Insurance Companies to Stop Covering Kids October 1st

The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sebelius, recently announced a national coalition dedicated to enrolling five million children in Medicaid and CHIP within five years. “Nothing is more important to our future than the health of our children. No child should have to skip a doctor’s appointment or go without the medicine they need because their family can’t pay,” said Secretary Sebelius. The Connecting Kids to Coverage Challenge is one symbol of the Obama administration’s commitment to the health of children in America.

“That’s great,” you may say, “but it’s pretty easy to prioritize health care for kids. Who wouldn’t want to make sure children are healthy?”

Good question. The answer is private health insurance companies.Continue reading “Insurance Companies to Stop Covering Kids October 1st”

Washington CAN! Holds Move Your Money Action at Seattle Bank of America Offices

In Washington state, big out-of-state banks such as Bank of America, Chase, Citigroup, KeyBank, and Wells Fargo are using the money from their hard-working customers’ accounts to kill legislation that would help local communities–including a renewal of a $67 million tax break for themselves. While thousands of vital state services are cut and state employees are laid off of work, big banks continue to reap profits.Continue reading “Washington CAN! Holds Move Your Money Action at Seattle Bank of America Offices”

Washington CAN! Holds Week of Action to Fight Corporate Power

This post was written by Nathan Riding from Washington CAN!

The summer of 2010 will long be remembered for the worst environmental disaster in history of our country. The BP oil spill killed eleven men, countless animals, birds, and fish, and destroyed the economic livelihoods of thousands of people. The long-term impact of the BP disaster is not yet fully known, but it will play out for years and years to come. For many, the BP disaster is just another event in a string of events sounding the alarm that something is terribly wrong in our country, and it’s affecting the lives of millions of people.Continue reading “Washington CAN! Holds Week of Action to Fight Corporate Power”

Native Health Underfunded and Promises Unfulfilled: The Importance of Investing in the Indian Health Service

“If the Indian Health Service was fully funded, we would be able to implement some of the programs we can’t currently offer. And I believe there would be a direct correlation between increased funding and improved health status for Native people.” –Dr. Donna Polk-Primm, CEO, Nebraska Urban Indian Health CoalitionContinue reading “Native Health Underfunded and Promises Unfulfilled: The Importance of Investing in the Indian Health Service”

Opening the Door

The Importance of Language and Literacy Access under Health Reform

The primary goal of health care reform is to reduce uninsured rates and thereby ensure access to quality health care for the approximately 46.3 million currently uninsured. This population consists disproportionately of people of color, immigrants and low-income people.Continue reading “Opening the Door”

Colorado Progressive Coalition Teams with Members of Congress To Educate Public On New Health Care Law

September 23rd will mark the six-month anniversary of the passage of Health Care Reform. As the anniversary approaches, members and leaders of the Colorado Progressive Coalition (CPC) have been partnering with members of Congress for a series of forums across the state that highlight what the new health care law will mean for Coloradans.Continue reading “Colorado Progressive Coalition Teams with Members of Congress To Educate Public On New Health Care Law”

Looking Back, and Forward, at Post-Katrina Justice and Accountability

August 29, 2010, marks the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Even now, survivors still face devastation and daily reminders of the governmental system that failed them. Hurricane Katrina raises the opportunity for all of us to question the role of government in communities, especially black communities. It also provides an opportunity to evaluate the use of storytelling in media and justice.Continue reading “Looking Back, and Forward, at Post-Katrina Justice and Accountability”

Main Street Alliance Leaders Plant Flag for Small Business Values in Washington, D.C.

In late July, small business owners from all across the country – from Maine to Montana, Louisiana to North Dakota – left their homes and their businesses on a mission: to carry a message about small business values direct from their Main Streets back home all the way to Washington, D.C. It was the “America’s Small Business Values at Work” summit, sponsored by the Main Street Alliance, NWFCO, and Community Organizations in Action.Continue reading “Main Street Alliance Leaders Plant Flag for Small Business Values in Washington, D.C.”

Main Street Alliance of Washington Members Meet with President Obama

On Tuesday, August 17, all eyes were on Seattle’s Pioneer Square as President Obama was in town stumping for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in her critical primary race. Obama and Murray held a private meeting at a café with three small business owners to discuss the economy, as well as what could be done to help small business owners drive economic recovery. Of the three business owners in attendance, two of them were active members and leaders of Main Street Alliance, which speaks to the power and importance of grassroots organizing.Continue reading “Main Street Alliance of Washington Members Meet with President Obama”

Prescriptions for Produce: A Step Towards Food Justice

According to this New York Times article ((Singer, Natasha, “Eat an Apple (Doctor’s Orders),” New York Times, August 12, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/business/13veggies.html?_r=1)), doctors at three health care centers in Massachusetts are handing out “prescriptions” (coupons) for patients to use at farmers’ markets. These coupons are part of an effort to promote healthy eating and combat childhood obesity in communities disproportionately affected by diet-related disease. Continue reading “Prescriptions for Produce: A Step Towards Food Justice”