The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Laura Bonham, Communications Coordinator, Laura@pdamerica.org,
(435) 336-2123
Tim Carpenter,  National Director, Tim@pdamerica.org, (413)-320-2015

Kudos From Conyers as PDA Brings Single-Payer Outreach to the OC

ORANGE, Calif.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) has commended
Progressive Democrats of America for its grassroots leadership and
effort on behalf of HR 676, his legislation to set up a single-payer
healthcare system in the U.S., and PDA's efforts will only intensify in
the coming days.

PDA
has sponsored several events across the country and is organizing a
"Week of Action" beginning April 18 that will see town halls, forums,
screenings and rallies in dozens of towns and cities across the U.S.

As part of the Week of Action, PDA will hold a Healthcare NOT Warfare Town Hall Meeting
on Tuesday, April 21, at the Teamsters Local #952 in Orange beginning
at 6:30 p.m. PDA's National Director Tim Carpenter and PDA California
State Coordinator Dr. Bill Honigman will be joined for the town hall by
Patrick Kelly, Teamsters Local #952 secretary/treasurer and executive
officer, and Bill Hedrick, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 44th District.

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

"PDA
remains committed to the single-payer solution, and we will continue to
push for it inside and outside the beltway," said Carpenter.

PDA's efforts drew these comments from Rep. Conyers, in an email to PDA members:

"I wanted you to know how grateful I am to you folks in PDA for joining
with me in our fight for single-payer health care for everyone.

"Three
weeks ago, I traveled to western Massachusetts, where I was hosted by
Tim Carpenter and the Progressive Democrats of America in front of an
enthusiastic crowd of more than 800 people committed to single-payer
health care for all.

"It was such a wonderful event
that I was moved to do something elected politicians rarely do. I
pulled out my own personal checkbook, and made my own donation to PDA!"

Progressive Democrats of America was founded in 2004 to transform the Democratic Party and U.S. politics by working inside and outside of the party by working to elect empowered progressives and by building the progressive movement in solidarity with with peace, justice, civil rights, environmental, and other reform efforts. For more information about PDA, please see PDAmerica.org.