7th District Health Care Reformers Vow Stepped-Up Campaign to Convince Rep. Markey to Co-Sponsor HR 676

Medford, MA - On May 11, a group of more than 50 prominent Seventh District constituents sent a letter urging Rep. Ed Markey (D) to co-sponsor HR 676, the national Medicare-for-All bill.

The letter concluded: "Whatever health reform Congress does consider, we believe needs to be held up in comparison with a single-payer plan as the "gold-standard" for cost-efficient, equitable, and universal care. We need your leadership in supporting and advancing this ideal, and building momentum for truly sustainable, universal health care in this country."

The letter also requested an in-district meeting and on May 20, a delegation of 18 people from seven cities and towns in the Seventh District went to Rep. Markey's Medford office to make the case for single payer reform. The group met with Markey's District Director Mark Gallagher and Congressional Aide Patrick Lally.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Wayne Altman and his son Akash Altman (Woburn), Dave Bjorkman (Malden) a machinist at General Electric Company, John Blanchard (Natick), Mary Burke (Natick), James Herbert (Winchester), Cheryl Hirshman (Lincoln), Dr. Mary Foley (Woburn), Rick Goldberg (Winchester), Ed Goodstein (Malden), Karla O'Brien (Belmont), former State Rep. Anne Paulsen (Belmont), Marlie Wilson (Lincoln) and Dr. Gordon Winchell (Lincoln). Jobs with Justice Health Care Action Committee members Ben Day (MassCare), Rand Wilson (JWJ), Alex Brown (IUE-CWA Local 201 and CWA statewide health care coordinator), and Sandy Eaton, RN (Mass Nurses Association) also attended.

The meeting concluded without a commitment from Rep. Markey to co-sponsor HR 676. The group pledged to return to both Rep. Markey's Malden and Framingham district offices to kick off a Seventh District campaign for HR 676 on Wednesday, May 27 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. At the campaign kick-off events, health care reform leaders will brief the news media and then distribute a leaflet urging constituents to contact Rep. Markey in support of HR 676.

Pictures from the meeting may be viewed by clicking here.

For more information, contact MassCare's Ben Day at (617) 777-3422.