Big Capitol Hill rally for health care

Thousands of grassroots activists and labor workers from across the country flooded Capitol Hill Thursday for a high-volume rally for health care reform.

The rally came as President Barack Obama’s plan encounters its toughest resistance on Capitol Hill yet. Republicans are mounting stiff opposition to a public option, and members of both parties have sticker shock over the projected costs of reform.

Supporters vowed Thursday not to back down.

AFSCME President Gerry McEntee and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) urged supporters to lobby their members of Congress to support a reform bill – and told them not to let well-funded health industry opponents bring the effort to a halt.

“Let it be known that our opposition will fight hard, they will fight dirty, they will outspend us,” said McEntee.

“The private health care industry will not hijack this process,” Brown said. “We’re counting on you…to persuade, to cajole, to do whatever you do to get a public option.”

Read it all at POLITICO.com