Michael Moore Day in Sacramento

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

The legislature really aught to have issued a proclamation making today Michael Moore day to celebrate the California release of his new film Sicko. The Capitol is practically ringed by satellite news trucks, in town to cover an almost constant schedule of press conferences, rallies, photo-ops and screenings. I stopped by to pick up my ticket for tonight's screening hosted by Fabian Nunez and snuck into the press conference he was holding with Moore.

Moore supports single payer health care to cover all Americans and get the profit motive out of the equation with regards to health insurance companies. To this end he is holding a rally with CNA and press conferences with Sen. Kuehl today. However, during the press conference with Nunez, he was supportive of legislative efforts to revise the current private industry model. They did joke about Arnold's current opposition to SB 840, with Nunez saying "Who knows, maybe he watches and..." Moore quipped "Well, he likes movies." Moore is looking for California to lead the way on the issue, as we have done on issues like the minimum wage and the environment. He sees his film working on concert with legislative efforts.

Moore addressed the current Blue Cross campaign to destroy reform efforts, expressing his concern about the advertising campaign that they had already begun. It his goal, with the release of the film, to aide a grassroots campaign to reform health care. That is why he is spending so much time in Sacramento, to tie in his movie promotional efforts with a legislative push in California. He wants reform, not just movie ticket sales. Documentary activism.

The press conference covered a great deal of ground, despite the limited question time. One of the more interesting tidbits was about Moore's insurance costs for the film itself. He paid about $40,000 for what I believe is libel insurance for Fahrenheit 9/11, but had to shell-out $800,000 for Sicko. The pharmaceutical firms were the biggest trouble. They were on red alert, warning all of their employees to not talk to him and Pfizer even created a toll-free number for staff to inform management if they were contacted by Moore. Of course, Moore was forwarded all kinds of emails and documents from the companies by their employees.

Evidently, Sicko has footage of some of the LA hospital dumpings that have made the news here. I am looking forward to tonight's screening, as the progressive Sacramento elite all gathers in one room. Check back tomorrow for a write-up of the premiere.

(picture is from my cell)