Aloha! Thank you for making fantastic signs and showing up on February 25 for a Universal Health Care Rally. Please see the partial video of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AwtbYAYIb8&t=48s I called another Rally for March 10 because there is still a chance to fund the Hawaii Health Authority this session. Governor Ige's bill, SB977, to Abolish the HHA, died last Friday. That leaves the Hawaii Health Authority on the books. It can be funded via a line item insert in the state budget, either in the house bill, HB100, or, next week, in the senate bill. We'll have a couple of weeks before the senate bill is scheduled for a hearing. This is very last minute, but, if we all testify on HB100, even late testimony will still show support, if we do, we'll give courage to those members of the legislature who already support Universal Health Care, but who don't have the political strength to buck Governor Ige, or his pick for Dept of Health, Dr. Pressler. If you have time tonight or tomorrow, please submit brief testimony in favor of funding the HHA, which is HRS322. On Friday, Representative John Mizuno, who was one of the original authors of the HHA, will speak at our rally, and explain why and how the 'line item budget insert' can fund the HHA this session. After a pep talk from Rep Mizuno, we'll break up into teams and hand deliver 'pro Universal Health Care via funding the HHA' letters to all members of the legislature, focusing on the Finance committee members. https://go.ourrevolution.com/page/event/detail/gpg7m5 https://www.facebook.com/events/783612085119311/ If you can't attend this Fridays rally, no worries! You can call and write your district officials, the committee officials, and we'll have more Rally style Rallys in front of the Dept of Health, where one of the primary opponents of Universal Single Payer Health Care, Dr. Pressler, is the head of the Department. We deserve to hear Dr. Pressler explain why she doesn't want to give the HHA a chance. Aloha! HB100 will have a hearing this Wednesday at 9:00 am. > Please submit testimony in favor of adding a "Line item budget insert of $150,000.00 to fund HRS322 The Hawaii Health Authority" http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=100&year=2017 (that number is arbitrary. The nine appointees are volunteers. The bill says that they will have at least one full time paid staff. The exact dollar figure isn't pivotal; getting the Governor's support is the go-nogo criteria. We don't have his support. However, this line of advocacy at least gives an extra opportunity for Gov Ige to come around and decide to let the HHA fulfill its mission, just so the option of that plan exists.) The Hawaii Health Authority, if funded and supported by the governor, will design a Universal Health Care System for Hawaii. > The budget bill, HB100, is now open for public testimony. > www.capitol.hawaii.gov is the main site. > First, you have to make an account. Then, you can submit testimony on any bill that you want to. There are simple instructions: > Include the bill name, committee, room, date, your full name, what district or area you live in, and state whether you support or oppose the bill. > In this case, our testimony isn't about supporting or opposing the budget. > We are asking for a 'Line item budget insert of $150,000.00 to fund HRS322: The Hawaii Health Authority' > Representative John Mizuno is one supporter. However, this goal needs a lot more public and political support; about half of the legislature, to be precise, so, please call and write your own representatives, and call and write all of the members on the Finance Committee. Please see their names here: Rep. Romy M. Cachola *** repcachola@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Nicole E. Lowen *** replowen@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Isaac W. Choy *** repchoy@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Nadine K. Nakamura *** repnakamura@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Lynn DeCoite *** repdecoite@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. James Kunane Tokioka *** reptokioka@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Cedric Asuega Gates *** repgates@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Sean Quinlan *** repquinlan@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Daniel Holt *** repholt@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Kyle T. Yamashita *** repyamashita@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Jarrett Keohokalole *** repkeohokalole@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Andria P.L. Tupola *** reptupola@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Bertrand Kobayashi *** repkobayashi@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Gene Ward *** repward@Capitol.hawaii.gov Rep. Matthew S. LoPresti *** replopresti@Capitol.hawaii.gov http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/…/h…/HEARING_FIN_03-08-17_.HTM > Universal Health Care in Hawaii is possible, if we can persuade the members of the finance committee to insert one 'line item budget entry.' Step Two: Repeat the process when the HB100 crosses over to the senate after March 13. To build support for this effort, please share this info: Universal Health Care Rally and Letter Delivery March 10, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm State Capitol, ground floor Rep Mizuno and others will speak about how and why we need Universal Health Care and why the HHA's planning process is the imperative step in that direction. By 2:45, we'll head upstairs, split into teams, and begin walking the halls, hand delivering letters to every member of the lege, and asking for comments from the lege members about their views on how to fix health care in Hawaii. We could try to drum up a public debate on the topic, or town halls on the topic, or some public statement from lege members about why they do or do not support the mission of the Hawaii Health Authority. Letters will be provided, but, feel free to bring your own. https://www.facebook.com/events/783612085119311/?active_tab=about > Aloha! Dennis B Miller https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AwtbYAYIb8&t=8s