Registered nurses, physicians and healthcare activists delivered an emphatic protest before the Senate Finance Committee for its failure to open discussion on healthcare reform to nurses, doctors and other advocates of single-payer, guaranteed healthcare for all, while continuing to provide a red carpet to big insurance companies and other healthcare industry interests.

Five were arrested - two RNs, members of the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association, two physicians, members of Physicians for a National Health Program, and a patient activist with PNHP and Health Care Now – after vocally challenging the committee for what they called a stacked process against real debate.

Marking the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, some 40 other RNs staged a silent protest – standing before the committee in red nursing scrubs and turning their backs to show signs reading "Nurses Say: Patients First. Stop AHIP. Pass Single-Payer."  AHIP, America's Health Insurance Plans, is the private insurance industry lobby arm that is given a regular voice by the Committee, chaired by Sen. Max Baucus, which is in the forefront of discussion on a health plan.

"What a disgrace that RNs and physicians are shut out and arrested while the insurance industry is given a seat at the table. We would expect that from the Bush administration, not in the time of the Obama administration," said NNOC/CNA Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro. "The Baucus Committee can arrest nurses, but they cannot silence the voices of RNs who will continue to speak from their hearts on behalf of their patients who want and deserve real reform."

Standing up in the audience and speaking before she was arrested, Sue Cannon, RN, said, "don't guarantee drug profits, guarantee healthcare. We're entrusted to care for our patients, and we can't do that without single-payer, guaranteed healthcare. We need no more Blue Crosses and double crosses."

"In honor of Florence Nightingale, patients need access to healthcare. We need to protect our patients, we need single-payer now," said NNOC/CNA Board member DeAnn McEwen, RN.

It was the second consecutive week of protests and arrests at the Finance Committee. Eight were arrested last week for speaking out on behalf of single-payer/guaranteed healthcare.

Tuesday morning's protest was also the kickoff of two national days of actions by RNs from across the U.S., coinciding with National Nurses Week. 

Upcoming events: