Health care group launches
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2008 2:47 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC’s Alex Wall
WASHINGTON -- A coalition of left-leaning groups launched a $40 million campaign aimed at pressuring the next president and Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform in 2009, representatives of the group, Health Care for America Now, announced today in a news conference at the National Press Club.
The group’s president, Richard Kirsch, said the campaign will kick off today in 52 cities across the country and has the support of more than 100 national and state-based groups that represent labor, community organizations, doctors, nurses, women, small businesses, faith-based organizations, minority groups, Netroots activists and think tanks.
"We are here today to announce a new movement in America," Kirsch said. "We are committed to working together to provide affordable, high quality health care."
Kirsch emphasized that the group’s goal is to "mobilize millions of Americans to demand that the first order of business of the next President and Congress is to enact quality, affordable health care for all in 2009."
Kirsch said the campaign will be asking every member of Congress to declare whether they are "on our side or the side of the health insurance industry."
No endorsement of Obama’s or McCain's plans: Kirsch said the group has not endorsed any particular plan, but will fight for a plan that incorporates the campaign's core principles. Its principles include creating a system where no one is left out, affordability, choice between private and public plans, a national standard of health benefits covered and equity in health care access for "communities of color.”
Campaign ad: The group also released an ad today that highlights Americans' frustration with the health insurance agency and calls for immediate action. "Americans know that we cannot trust the health care industry to clean up the mess," Kirsch said. The group plans to spend $25 million in paid media over the next five months.
Also speaking at the event were Gerald McEntee (AFSCME), Anna Burger (SEIU), Jeff Blum (USAction, executive director), Reg Weaver (NEA president), Joseph Hansen (UFCW), David White (mechanic shop owner), David T. Tayloe, Jr., MD (American Academy of Pediatrics), Cecile Richards (Planned Parenthood), Marcia Greenberger (NWLC) and Eli Pariser (MoveOn), who all threw their organizations' support behind the campaign.
Kirsch stressed that this "vast coalition" highlights a key difference between this campaign and attempts at health care reform in the early 90s. He cited the "Harry and Louise" ad from that time period as proof that times have changed.
"What's different now...we didn't have as big of a national campaign [as we do now]," Kirsch said. "There's a hunger for this change."
Elizabeth Edwards, who was supposed to speak at the press conference but instead attended late Sen. Jesse Helms' funeral, issued the following statement:
"Millions of Americans are sitting around their kitchen table at night, wondering why it is so difficult to afford the basics these days -- especially health care. They come from all walks of life, but they have one thing in common: they know our health care system is broken, and they want a fair, common-sense solution that makes quality coverage affordable for everyone. Our mission is to make sure their voices get heard in Washington D.C., and everywhere else."
