I have bad news, Minnesotans. Today is going to be yet another one of those days that Michele Bachmann is the talk of every single national cable news network broadcast. Every. Single. One.
While this is great for her national profile and for the Fox News hosts looking for guests to fill up their shows, it's not so good for the people of her district. We already know from the Minnesota Independent that many of Bachmann's missed votes coincide with her media appearances. Smart Politics had Bachmann appearing on a media outlet at a rate of once every nine days. The list of places goes on and on of where Michele Bachmann has been instead of doing work for her district. So while she's pushing her narrow agenda with national politicians again today, take a moment to watch our video and share it with friends.
We need everyone on board if we're going to hold right-wing conservative politicians like Michele Bachmann accountable to the working families that they represent. Take a moment to watch the video and share it with friends, and then join us in fighting back against the Tea Party's narrow minded agenda.
Yesterday, around 150 Minnesotans gathered outside of UnitedHealth Group's headquarters in Minnetonka to protest the insurance industry's efforts to block health care reform while it continues to make record profits. The demonstration was part of a national day-of-action effort organized under the theme "Big Insurance: Sick of It."
MINNETONKA - When many Americans can’t afford basic health care, is one insurance company executive worth $744 million? That’s the question demonstrators asked Tuesday outside the headquarters of UnitedHealth Group, one of the nation’s largest insurers.
“We have a question for (United Health CEO) Stephen Hemsley,” said the Rev. Grant Stevensen. “How much is enough?”
In Minnesota, protests were held at UnitedHealth in Minnetonka and OptumHealth in Duluth. Minnesotans also participated in a rally at the Blue Cross Blue Shield offices in Fargo, N.D.
“We need to shed light on the fact the insurance companies are profiting on our losses,” said Laura Askelin, president of the Southeast Area Labor Council in Rochester. “They’re making money off sick and dying people.”
Our friends at the Minnesota AFL-CIO have a wrap-up of all the "Sick of It" events across the state, including video of many of the speakers.
Marchers carried seven hundred and forty-four green balloons emblazoned with white dollar signs--symbolic of the $744 million in unexercised stock options held by UnitedHealth CEO Stephen J. Hemsley. They performed an action in front of the UnitedHealth lobby that you can watch in the above video. In addition to the green balloons, MNA nurse Diane Johnson and ISIAIAH Pastor Grant Stevenson carried a blown up policy document, asking that Hemsley sign the pledge to support real health care reform. The pledge demands that UnitedHealth Group:
Not stand between a doctor and a patient when it comes to deciding what care that patient needs.
Not deny coverage or raise rates for individuals or businesses based on a pre-existing condition and end arbitrary caps on payments for necessary medical care.
Terminate any policy or incentive that rewards employees financially or otherwise for denying care and rejecting claims.
Not use any resources--including funds, employees, and facilities--to lobby against and oppose aspect of the health reform proposals supported by President Obama and being considered by members of the United States Congress, including but not limited to a national public health insurance option available on day one.
The corporate bureaucrat that met the group stated that she would review and show the demands to the CEO, but was unable to give a date in which UnitedHealth Group would give a response.
A short rally was held after the above events and you can view a slideshow of photos from it here.
You can track tweets from across the country about the Big Insurance: Sick of It campaign on Twitter, just use the hashtag #sickofit.
WASHINGTON, DC – On Saturday, September 12, 2009, President Barack Obama will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to hold a rally on health insurance reform.
In Minneapolis on Saturday, President Obama will discuss what’s at stake for the American people in this debate – why we need health insurance reform and why we need to act now.
President Obama’s health insurance reform plan has two goals—to bring stability and security to Americans who have insurance today, and affordable coverage to those who don’t. And his plan will bring reforms that will reduce the unsustainable growth in the cost of health care, which has doubled in the last decade and will again, unless we act.
Rally on Health Insurance Reform with President Barack Obama
Target Center 600 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55403
Doors Open: 9:30 am CT Program start time: 12:30 pm CT
This event is free and open to the public. Space is available on a first come, first serve basis. No ticket is required.
All attendees will go through airport-like security and should bring as few personal items as possible. No bags, no sharp objects, no umbrellas, no liquids, no strollers, and no signs will be allowed into the venue. Cameras are permitted.
Photo: Barack Obama in Minneapolis in February 2008, via BarackObamaDotCom.
After yesterday's rally celebrating the end of the 2008 elections and welcoming Minnesota's second Senator, Al Franken, Denise Cardinal, ABM's Executive Director, shared the following note:
Yesterday, a huge crowd of Minnesotans came out and joined Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, and Amy Klobuchar to finally welcome Minnesota's second Senator to the job.
In case you couldn't make it, here are a couple of photos:
Now that the wait for our second Senator is over, the real work begins. During Senator Franken's speech, he called on Minnesotans to keep organizing and to keep holding their elected officials accountable.
Well, Alliance for a Better Minnesota plans on doing just that.
Over the next few years, we are going to face many challenges -- including restoring the economy to make it work for middle-class families again, reforming our broken health care system, and solving the climate crisis.
We expect all of our elected officials, including Senator Franken, to fight for working families and not the special interests; to fight quality, affordable health care for every American; to fight for good-paying green jobs that can't be shipped overseas; and to fight for an education system that truly leaves no child behind.
It won't be easy, but with your continued support, we can rebuild the middle class and create a better Minnesota for working families.
Thank you,
Denise Cardinal Executive Director Alliance for a Better Minnesota
Caregivers and supporters of long-term care services for older adults will rally Tuesday at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to make funding for these services a priority in the state budget
The rally will run from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, in the rotunda of the state Capitol, St. Paul.
“The Legislature and Governor set rates for nursing homes,” organizers said. “As legislators finalize the budget, it's important that we remind them to prioritize older adult services and the jobs, economic and community stability they bring to the state.”
According to MNCN, Under Pawlenty's plan, 4,300 Minnesotans who are disabled or elderly would not longer be eligible for home- and community-based waiver services, which allow them access home-based health care services instead of living in the more expensive and confining institutional settings. This includes the 1,100 Minnesota seniors who would be cut off form Medical Assistance.
The rally will include caregivers, consumers, legislators, mayors, and family members, organizers said. Several dozen organizations are sponsoring the event, including AARP, Minnesota Senior Federation, Seniors and Workers for Quality, Minnesota Nurses Association and the Union Coalition of Long-Term Care Workers.
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