Westwood Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, September 25th at Wilshire and Veteran from 4:00 to 6:00 PM

UCLA Medical Students to Protest Governor’s Veto of Universal Health Insurance Bill (SB 840)

Westwood is 45th city in a row to host a OneCareNow “event” supporting legislation in California.

Dr. Susan Partovi, a member of Health Care for All—California and students from the UCLA medical school will conduct a “universal health care” rally and protest march along the Wilshire corridor on Monday, September 25th. Marchers will step off at 4:00PM bearing signs in support of SB 840 (Kuehl) and the OneCareNow campaign.

Governor Schwarzenegger has pledged to veto SB 840, the first legislation passed by any state that would that would provide every resident with full health insurance coverage.

“Supporters of universal health care are not only angry at the veto but also the governor’s false and deceptive comments about this affordable and sensible solution to insuring seven million Californians who are uninsured and eight million who are underinsured,” said Dr. Partovi.

The mobilization for health care for all in California is called the OneCareNow Campaign with 365 events in 365 cities up and down the state, one event per day for an entire year, to educate voters about the Kuehl plan. It began last month, on August 12 in Morro Bay and is progressing to larger towns and cities throughout the state, until it ends with the largest city, Los Angeles, on August 12, 2007. On August 19, 2007, a massive rally at the State Capitol is planned to demand enactment of the Kuehl bill.

After the governor vetoes SB 840, what will happen next?

“The bill will be reintroduced next Janurary.” says OneCareNow Campaign’s George Savage, a volunteer from Pacific Palisades, CA. “And we know we must build, expand, and energize a grassroots movement until it becomes a political force that can go toe-to-toe with the existing vested interests. When millions of Californians demand a change, the change will happen, sooner rather than later.” Savage said.

For more information: Contact. Dr. Susan Partovi @ partovi@humc.edu
Or George Savage, Director, LA Chapter of Health Care for All—California @ 310 230 1561