State of Emergency Rally for Basic Health
Submitted by Anonymous on 9 January 2010 - 11:46am
As Governor Gregoire prepares to deliver her January 12th State of the State Address, students, community activists, the elderly and uninsured will hold a State of Emergency Rally for Basic Health at 11am on the steps of the Capitol Building. Protesters will deliver thousands of signatures on a petition calling for elected official to fully fund Basic Health and other vital human services by taxing the income of the wealthy and the profits of large corporations.
"Going out with the petition showed me how furious people are about the lack of affordable health care," notes Mary Gutierrez, a member of Sisters Organize for Survival (SOS). "SOS called this demonstration to say no more business as usual! Healthcare is desperately needed by so many. With the economic crisis and massive unemployment, health and welfare programs should be expanded, not destroyed."
The Governor's budget, released in December, includes massive cuts to social services and completely eliminates the Basic Health Plan, a state-subsidized insurance program that already has more people on the waiting list than receive coverage. Radical Women spokesperson Christina Lopez believes that, "it's outrageous and irresponsible to slash programs that help single moms, low-income workers, and people living on the edge. It's time for the wealthy to pay their share." Currently in Washington State, the poorest 20% of the population pay 17.3% of their income in taxes, while the richest pay 2.9% due to a system based on sales and property taxes.
Sisters Organize for Survival is a grassroots campaign initiated by Radical Women. Over the last few months SOS hosted a public tribunal where the governor and state legislature were found guilty of abandoning poor and working people, held a sidewalk rally against cuts in Basic Health and spearheaded a call-in campaign to elected officials.
A carpool from Seattle to Olympia will leave at 9am from New Freeway Hall, 5018 Rainier Ave. S. For more information, call 206-722-6057 or email Rwseattle@mindspring.com.
