Leo Gerard’s tribute to Marilyn Clement

All of us in the labor movement who have battled for decades to secure healthcare for all Americans deeply mourn the passing of one of our dearest colleagues, Marilyn Clement. She will be sorely missed, not only because of her leadership in our struggle for healthcare justice, but also because of her warm, personal demeanor…

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Data Reveals California’s Private Insurers Deny 21% of Claims

From Democracy NOW! – President Obama begins his final drive for healthcare reform tonight with a nationally televised prime-time address to a joint session of Congress. His speech comes after an explosive August recess consumed by raucous town halls and talk of government-run “death panels.” We take a look at California’s “real death panels.” That’s…

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The Lion Sleeps Tonight

By Helen Redmond for Counter Punch – Spoiler alert: this is not a fawning, gushing, lie-filled eulogy of Saint Edward Kennedy. Read no further if you believe the “Liberal Lion” or as I prefer to call him, the “Lion King,” actually made this country a healthier, more equitable place to live in. You have been…

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A puzzled Canadian ponders surreal U.S. health-care debate

Why are Americans distorting the reality of Canada’s most prized social program? By Alastair Rickard for the Toronto Star – Earlier this year, before the political battle over health-care reform in the U.S. reached its current fever pitch, I was in Tuscaloosa answering questions from University of Alabama business students. They were interested in my…

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Sick and Wrong

How Washington is screwing up health care reform – and why it may take a revolt to fix it By Matt Taibbi for Rolling Stone – Let’s start with the obvious: America has not only the worst but the dumbest health care system in the developed world. It’s become a black leprosy eating away at…

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Labor Councils in Tennessee, Texas and Minnesota Endorse HR 676

Four central labor councils in Tennessee, Texas and Minnesota have endorsed HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI). One hundred and thirty four central labor councils and area labor federations have now endorsed HR 676. In Tennessee, the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle Tennessee has endorsed HR 676,…

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Giving Single-Payer a Second Look

By Rep. Anthony Weiner – As President Obama prepares to address the nation about his vision for health care reform, we should not overlook the last, best truly transformative change to our health care system: Medicare. We have been staring so intently at the lessons of 1993 that we may have forgotten the universal rule…

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