PEORIA -- Health care activists gathered on May 2 in Peoria and elsewhere throughout Illinois to begin a campaign influence their legislators to support affordable, accessible health insurance coverage for all.
In Peoria, they're fighting an uphill battle: to influence Republican Cong. Aaron Schock to vote for health coverage reform.
Schock is the right-wing son of a physician who sought to avoid paying taxes by setting up offshore tax shelters later termed illegal by the IRS (see stories below). Schock predictably voted against the stimulus bill and other progressive legislation, though he recently did support a watered-down credit card reform bill.
But these activists have come up with an interesting strategy: Schock claims to be for small businesses. So small business owners swallowed hard and came together, in Peoria, to plead for health coverage reform. Most have no coverage or very expensive, inadequate coverage. Several made statements at the news conference.
They're also asking Schock and others to participate in upcoming public meetings on health care reform in their districts. In Peoria, it's May 28 at a place to be announced.
The Urbana-based group Campaign for Better Health Care organized the May 2 speak out/news conferences.
Volunteers also have been mobilized to go door-to-door distributing pamphlets asking the public to call Schock and other legislators, to pressure him into supporting sensible reform.
In a news release, the Campaign stated: Over half of the private work force takes home a small business paycheck. From family farms to internet startups, the ingenuity and hard work of America's dynamic small businesses create three quarters of our new jobs year after year. Our health care crisis is bad for the economy and cripples the American dream of owning your own business. The success or failure of a business should depend on innovation and hard work - not the cost of health insurance.
In the news release, Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign, stated: Health care is the key to economic security and opportunity, and our legislators need to make guaranteed access to quality, affordable health care for all their number one priority right now when everyone needs it the most. We invite them to come to the health care reform town hall meeting in their area during the week of May 26th to hear from their constituents and to let their constituents know where they stand on this issue.
This will be an interesting chance to see whether Schock will show up at the meeting and vote in Congress for reform.
Events like these also spread awareness of how political issues affect real people.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Full disclosure: I plan to pass out pamphlets in my neighborhood, as this issue is the most important challenge the US faces, and people need to become aware of it.
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