are not so fortunate.
"It is very difficult to have to take children to the hospital with no health insurance," Pedres said. "We are protesting against the companies' prevention of everyone getting health care. I don't care how we figure it out, one way or another, but coverage should be provided for those who need it."
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"There's no way in hell I'm cancelling my cable or my cell phone coverage" An exasperated Comstock sputtered."I just got an iPhone! Do you know how awesome it is to.. hold up just got a text. Oh great! Someone just twittered about this rally wooo hoo!"
Comstock then darted to her SUV and peeled out of the parking lot.
The deficit as a percent of the economy is the key thing to watch. President Clinton left the White House with the federal budget in surplus. President George W. Bush turned that surplus into a deficit. The spike in the federal deficit over the past year is in the main a result of Main St., taxpayers on the left, center and right, bailing out Wall St. These big firms contribute about equally to Democrats and Republicans.
This is Astro turf with vary little public support to back it up... why else would Congress jam so called reform thru without even giving the Senators time to read it?
Health care reform yes... but the RIGHT kind of reform:
http://healthcare.cato.org