ACTION ALERT
SB810 ON ASSEMBLY FLOOR – LAST STOP BEFORE GOVERNOR’S DESK!
Dear PNHP California Activists,
Below is a copy of the letter we sent today on behalf of PNHP California urging Speaker John Perez to continue to work hard to put SB810 on the governor’s desk.
Please write your own letter today and mail or fax it to your own Assemblymember AND to Speaker Perez. You can find the name and capitol address of your legislators at http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset9.htm.
Please write your letter in your own words and include a personal story about how our current health care system has impacted your ability to provide health care, or your patients’ health.
Write your letters today! The Assembly floor vote could happen any time, and the legislative session is scheduled to end on August 31st.
August 17, 2010
The Honorable John Perez
Speaker, California State Assembly
State Capitol
PO Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0046
Dear Speaker Perez:
On behalf of Physicians for a National Health Program California (PNHP Cal), I want to thank you for your continued strong support for single payer, universal health care and for SB 810, the California Universal Health Care Act. We respectfully request that you keep up your hard work to put this bill on the Governor’s desk this year.
This past year Congress had a choice – to reform our health care system by expanding Medicare to all, or to apply more band-aids to our broken employer based private health insurance system. Congress chose the latter approach, which has been likened to adding a third floor to a house with a crumbling foundation. California is now uniquely positioned to create and implement a single payer health insurance system in our state that can lead the way for the rest of the nation.
Single payer remains the gold standard for health care reform and is the only model that will achieve truly universal coverage. SB 810 will dramatically reduce premiums for businesses and families, cover all medically necessary health care, eliminate the risk of medical bankruptcy, and contain health care spending over the long term. Importantly, SB 810 will save California businesses and state and local government millions of dollars in employee health care costs and is the only plan that responsibly funds retiree health care.
As we know from past experience, passage of SB810 by the legislature does not guarantee that it will be signed into law. However, we and our allies will continue to fight each year, for as long as it takes, to bring about quality health care for all residents of California through a fiscally responsible single payer system. We urge you to lead the way.
Sincerely,
William Skeen, MD/MPH
Executive Director