WASHINGTON - April 17 -  The California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee has signed on with Progressive Democrats of America as a co-sponsor of a series of “Healthcare NOT Warfare” events in California next week, leading up to that state’s annual Democratic Party convention starting April 25.

The effort will highlight and build grassroots support for HR 676 by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), which would set up a single-payer healthcare system in the U.S.

“We are very happy to be joined by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee for this exciting and important project,” said PDA National Director Tim Carpenter. The committee will be providing organizational support and speakers and panelists for the week’s events, Carpenter said.

The week will kick off on Monday, with Carpenter and PDA California State Coordinator Dr. Bill Honigman conducting a Healthcare NOT Warfare town hall meeting in Corona.

On Tuesday, April 21, Carpenter, Honigman and representatives of allied organizations will be featured at a Healthcare NOT Warfare rally in Orange County.

On Wednesday, April 22, the action will shift to Santa Monica, where Carpenter will be joined by PDA Board Chair Mimi Kennedy, Board Member Tom Hayden and Healthcare NOT Warfare Co-Chair Norman Solomon for a Healthcare NOT Warfare forum. 

On Thursday, April 23, Carpenter, Kennedy, Solomon and Honigman will be featured at a forum in Santa Barbara.

The week’s events will culminate on Friday, April 25, with the California Progressive Democrats Open-Mic Lunch at Ambrosia Cafe in Sacramento, three blocks from the Convention Center where the state Democratic Party will be holding its annual convention starting that day.

The lunch will feature a discussion among PDA national and state leadership, the California Democratic Progressive Caucus and activists on healthcare issues and organizing, and then hear Michael Lighty of the Nurses Association committee present plans for a major rally and lobby day in support of HR 676 on May 13 in Washington DC.

Carpenter notes that experience in other countries has shown that single-payer is the only system that can provide universal coverage while lowering costs, and it would create an estimated 2.6 million jobs in healthcare and related industries in the U.S.

Other reform plans under consideration in Congress and the Obama administration are basically expansions of the current system of private health insurance, Carpenter said, “but healthcare corporations exist to make profits for their shareholders, not to provide healthcare. As long as they are part of the equation, real reform will elude us.”

Progressive Democrats of America is one of the nation’s fastest-growing grassroots political organizations; it has active chapters in 45 states. PDA is dedicated to reviving the progressive tradition of the Democratic Party through grassroots organizing and working with elected Democrats to advance peace, justice and social, economic and environmental responsibility. More information is available at: http://pdamerica.org