There comes a time when you must stand up for your principles
November 4, 2009
Upset that legislation introduced by House Democrats last week does not go far enough to fix the problems with health care, three CSEA staff were among 12 protesters arrested in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco office Tuesday.While CSEA members and staff rallied outside the Federal Building in San Francisco, three CSEA staff members and several other healthcare activists went inside to attempt to communicate with Pelosi or her chief of staff in Washington, D.C.
Pelosi was not in her San Francisco office, nor did she or her chief of staff telephone the office to speak with the group. The protesters stated that they would refuse to leave until they received a response. After nearly three hours, the Federal Protection Service of U.S. Homeland Security arrested the protesters.
"These people stood up for CSEA members and our health care," said CSEA Area A Director Martha Penry, who participated in the rally outside. "This was a huge step forward for CSEA. We were there to hold our elected officials accountable for the promises they made to us."
The activists were very clear about what they wanted - an opportunity to talk to the speaker about two key amendments that were stripped out of the final healthcare bill introduced by the House Democrats last Thursday.
One amendment by Rep. Dennis Kucinich would remove federal barriers for states that want to set up a single-payer healthcare system, such as CSEA-sponsored SB 810 here in California. The second issue was asking Speaker Pelosi to keep her promise to Rep. Anthony Weiner to allow a floor vote on legislation for a national single-payer plan (CSEA-endorsed HR 676). House leaders, including Pelosi, had promised both amendments would be included in the final house legislation that could go to the House floor for a vote as early as Thursday.
"Today, CSEA's delegation of members and staff showed the power of civil disobedience," said Association President Allan Clark. "This action is consistent with CSEA's organizational goal to achieve single-payer reform."
Along with Sr. Health Policy Advisor Cindy Young, North Bay Field Office Director Keith Pace and Sacramento Labor Relations Representative (LRR) Amy Hines were arrested, cited and released pending a future court hearing.
"We knew we got their attention when they turned the lights out in the reception area," Pace said.
The police ultimately attempted to broker a meeting between a small delegation of three of the activists and Pelosi's local staff director. However, instead of working out how a call could be made to Pelosi's D.C. office so that the delegation could discuss their concerns, the meeting proved to be fruitless.
"When the federal police came to make the announcement that anyone who remained in the lobby of Pelosi's office would be arrested and charged, I had a vision of the rally going on outside," Hines said. "I thought of all the CSEA members in front of the building in blue, chanting for what is right and just. I felt so supported, it pushed me onward."
To back up the protesters engaging in civil disobedience, CSEA members and staff from the Sacramento, North Bay and River Delta field offices joined people from the California Alliance for Retired Americans, the California Nurses Association, the Gray Panthers, Healthcare for All-California and other groups in a lively and loud march along the sidewalk outside the building.
"CSEA can be proud that we made a stand for the Board of Directors principles at a critical point in the healthcare debate," said Alternate Area B Director Melodee Bettman. "We made it clear that we are tired of doing all the compromising on this bill."
The activists were also supported with an email blast to CSEA members throughout California, who made hundreds of phone calls to Pelosi's offices urging her to talk to activists in San Francisco.
By Tuesday evening, Pelosi had announced that the time period for amendments had closed. It was not known if House leaders would allow Congress to vote on the bill to establish single-payer health care as promised to Rep. Weiner, but leadership did reject the Kucinich amendment.
However, Rep. Kucinich said there is still one more opportunity to offer the American people a true choice on healthcare. Once the healthcare bill passes the House, and the Senate passes its version, the two bills will go to a Conference Committee. At that point, we will have one more chance to get the amendment included in the Conference Committee report (since that is what will ultimately become law).
"I do not accept the decision to remove the amendment from the bill. Nor should you," Kucinich wrote supporters on Tuesday night.
Kucinich said he is worried Congress might be "giving so much power and money to the insurance companies that we are giving far too much for the few benefits which the bill may confer. The insurance companies get at least another 26 million customers and an extra $50 billion in new revenue."
"All of us today who were arrested will keep fighting to win single-payer health care in California and the nation," said Don Hodges of Healthcare for All-California.
Tuesday's action completed three days of healthcare activities throughout California.
On Friday, CSEA Area G Director Bill Rawlings and dozens of nurses, CSEA members, and healthcare activists from other unions and groups did their part and crowded into the office of Representative Henry Waxman. The activists were put on the phone with Waxman's staff in Washington, D.C.
On Monday, CSEA Area K Director Teri Minoux and scores of CSEA members and staff held a candlelight healthcare vigil in San Diego. The local protest began over the weekend with more than 150 San Diegans gathering outside the Blue Shield of California office in Mission Valley for 45 hours - one hour for every 1,000 people who have died each year due to the lack of health care.
Also on Monday, CSEA staff including Pace, LRR Rob Norman, Organizer Heather Carroll-Fisher and member intern Vanessa Caires joined a delegation of nurses to visit Rep. George Miller's office in Concord. They were put on the phone with Miller's chief of staff, who ultimately admitted they were being bombarded with calls from across the country.
"Our message has been heard. Now it is up to Congress," Clark said.
For more information and a photo slideshow of CSEA in action, visit www.csea.com/healthcare.
Area G has a potential of over 25,000 members and is serviced by
the Santa
Fe Field Office and the Costa y
Valles Field Office.
Area G Director, Bill Rawlings
