Idaho AFL-CIO endorses HR 676, National Single Payer Health Care

From UnionsForSinglePayer.org –

Rian Van Leuven, President of the Idaho State AFL-CIO, announced that on June 12, 2013, the delegates to the 55th Annual Idaho State AFL-CIO Convention passed a resolution to publicly endorse and support H.R. 676, Single Payer Healthcare.

Further the resolution states “That the Idaho State AFL-CIO will develop working relationships with community organizations in Idaho which advocate for single-payer healthcare and Medicaid expansion.”

Louis Schlickman, MD, an Idaho physician who practices in Meridian and is Co Chair of the Physicians for a National Health Program state chapter, showed the movie Escape Fire and made a single payer presentation to the convention prior to the passage of the resolution.

After the resolution for HR 676 was passed by the Idaho State AFL-CIO Convention, Dr. Schlickman stated that, �Collectively we are all realizing that unions in general can play a huge role in helping others, not just union workers, see the merit in a single payer financing system of care.�

Dr. Schlickman observed that union members �have seen how one unexpected illness or injury leads to significant catastrophes of health and income status. And most important, they understand the issue of solidarity.�

Idaho is the 43rd State AFL-CIO Federation to endorse HR 676, which was introduced into the 113th Congress by Representative John Conyers (D MI). The bill is subtitled Expanded and Improved Medicare for All.