This is the summary of the Single Payer Task Force meeting last Sunday, Dec. 9thDave Cohen, Judy Atkins, Jim Thornley, Judith Maloney, JR
Developing an action agenda for the coming year. Dave and my report on what’s happening with Mass-Care (the statewide org) We are rebuilding the Board with Western Mass activistsWe are developing plans to build groups in State Rep districts in the rest of the state. Unite-Here has joined the Board – they are a statewide union – just won a contract for Hotel workers. We want to recruit more union partners, MNA; MTA, etc. We will be reintroducing the “Medicare for All” legislation – meeting with Sen.Eldridge and Rep. Garlick this Tuesday.
Lobby Day – there will be a Lobby Day at the State House the second or third week of January. We can hire a van like we did last year. The purpose of the Lobby Day is to gather co-sponsors for the new bill.
SPTF – Expanding into the Berkshires and East to OrangeWe will be meeting on Jan. 14 with Indivisible PittsfieldMeeting with Athol/Orange State Rep. Susannah Whips. Date not yet set.
Town Meetings in April – Can we pass resolutions in other Towns this year?
Trying out how to answer anti-Medicare for All propagandaThere has been an organized attack on the national Medicare for All movement. We need to prepare material and/or hold meetings answering these attacks.For example, “Will Medicare for All make hospitals close?””Will Medicare for All make us wait for medical care?“We talked about holding more public meetings showing the films and answering questions. We talked about holding these at the Downtown GCC building and at Libraries.
The New Senior Center in Greenfield – could we hold a meeting on Improving Medicare that might attract seniors?Other Ideas? Let us know.
Adopt a Town.Perhaps we could adopt a Town in Eastern Ma. and write letters to newspaper and individuals, make calls from “ Medicare for All in Shelburne Falls” for example to help formation of groups elsewhere.
National Websites – Health Care Now; Labor for Single Payer- good information