House Health and Government Operations Committee
Tuesday, March 4, 2003 @ 1 PM
SB 557 - http://mlis.state.md.us/2003rs/billfile/sb0557.htm
Senate Finance & Budget/Taxation Committees
Thursday, March 13, 2003 @ 1 PM
**We need YOU to testify**
Thanks to everyone who agreed to testify at our hearing (the one that was postponed). Your response was fantastic. Let’s keep that enthusiasm as we prepare for our new hearings. We need your help as we put together panels of testifiers who can tell our story. Whether you are an uninsured/underinsured person (or know of someone who is uninsured/underinsured), a community leader, a health care worker, a business owner, or an advocate for patients, we need your help and expertise. Are you willing to testify or find us people who can? Please, please call the office at 410-235-9000 or drop us an email and let us know if you can help.
**We need LETTERS of support**
Thanks to all of you who have already submitted a letter of support for HB 726 / SB 557. We will be submitting these letters as part of our testimony. If you have not yet submitted your organization’s letter of support to us, it is not too late! We need your letter even if you cannot be there to testify at the hearing. Please fax it to us at 410-235-8963 or drop it in the mail as soon as possible to Health Care for All!, 2600 St. Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218.
In addition, if you could please email the following members of the three committees a personal letter of support, that too would be greatly appreciated. Be sure to put HB 726 / SB 557 in the subject area.
john_hurson@house.state.md.us - The Honorable John Hurson
peter_hammen@house.state.md.us - The Honorable Peter Hammen
thomas_mclain_middleton@senate.state.md.us - The Honorable T. McClain Middleton
john_astle@senate.state.md.us - The Honorable John Astle
ulysses_currie@senate.state.md.us - The Honorable Ulysses Currie
If you want a sample letter faxed or emailed to you, please let us know by calling 410-235-9000 or by replying to this email.
**We need you to SHOW UP**
What fun is a hearing without people in the audience? If you can come to Annapolis—particularly for the March 4th hearing—we would love to have you join us for an interesting hearing. Why is just being there important? We will likely have media to cover this hearing. We need your presence to send the message that Health Care for All! is important! Even if you cannot stay all afternoon...stop by the hearing room, “sign in” with us as a supporter, pick up a sticker showing your support and let your voice be heard. Let us know if you need directions.
**We need BUSINESS endorsements**
Many of you have daily contact with small and large businesses. In fact, many of your own group members are small business owners. Small businesses are a powerful voice for health care reform. Two of our endorsers from the small business community—Joseph Hopkins Associates, Inc. and Park Moving and Storage Company—recently wrote a letter to other businesses in the coalition asking that they endorse our plan. If you would like a copy of the letter and packet, let us know.
Do you know a business owner who might support our Health Care for All!
Plan? If so, please let us know so that we can send them our packet and get them on board. We are doing all we can to make sure our coalition is diverse in interest and representation!
**Schedule us for a visit**
We’re still looking to visit your group to explain the plan in person.
Please save us some effort by calling us to schedule a visit.
Please respond... to advocate for our plan effectively, we all need to grasp the fundamentals.
If your organization has changed leadership, please fax contact changes to 410-235-8963 or reply to this message.
Thanks again to all of you. We greatly appreciate your work on behalf of this very important cause. If you have any questions, contact us
below:
Vinny, Glenn, and Rosanna
Maryland Health Care for All!
MD Citizens Health Initiative
2600 St Paul St
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-235-9000
410-235-8963 fax
http://www.healthcareforall.com