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Media Release |
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| For Immediate Release | Contact | Phone |
| September 4, 2009 | Eve Weissman | 732-246-4772 |
| Leo Torrey | 856-966-3091 | |
Health Care Supporters Fill Congressman Bill Pascrell's (NJ-08) Health Care Town Hall Forum
Health Care Providers, Small Business Owners, Labor Leaders, and Hundreds of Concerned New Jersey Residents Sent a Loud and Clear Message to Rep. Pascrell: "Health Care Reform Now — Let's Get it Done!"
Highland Park, NJ — On Thursday, September 3, 2009 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the NJ Health Care For America Now (HCAN) Campaign, NJ Citizen Action, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of NJ, SEIU NJ State Council, BlueWave NJ, the NJ Main Street Alliance, and hundreds of grassroots activists and volunteers from across the State crowded into Montclair State University's Memorial Auditorium for Congressman Bill Pascrell's (NJ-08) Town Hall forum about national health care reform. Over 900 people filled the room. A majority of the crowd wore Health Care for America Now stickers and brought hand-made signs.
Concerned citizens voiced their support for quality, affordable health care for all and told Congressman Pascrell to make sure a public health insurance plan is included in national health reform. Some in the crowd voiced loud opposition but were outnumbered by the hundreds holding up signs calling for reform and a public health insurance option.
The event included a panel of speakers consisting of Wendell Potter, a former senior communications executive at a major health insurance company who spoke about the tactics being employed by the insurance industry to stop real reform that would benefit American citizens; Kelly Conklin, a small business owner and spokesperson for the NJ Main Street Alliance who described how the current health care system burdens small businesses; and Dr. Tony Tarchichi, who gave a physician's plug to the public option.
"We cannot afford to wait any longer," said Eve Weissman, Health Care Campaign Coordinator for New Jersey Citizen Action. "New Jersey residents need real reform including a public health insurance plan. When Congress returns to DC next week it's their job to pass a strong reform bill that provides quality, affordable health care to all."
HR 3200 will make health care more affordable and give everyone more choice in the health insurance marketplace, including the choice of a new public health insurance option.
This was one of hundreds of events taking place nationwide between now and when Members of Congress head back to Washington, DC on September 8th. Hundreds of concerned New Jerseyans came together to call for health insurance reform and demonstrate strong support for a public health insurance plan. They sent a clear message to Congressman Pascrell: "let's get it done now!"
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NJ Health Care For America Now Partners: 1199 SEIU Health Care Workers East, AFL-CIO NJ, AFSCME Council 1, Alliance for Disabled in Action Inc, BlueWave NJ, Central NJ for Change, CWA District One, CWA Local 1032, Democracia Ahora NJ, Family Voices NJ, Garden State Equality, Grassroots4Change, Health Care for All--NJ, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, Hispanic Directors Association of NJ, Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministries of NJ, Mighty Middlesex Advocates, Monmouth For Change, National Alliance for Filipino Concerns, National Association of Social Workers, NJ Chapter, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Education Association, New Jersey Region of the Workmen's Circle/Arbiter Ring, New Jersey West Hudson Valley Council Union for Reform Judaism, New Labor, NEXT STEP, North Jersey Grassroots, Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey Council, SEIU New Jersey State Council, South Jersey Grassroots, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1360, and the Women's Opportunity Center