Nurses Organizing Committee Joins 'Week of Action' California Efforts

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: https://pdamerica.org