Presumptive state senator appointee Chip Shields has told Richard Ellmyer that he will submit Ellmyer's Single Payer Oregon Community Health Care Bill In the 2011 Session. The Multnomah County Commission passed a resolution in favor of Single Payer (see below). Commissioner Jeff Cogen has long been a signer and supporter of the Oregon Community Health Care Bill (see below).
So the following questions arise:
1. Will the Multnomah county commissioners, especially Jeff Cogen, ask Chip Shields if he will not only introduce the Single Payer Oregon Community Health Care Bill In the 2011 session but will actually support it and any other Single Payer legislation?
2. Will the Multnomah county commissioners ask Chip Shields if he will make every effort to invite Single Payer supporters, who have been shut out of the health care debate by every Oregon legislator including representative Chip Shields, to discuss, debate, promote, testify and demonstrate in every venue available.
3. Will the Multnomah county commissioners ask Chip Shields if he will acknowledge that the Oregon legislature, including representative Chip Shields, has illegitimately contrived a BILLION dollar health insurance reform plan that denied Oregonians and his constituents the right to discuss and debate a Single Payer solution? And, that this illegitimate bill and it's outrageous taxing of Oregonian's health insurance premiums at a time when the objective is to LOWER the costs of health care NOT raise them must be repealed?
4. Will the Multnomah county commissioners ask Chip Shields if he agrees that abortion is both a legal and moral medical procedure and MUST be covered by every health care plan of any kind in Oregon and America?
5. Will the Multnomah county commissioners ask Chip Shields if he agrees that death with dignity is our cultural, legal and moral medical practice in Oregon and must be defended and covered by every health care plan in Oregon and America?
6. Will the Multnomah county commissioners immediately give instructions to its lobbyists to:
a) Support the introduction of the Oregon Community Health Care Bill and any other Single Payer legislation in the Oregon legislature?
b) Support repeal of the 1% tax on Oregonian's health insurance premiums?
c) Support health care reform legislation that acknowledges that abortion is both a legal and moral medical procedure and MUST be covered by every health care plan of any kind in Oregon and America.?
d) Support health care reform legislation that acknowledges that death with dignity is our cultural, legal and moral medical practice in Oregon and MUST be defended and covered by every health care plan in Oregon and America?
7. Will the Multnomah county commissioners demonstrate themselves and invite their constituents to take to the streets in front of congressional offices in support of Single Payer Sick Out Day to support a vote for Single Payer HR 676 in congress?
The answers to these questions will all be revealed on or before the senate appointment vote at the Multnomah county commission meeting on Thursday September 24th.
Richard Ellmyer
FYI
The following groups support a Single Payer Solution to America's/Oregon's moral and economic health care crisis. They are expected to announce to their members and constituents along with Oregon Health Watchers the date of Single Payer Sick Out Day.
AFL-CIO - http://oraflcio.org/
AFSCME District Council 75 - http://www.afscme.org/directory/181_366.cfm
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 - http://www.atu757.org/welcome.htm
American Federation of Government Employees Local 2157 - http://www.afge2157.org/
American Federation of Teachers Local 5017 - http://www.aftnw.org/
Democratic Party of Lane County - http://www.dplc.org/officials.htm
Freedom Socialist Party - www.socialism.com
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees - http://www.iatse-intl.org/home.html
Lane County Commission - http://www.co.lane.or.us/
Multnomah County Commission - http://www.multco.us/portal/site/MultnomahCounty
Newly Enlightened Oregon Legislators - Michael Dembrow, rep.michaeldembrow@state.or.us
Newly Enlightened Members of Oregon's Congressional Delegation ???????
Oregon Academy of Family Physicians - http://www.oafp.org/DigestofCongressOAFP2009.htm
Oregon Education Association - http://www.oregoned.org/site/pp.asp?c=9dKKKYMDH&b=123024
Oregon Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals - http://www.ofnhp.com/?view=home
Oregon Nurses Association - http://oregonrn.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=173
Oregon Teamsters Local 206 - http://unionsforsinglepayerhr676.org/news_releases/2008-11-18
Pacific Green Party of Oregon - http://www.pacificgreens.org/cat-get-involved/contact-us/
Painters Local 10 - http://www.unions.org/home/v-20104-37-IUPAT-.htm
State Council of Machinists (IAM) - http://www.iamdl24.org/
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February 8, 2009 [This message was also sent in 2007]
Dear House Speaker Hunt and Senate President Courtney Et. Al.:
The current legislative debate over health care reform in our state does not include our view that the profit oriented private health insurance industry must not be the model upon which a solution to Oregon's moral and economic health care crisis should be based and that Oregon elected officials - public employees - voters and taxpayers must have EQUAL ACCESS to the SAME LEVEL of health care NOT a perpetuation of our current multitiered health insurance CLASS system.
We request that you find a place holder bill in each chamber which would substitute in its entirety the language of the Oregon Community Health Care Bill (see attached) so that an alternative choice may be discussed and debated this session. The Oregon Community Health Care Bill is the only current fully formed piece of proposed legislation which supports our vision of health care reform. We would welcome others that also meet our requirements.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Richard Ellmyer - Oregon Community Health Care Bill author 2007
Sam Adams - Portland City Council 2007
Jeff Cogen - Multnomah County Commissioner 2007
Edwars "Chip" Enbody - Hubbard City Council 2007
Darrell Flood - Mayor of Lafayette 2007
Bill Hall - Lincoln County Commissioner 2007
Jim Needham - Mollala City Council 2007
Michelle Ripple - Wilsonville City Council 2007
Mary Schamehorn - Mayor of Bandon 2007
Pete Sorenson - Lane County Commissioner 2007
John Frohnmayer - Former candidate for US Senate 2008
Tim Grimes - Staton City Council 2008
David P. Trott - Mayor City of Umatilla 2008
Bill Dwyer - Lane County Commissioner 2008
Dan K. Cummings - Ontario City Council President 2008
Mark Camra - Toledo City Councilor 2009
Don Porter - Mayor of Long Creek 2009
Thomas Bradley - Long Creek City Council 2009
Fred Drake - Long Creek City Council 2009
Alvin Hunt - Long Creek City Council 2009
[Copies of this letter were sent to all members of the 2009 Oregon Legislature]