Big Insurance: Sick of It! Rally in Downtown Cleveland

BROWN TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM ON HEALTH REFORM IN CLEVELAND Monday September 21st Forum Will Feature Panel of Ohioans Struggling With High Health Costs, Access to Care and Question and Answer Session with Audience

CLEVELAND, OHIO - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will hold a public forum on health insurance reform in Cleveland at the John Hay High School on Monday, Sep. 21, 2009. During the forum, entitled "Health Reform - What's In It for You?", Brown will outline how health reform will reduce private insurance premiums and out-of-pocket health care expenses, while giving all Americans insurance options during periods of unemployment. Brown will receive testimony from Ohioans struggling with rising health costs and access to medical care. Following a panel discussion, the forum will be open for a question and answer session with audience members. The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.

Who: U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown What: Brown to hold public forum entitled "Health Reform - What's in it for you?" When: Monday September 21st, 2009            2:00 - 3:30 p.m.            doors open at 1:00 p.m.            media pre-set to begin at 12:30 p.m.            media availability with Senator at 1:30 p.m. Where: John Hay High School Auditorium             2075 Stokes Blvd.             Cleveland, Ohio, 44106 RSVP: Media should RSVP with NAME, MEDIA OUTLET, PHONE AND E-MAIL for each person planning to cover the event to meghan_dubyak [at] brown [dot] senate [dot] gov by Friday September 18th by 5:00 p.m.

AND From MOVEON:

Health and insurance interests are spending nearly $5 million per week to oppose health care reform,1 fighting to keep a broken system because it benefits their bottom line.

But what we've got right now—skyrocketing premiums, denial of treatment, canceling coverage when you get sick—is a disaster for regular people. It's time to call Big Insurance out—because if they win, we lose. And next week, we're going to do it right in their own back yards.

We're organizing "Big Insurance: Sick of It" rallies at local insurance company offices across the country on September 22nd.

Thousands of us rallying together will send a strong message to them, Congress, and the media that we are sick of Big Insurance and want real health care reform now.

Next Tuesday, there's a rally in Cleveland. Can you make it?

The public health insurance option is the number one target of Big Insurance—and a major reason why conservatives in Congress are holding up Obama's plan for real reform. With these events, we'll remind Congress that when Big Insurance is in charge, we're the ones who lose. We need a strong public health insurance option—a health care plan that won't put profits over real people's lives.

At the rally, speakers will share personal stories about how they've been harmed by the health insurance industry. And we'll display many of the most compelling "Can't Afford to Wait" photos of MoveOn members showing why they or a loved one can't wait for real reform to highlight the fact that real people's lives are at stake in the debate over reform.

Rallies like these are a lot of fun—and with stories from real people taking center stage, they're sure to be a moving reminder about what's important in our fight for health care reform. They're also a great way to make a big impact. With hundreds happening at the same time, we can send a strong message that we're sick and tired of Big Insurance's stranglehold on our health.

The rally in Cleveland is part of a national day of action to shine the spotlight on the insurance industry. And with Congress moving quickly toward voting on health care, we need to make sure they hear our message right away.

Sources:

1. "Industries have spent $585.7 million since 2007 on lobbying and campaign contributions," Public Campaign Action Fund, September 15, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84720&id=17246-10793590-ZinqkJx&t=5 [1]

"AHIP: All For Reforms, But Not Government Competition," National Journal, August 20, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=84721&id=17246-10793590-ZinqkJx&t=6 [2]Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here [3].