Sheila Kuehl's "Medicare for All" Bill Draws Thousands to California State Capitol

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Randy Bayne
THE BAYNE OF BLOG'S CALIFORNIA NOTES

Over 2000 school employees and nurses formed an impressive sea of blue and red as they packed the grounds on the north side of the state capitol on Tuesday to call for health care for all. More specifically, they wanted legislators and the governor to know they want single payer, also know as Medicare for All. Senator Sheila Kuehl, who spoke at the rally, is carrying the bill they want – SB 840.

A thousand California School Employee Association (CSEA) members arrived from all over the state by bus. I talked to CSEA members from as far away as Palm Springs, and saw some I know from San Diego. They piled out of the buses and then marched about four blocks the north steps to shouts of support and horns honking along the way as they chanted demanding "health care for all."

Red shirted nurses gathered to escort the CSEA members up the walk to the capitol steps.

The first speaker was Cynthia Campbell, a Registered Nurse, who is fighting both cancer and the upcoming loss of her health insurance. She started by thanking everyone who came to the rally, and then told her heart wrenching story of coverage denied because she dared to use it. Then she had the temerity to contract two kinds of cancer:

"I have been in the workforce for 30 years as a registered nurse. I always paid into the insurance program, have rarely used the policies, but now that I do need to use them, there is no insurance plan available to me. How can this be?

Last year I was on a short term policy while I was awaiting a full time position. Things got delayed and I needed to extend the policy, so I called the insurance company and they asked me one question. Had I ever used the policy? I said yes. The agent said if you have ever used the policy, even once, then you’re cancelled. Cancelled."

To watch her tell her story, click here.