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Health Care is a Human Right Coalition
Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 4:00 PM PDT
Category: Partner Events

We are excited to kick off our priorities for 2019, to celebrate electoral victories that strengthen our power to win universal health care in WA State and the nation. Come and help build power to get things done on health care!

JOIN US!

4:00 PM, Tuesday, November 27

WA State Labor Council – 321 16th Avenue S, Seattle 98144

Call-in number: 1-218-339-7800, 779383#

 

RSVP to Eric Gonzalez at [email protected]

 

This will be the last meeting of our coalition chaired by WA State Labor Council AFL-CIO President Jeff Johnson before he retires in December. Help us give him a hearty send-off. For those of you who may have missed his bio and retirement announcement, please visit thestand.org (link and information below).

Invited elected officials:

 

●      Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), who is in DC, will send a message to our meeting from DC.  Rep. Jayapal is the founding Co-chair of the Medicare for All Congressional Caucus.     

●      Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), also in DC, will have his Senior Advisor Debra Entenman (now Representative-elect for the 47thLegislative District!) provide a message.  Rep. Smith is in the Medicare for All Caucus.

●      Rep.-elect Dr. Kim Schrier (WA-08), also in DC. We expect a message to our meeting on her hopes for the new Congress. 

●      WA Sen. David Frockt (46th LD), Vice-Chair of Ways & Means, will join us. He's a leading champion in Olympia of universal health care and is working on legislation to move WA in that direction in 2019.

●      Seattle Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda will join us and share thoughts about closing the coverage gaps in Seattle-King County

 

At 4:00, before our elected guests arrive, we will review the following Core Agenda for 2019 proposed by the Steering Committee of Health Care Is a Human Right. Please bring any questions you have.

 

WA State:  

●        Advancing legislation to achieve universal coverage as soon as possible including the "bridge bill" now being drafted by Rep. Macri, Sen. Frockt and others;

●        Extending Apple Care to all eligible residents to age 26;

●        Transparency on drug pricing;

●        Banning surprise billing from out-of-network providers at in-network ERs and hospitals. 

Federal:

●        Rep. Jayapal's State Based Universal Health Care Act (HR 6097) to give states the funding and regulatory tools to build universal state coverage;

●        Building the Medicare for All Congressional Caucus;

●        Updating “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All” (HR 676), led by Rep. Jayapal. 

Local (Seattle-King County):

●        Universal coverage of immigrants.

 

 

About President Jeff Johnson’s Retirement at the end of 2018:

 

Jeffrey G. Johnson was elected President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, in December 2010 after working for the WSLC since 1986 serving as special assistant to the president, lead lobbyist, research and organizing director, and as shop steward for the administrative staff unit. Jeff began his union life with Local 2190 of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO in 1979, teaching Labor Economics and Labor Studies at Empire State College, Center for Labor Studies, in New York City. As a labor educator Jeff taught in many union and community sponsored education programs in the New York area.

 

Jeff’s work at the Washington State Labor Council has focused on organizing, policy, and legislation that improves the lives of working people through increasing collective bargaining and organizing rights; economic justice and anti-poverty measures; strengthening workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and employment standards; improving the health care system; and protecting the rights of farm workers and immigrant workers.

 

Jeff also represents the Washington labor movement by sitting on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, the Washington State Apprenticeship Council, the Board of Washington Community Action Network, Co-Chair of the Washington State Blue Green Alliance, and the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy.  (Link to post, click here.)