Action Alert: Call The White House: Let Single Payer In

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who made calls or sent faxes.
As of now we know that among the 120 people invited to the White House Health Summit there are two single payer advocates:

• Representative John Conyers the lead sponsor for HR-676 and
• Dr. Oli Fein the president of PNHP.

So far as we know, CNA/NNOC are still being shut-out, on the basis that they are already represented by the AFL-CIO, according to a Congressional Quarterly report from this afternoon. No word about HealthCare-Now or Progressive Democrats of America or Public Citizen, or the dozens of other groups that are part of the leadership coalition for single payer.

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In addition to the phone calls and emails by lots of us, PNHP had been planning a rally, wearing our doctors' White Coats at the White House, to call attention to being left out. Maybe all this helped. Or maybe it was theater all along: they say no, we complain, they let in a token representation, but no change in policy is made. We shall see!?!

On Thursday, March 5, 2009, the White House will host a summit on how to reform the healthcare system.

The 120 invited guests include lobbyists for various interest groups including the private-for-profit insurance industry (AHIP), some members of Congress including Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus who has already ruled single payer “off the table,” and various others concerned with healthcare.

No single payer advocates have been invited to attend.

Please urge President Obama to fulfill his promise for transparency and openness in government

Call The White House (202) 456-1414 or (202) 456-1111.

Tell them to let single payer into the White House Summit on healthcare.