Interested in single-payer health care? Consider a visit to Sacramento tomorrow

While it remains to be seen whether single-payer health care will be a part of President Obama's healthcare-reform initiative, many Californians remain interested in the idea. If you're among them, an opportunity forwarded from V4CF member James Williams may be up your alley:

California's landmark single payer bill (we call it California OneCare) launches its legislative journey next Wednesday in Sacramento.

SB 810 (formerly SB 840), authored by State Senator Mark Leno (SF), will be heard by the Senate Health Committee at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in Room 4203 at the State Capitol in Sacramento.

This is the first step in the process of getting SB 810 through the Senate and then the Assembly. And a huge turnout of supporters is vital.

We want to pack the hearing room to show strong public support. If you can attend, we recommend you get to Room 4203 well before 1:30 p.m.

This campaign won't be easy. There are many new Senators and Assembly Members who must be educated about single payer. There are other health care reform bills that are being considered but there is only one true reform bill that will bring full care, for all, for less.

PLUS, here are two more actions you can take to help us pass this legislation.

Action #1:
Contact organizations to send SB 810 endorsements on their letterhead stationary.

Organizations that supported Senator Sheila Kuehl's SB 840 need to send a new letter of support for SB 810.

Mail support letter to:

Senator Mark Leno
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Or fax your support letter to: (916) 445-4722

A sample organizational endorsement letter is also posted at www.healthcareforall.org under "act now-organizing".

Action #2:
Send your own individual letter of support for SB 810 to your State Senator and to Senator Elaine Alquist, chair of the Senate Health Committee.

1. Identify your own State Senator online by visiting http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html

2. Mail support letter to:

Senator Elaine Alquist
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814
Or fax support letter to: (916) 324-0283

A sample individual endorsement letter is also posted at www.healthcareforall.org under "act now-organizing"

Thank you for your continued support. WE WILL WIN.

Dan Hodges
Chair, Health Care for All--California

OneCareNow.org Campaign for SB 810 is a Project of Health Care for All--California