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In this Washington CAN! e-newsletter, you will find:

  1.  “Call-In Sick” Days in Olympia
  2. MLK Day March on the Capitol a Success!
  3. Looking for a non-solution to the health care crisis?
  4. New Washington CAN! Webpages

http://action.washingtoncan.org

1. “Call-In Sick” Days in Olympia 

 

This legislative session, Washington CAN! is hosting several “Call-In Sick” Days in Olympia. 

 

What’s a “Call-In Sick” Day?  It’s an opportunity for activists from around the state to converge on Olympia calling for comprehensive health care reform. 

 

Will you join us?  Visit http://action.washingtoncan.org to register today! 

 

At a Washington CAN! “Call-In Sick” Day, you will:

 

Upcoming “Call-In Sick” Days:

 

Each day will last from 9AM-4PM in Olympia.  Transportation is available.  Contact us for details.


Register Today!  Visit http://action.washingtoncan.org or call 206.389.0050 x108…because it’s time to secure health care for all!

 

(FINE PRINT: Washington CAN! does not endorse faking illness for grassroots lobbying purposes.  Perhaps, though, you could request the day off work.)

 

2. MLK Day March on the Capitol a Success!

 

Last week Washington CAN! mobilized to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at a March on the State Capitol calling for an end to poverty.  Several hundred people took action during the day calling for secure health care for all, affordable housing, and greater regulation of predatory payday lenders. 

 

The Olympian wrote:

 

Michelle Edwards of Lacey said, "The issues are things that hit home." Edwards' husband is uninsured and her child is on Medicaid, she said. Edwards has been involved with Washington Community Action Network for four years, working toward health insurance for everyone in the state, including people who are self-employed or who work for small businesses.

 

Thanks to everyone who participated!  If you weren’t able to make it, you can still join us at an upcoming “Call-In Sick” Day.  Register today at http://action.washingtoncan.org

 

3. Looking for a non-solution to the health care crisis?

 

Listen to tomorrow’s State of the Union.  During his State of the Union address, President Bush is expected to unveil a new health care proposal.  According to The Washington Post, his plan would impose a new tax on working people with decent employer-sponsored health coverage to finance a tax deduction on coverage purchased individually. 

 

If it doesn’t make much sense to you, you’re not alone.  Paul Krugman offers this analysis in today’s New York Times:

 

The tax code, he [Bush] said, "unwisely encourages workers to choose overly expensive, gold-plated plans. The result is that insurance premiums rise, and many Americans cannot afford the coverage they need."

 

…wow. No economic analysis I'm aware of says that when Peter chooses a good health plan, he raises Paul's premiums. And look at the condescension. Will all those who think they have "gold plated" health coverage please raise their hands?

 

According to press reports, the actual plan is to penalize workers with relatively generous insurance coverage. Just to be clear, we're not talking about the wealthy; we're talking about ordinary workers who have managed to negotiate better-than-average health plans.

 

What's driving all this is the theory, popular in conservative circles but utterly at odds with the evidence, that the big problem with U.S. health care is that people have too much insurance — that there would be large cost savings if people were forced to pay more of their medical expenses out of pocket.

 

…Mr. Bush… is still peddling the fantasy that the free market, with a little help from tax cuts, solves all problems.

 

This latest edition of President Bush non-solutions only increases the importance of advancing real reform on the state level.  Join us.  Come meet with your legislators.  Register today for a “Call-In Sick” Day!

 

 

4. New Washington CAN! Webpages

 

We’re pleased to announce the addition of two new pages on our website. 

 

 

 

We will be updating these pages frequently, so check back often.  We hope these resources will help you track and take action on the issues you care about most. 

 

Solidarity,

 

The Washington CAN! Team

Washington CAN!

 With over 30,000 members across the state, Washington CAN! is the state’s largest grassroots community organization. Washington CAN! fights for progressive social change at the local, state, and national levels, with a focus on issues that most directly affect the lives of Washington residents. Our mission is to achieve economic fairness in order to establish a democratic society characterized by racial and social justice, with respect for diversity, and a decent quality of life for those who reside in Washington State. www.WashingtonCAN.org

 

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