Health Care for America Now - Update

November 13, 2009

Iowans Thank Rep. Boswell for Health Care Vote & Urge Senator Harkin to Champion Reform in Senate

On Thursday, November 12th, dozens of local residents gathered at Simon Estes Amphitheater to thank Congressman Boswell for siding with his constituents and not the health insurance industry by voting to pass the House health care bill last Saturday night.

The event was co-sponsored by Change That Works, Health Care for America Now, Iowa Citizen Action Network, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Iowa Main Street Alliance, MoveOn.org, and Organizing for America. Speakers included state Senator Jack Hatch, who serves as chair of the White House Legislative Working Group on Health Care, and local small business owner, Mike Draper, who is a member of the National Steering Committee for the Main Street Alliance.

Amy Logsdon: Thank You, Representative Boswell

State Senator Hatch Addressing the Rally

“We’re here to thank Representative Boswell for supporting health care reform legislation that makes good health care more affordable and gives us the choice of a public health insurance option,” said state Senator Jack Hatch. “We are proud that Representative Boswell stood with us and stood up to the health insurance industry and other special interests that have been working to kill meaningful reform.”

Celebrating the House Victory with Rousing Chants

We celebrated the house victory with rousing chants of “Health Care Can’t Wait” and “Thank You Boswell”. We called the crowd to action to contact Boswell’s office to tell him we “have his back” as well as Senator Harkin’s office to tell him we are counting on his leadership in the Senate. A special thanks to Adam, the chanter-in-chief, who brought the energy-level way up with his great chat-leading!

Small Business Owner Mike Draper Addresses the Rally

“Small businesses have as much at stake as anyone in the success of health care reform – and we’re some of the biggest winners with the passage of this bill. Representative Boswell, along with Representatives Braley and Loebsack really stood with Iowans on Saturday night when they cast their vote,” said Mike Draper, owner of SMASH in Des Moines. “The health insurance industry and other special interests are doing all they can to kill meaningful reform, and we need our Senators and Representatives to stand with us because if the insurance companies win, we lose.”

After the rally, staff members from Rep. Boswell’s district office were presented with a large thank you note signed by rally attendees and a letter of thanks signed by seventeen state organizations representing thousands of Iowa farmers, workers, small business owners, seniors, health care providers, and individuals.

H-A-R-K-I-N in the Senate We Must Win

The “Countdown to Change” rally participants also praised Senator Harkin, Chair of the influential Senate HELP (Health, Energy, Labor, and Pension) Committee, for his long-standing support of health care reform and urged him to keep fighting for comprehensive health care reform that includes the choice of a public health insurance option as the Senate takes action on health care reform legislation in the coming weeks. DC sources indicate that debate may begin as early as tomorrow in the Senate with a final vote expected next month.

“We are lucky in Iowa to have such courageous and dedicated elected leaders as Congressman Boswell and Senator Harkin,” said Amy Logsdon of the Iowa Citizen Action Network. “Now as we turn to the Senate debate, we’re counting on Senator Harkin to use his leadership position continue to stand with his constituents and support comprehensive legislation that makes good health care more affordable for our families and businesses and includes the choice of a public health insurance option.”

James Addresses the Rally

We'd like to give a big thank you to James of MoveOn for taking the lead on organizing the event – and to all partners who helped!

Thanks to Max for the sound system and beautiful photos!

Here's a selection of photos from the event: