Greetings,

This was a big week in the movement toward reforming health care in the United State.  The Senate Finance Committee’s bill, America’s Health Future Act, will now go to the Senate leadership, who will combine this bill with another approved earlier by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.  This combined bill will then move to the Senate floor for debate, likely in early November.

The ELCA Washington DC Office is continuing to monitor this legislation and weigh it against the 2003 Social Statement “Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor.”  And, don’t forget, the 2009 Churchwide Assembly reaffirmed the ELCA’s commitment to health care in their Assembly Action:

RESOLVED, that the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, in Assembly, commit this church in all of its expressions to the premise that “each person should have ready access to basic health care services that include preventive, acute, and chronic physical and mental health care at an affordable cost” (page 13); and be it therefore further

 

RESOLVED, that this assembly request that the ELCA Washington Office, in partnership with the synods, congregations and members of the ELCA, convey the urgency and sense of this resolution to Congress and the White House.

 

See Motion A submitted by Montana Bishop Crist: http://media.lvrj.com/documents/lutheran_resolution1.pdf

See the Assembly Action: http://media.lvrj.com/documents/lutheran_resolution2.pdf

 

What Can You Do?

 

Call your Senators and Representative on Tuesday, October 20th, the National Day of Remembrance and Hope.

 

“People of faith throughout the United States will join together in a National Day of Remembrance and Hope on October 20 to remember the 45,000 people who die each year because they lack insurance that provides access to needed health care. With this observance, members of the Faithful Reform in Health Care coalition are joining with other organizations that represent labor, seniors, children, racial/ethnic minorities, and health care providers in hopeful expectation for health care reform this year. Faith groups will participate through services of remembrance, candlelight vigils, prayer breakfasts, Jericho marches, and other activities.”  www.faithfulreform.org

 

 

Click here for additional info and Talking points for calls to your Senators and Representative.

 

Remind them of the “Faith-Inspired Vision of Health Care,” signed by the ELCA and the Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State, which embraces a system of health care that is inclusive, accessible, affordable and accountable.

 

View the statement and over 2,000 signatures.

 

Phone banks are happening all across the state on Tuesday, October 20th.  Since the list of phone banks is too long to post here, if you are interested in joining your neighbors spread the word about health care reform, email lppooffice@lcsnw.org; we can pass along the contact info and details on a phone bank in your local area.

 

 

Host a Health Care Sunday at your congregation or lead a Health Care Café (small group study guide).

These are great resources developed by the ELCA.  View and print them here.  (Links to the documents are on the right-hand side of the page).  Let us know if your congregation or community plans to lead a Health Care Sunday or host a Health Care Café!

 

 

Attend the Faith-Inspired Forum for Health Care Reform

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

7:30-9:00pm

Town Hall, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle 98101

 

"What would Jesus, the Prophet Mohammed, Moses, and the Buddha Do or Say about Health Care Reform in the United States?"

 

Leaders from the three Abrahamic faiths and Buddhism will share teachings from their traditions, and then join a panel. Music: The Total Experience Gospel Choir, Rafe Pearlman, Ancient Sounds.

                       

Panelists:

Ms. Patty Bowman, Director, Social Outreach & Advocacy, St. James Cathedral

Rev. Leslie Braxton, New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, Renton

Rev. Monica Corsaro, Director of Social Justice Ministries, Church Council of Greater Seattle

Rabbi Ted Falcon, PhD, Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue

Michelle Levey, Author and Teacher of Buddhist Dharma Practices, WisdomatWork.com

Rev. Don Mackenzie PhD, Minister in the United Church of Christ

Sheikh Jamal Rahman, Muslim Sufi Minister, Interfaith Community Church

 

Moderator:  Dave Ross, Talk show host, KIRO 97.3 FM radio 

 

Schedule:

6:30pm - Doors open. Sponsors’ exhibit tables open

6:50-7:20pm - Ancient Sounds meditative music

7:30-9:00pm - Program

9:00pm - Exhibits remain open

 

Free tickets:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/81304 or call 800/838-3006

Free tickets will be available at the door if they haven’t been sold out at Brown Paper Tickets.

 

Although there is no charge for this event; a free-will offering will help defray costs. 

 

Contact: Richard Hodgin, Faith-Inspired Alliance for Healthcare Reform 206.729.8900 rshodgin@comcast.net

 

Faith-Inspired Alliance for Health Care Reform sponsors this event to give space for hearing voices of local leaders in the faith-based community. We hope to add to the rising chorus of voices across the country demanding change in our broken health care insurance and delivery systems.

 

 

 

Join the LPPO for an Advocates’ Conference Call

Thursday, November 12

7:00-8:00pm

Dial-in number: 1-219-509-8222
Access code: 672524

Robert Francis, Director for Domestic Policy at the ELCA Washington, DC Office, will join us to discuss Health Care Reform. Come with questions and action ideas!

 

You can also listen to Robert Francis’ Oct 7th conference call with advocates affiliated with the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry in Pennsylvania: http://www.lamp.org/health_care_reform_statewide_con.htm

 

 

 

Advocate for the Basic Health Plan

 

Washington State is one of a handful of states that provide health insurance coverage for low-income adults (200% of the federal poverty level, approximately $35,000 per year for a family of 3).  Many of those who are covered by the Basic Health Plan are working, but do not receive health care coverage from their employer.

 

The waiting list will soon exceed those still on the Basic Health Plan.  This program received a 43% cut in the 2009 legislative session.  The LPPO is an active member of the Friends of Basic Health advocacy coalition that is working to alleviate these cuts and is asking the legislature to do no more harm to it.  Visit the coalition’s Facebook page to show your support.

 

Senator Cantwell created an amendment to provide a “state option” to expand the Basic Health Plan to other states.  This amendment is now part of the bill just passed by the Senate Finance committee. 

 

Please thank Senator Cantwell for this and let her know you are a part of the LPPO, which is a part of the Friends of Basic Health.

 

In Seattle: 206.220.6400

In Southwest WA: 360.696.7838

In Tacoma: 253.572.2281

In Spokane: 509.353.2507

In Central WA: 509.946.8106

In Northwest WA: 425.303.0114

or call Senator Cantwell’s DC Office: 202.224.3441

 

Also email or call (1.800.562.6000) your state legislators to let them know you support the Basic Health Plan.