TELL THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO MAKE MEDICARE FOR ALL PART OF THEIR PLATFORM!

A publication of the California Alliance for Retired Americans

TELL THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE TO MAKE MEDICARE FOR ALL PART OF THEIR PLATFORM!

While the nation’s primaries come to a close, the national debate on how to fix our broken healthcare system continues. Please join the Campaign for a Healthy California, National Nurses United, Labor Campaign for Single Payer, Progressive Democrats of America and Healthcare-NOW! to call on the Democratic Party to include Medicare for All in the official Democratic Platform, which will be voted on at their convention July 25-28.

The United States spends over 2½ times what other industrialized countries spend on healthcare – and while they cover everyone, we still have millions who cannot afford medications or go to the doctor when they need to. We know 58% of all Americans support and 81% of Democrats support Medicare for All.  Those numbers tell us that Medicare for All should be a part of the Democratic Party platform—but it will only happen if we make our voices heard!

Here are 3 steps you can take to get Medicare for All included in the official Democratic Party Platform:

1. Sign our petition to tell the Democratic Party that it’s time to support healthcare for all!

2. Submit your written testimony/story to the Democratic Platform Committee on why they need to include Medicare for All in the official Democratic Platform here.

3. Send your video testimony/story on why we need Medicare for All via Skype to the Democratic Platform Committee here.

Strong collective action is the best way to build a better healthcare system that includes all of us. Please sign our petition today! Thank you for taking the time to make your voice heard!

LA COUNTY DRUG TAKE BACK ORDINANCE FAILS!!!!

PHARMA WINS THIS ROUND

After months of delay tactics by big PhARMA, the LA County Board of Supervisors voted on the drug take back ordinance yesterday.  Instead of passing the ordinance, the Board voted to monitor Walgreens’ pilot project (where they will do take back in a limited number of their pharmacies) and see how it goes.  The Board of Supervisors will then review this pilot in November and possibly reconsider our original ordinance at this time.  To say we are disappointed with this is an understatement.  First, not everyone gets their prescriptions filled at Walgreens. And even if they did, there is no guarantee that there will be a Walgreens near them.  If the Board of Supervisors thinks this will give us some clear indication of how a larger drug take back program in LA County would work – they are sorely mistaken.  This “compromise” is clearly the workings of PhARMA to undermine a real drug take back effort – which they do not want.  But we will not give up.  We will continue to support drug take back efforts in counties around the state and continue to talk with the LA Supervisors to urge them to move behind this terrible decision. A big thank you to all of the CARA folks who called and met with Supervisors and who attended the many hearings in LA.  Let’s take a deep breath and then continue the fight….. Onward!

A couple articles covering this issue in LA (please note how much lobbying money was spent by big pharma):

L.A. County supervisors roll back plans for a drug take-back program

REGISTER FOR A CARA TOWN HALL FORUM

COMING TO A TOWN NEAR YOU IN SEPTEMBER 2016

CARA will soon celebrate our 13th Anniversary. This year, we are doing something a bit different.  Instead of 3 Regional Conventions (we hold statewide conventions in odd years, and regional conventions in even years), we will be hosting 14 Regional Conventions/Town Hall Meetings. Because 2016 is such an important election year, we want to give CARA members throughout the State an opportunity to attend a local event where you can learn about important election issues, meet the candidates running for key offices, sign up for our Seniors Vote 2016! Project, and of course celebrate our work during the year and set priorities for 2017.  This year we have 15 Regional Conventions/Town Hall Forums planned across the state.  You can register for one (or more if you want) for the town hall event in your area.  Click here to register.  All events are $10 and include continental breakfast, box lunch, and more.  We look forward to seeing you in September at the Town Hall nearest you.