Dear [FNAME],

First, many thanks to all of you who turned out to the Great Health Care Rally in LA on August 11th. We had a big UU contingent and many congregations were represented. We also had a chance to debut our brand new UULMCA t-shirts and they were a smashing success.

While the rally in LA was in support of 
SB 840, a bill that would establish a universal single payer healthcare system for all Californians, I am writing to you today about another bill, AB 8. We at the UU Legislative Ministry Action Network have been working in support of both of these bills as well as others that we felt would begin to address the overwhelming need for affordable healthcare for all Californians. While we continue to believe that SB 840's single payer approach is the best solution, AB 8 would make important steps forward without requiring a 2/3rds vote of the legislature - see an excellent comparison of the bills.
 
For that reason, we are writing about AB 8 (Nuñez & Perata), which would give healthcare coverage to another 3.4 million people who don’t have it now, create a statewide insurance pool, and stop insurance companies from denying insurance on the grounds of pre-existing conditions. It would also set a healthcare “minimum wage” (a required employer contribution of 7.5%) for both full-time and part-time workers.
 
But we’re not done yet! AB 8 still doesn’t do enough to control the costs of health insurance or make it affordable for individuals and families. That’s why we are asking you to Make the Call and ask legislators to make sure that AB 8 makes healthcare more affordable! Insurance is not healthcare if you can't afford to use it!
 
The It’s Our Healthcare Coalition is a coalition of consumer advocates, seniors, health advocates, communities of faith, and labor united to ensure that the people of California’s voice is heard in the debate over healthcare reform. (Complete list of the member organizations).The Coalition is working to get at least 1000 calls in to each legislator by Labor Day.  If your legislator is listed below, please call him or her as soon as you can and let them know that you want the healthcare system fixed NOW. If yours is not listed, please make your call to the Governor.
 
In addition if you can help us spread the word we would appreciate it. Hand out flyers or even better, organize a “calling party” after church in your social hall. Click here to reach a printer ready flyer to distribute to your congregation. Click here to access a printable list of phone numbers and a short script for the call. 

We are in the last weeks of this important step in the campaign for affordable healthcare for millions more Californians, please lend your voice to the effort and Make the Call!!! For more information about this campaign or about the UULM Action Network’s work on this issue, please contact Suzanne Marsh at intern@uulmca.org.

Thanks for all of your support, we truly would not have gotten this far without your help.

 
Blessings,
Suzanne
 
Suzanne M Marsh
UULM Action Network
Intern Minister

List of key legislators to call:

Senators

Calderon (Montebello):     1 866 330 9516

Correa (Santa Ana):          1 866 535 1744

Machado (Stockton):        1 866 439 8495

Ducheny (San Diego):       1 866 525 6812

Florez (Fresno):                1 866 249 1047

Negrete McLeod (San Bernardino): 1 866 203 2578

Perata (Oakland):             1 866 541 1386

Yee (San Francisco):        1 866 302 6740

Assemblymembers

Arambula (Fresno):          1 866 369 3791

Caballero (Salinas):          1 866 545 8926

Galgiani (Stockton):         1 866 503 2234

Wolk (Vacaville):             1 866 567 2194

Nunez (LA):                     1 866 567 2194

Governor Schwarzenegger's District Offices

Fresno:                           1 866 575 3782

LA:                                 1 866 396 0812

Riverside:                        1 866 458 8464

San Diego:                      1 866 515 5817

San Francisco                 1 866 579 5982

To contribute to the UULM Action Network CA and/or the UULM-CA, please visit our Donation pages. UULM Action Network, CA (non-tax deductible) UULM-CA (Tax deductible, for educational purposes). Monthly donors are vital to our work, and one time donations are also gratefully received.