Greens call for new GAO, Congressional Budget Office studies on Single-Payer health care

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, June 18, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


Past federal studies on Single-Payer show it will provide universal care while cutting costs, say Greens, who seek a nationally aired debate on the merits of Single-Payer

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on health care reform http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders and health care activists called for new federal studies on the economic feasibility and impact of a Single-Payer (Medicare For All, HR 676) national health care program. The study should cover overall and ongoing costs and savings, not just government spending.

Greens cited past studies from the General Accounting Office (GAO) and the Congressional Budget Office in the 1990s showing that Single-Payer would reduce the cost of health care while covering every American. The Green Party will make health care reform and the demand for Single-Payer a major focus of the party's 2009 Annual National Meeting in Durham, North Carolina, July 23-26 (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=222).

According to a 1991 GAO report, "If the US were to shift to a system of universal coverage and a single payer, as in Canada, the savings in administrative costs [10 percent of health spending] would be more than enough to offset the expense of universal coverage." ("Canadian Health Insurance: Lessons for the United States," http://archive.gao.gov/d20t9/144039.pdf). More reports are archived at pnhp.org (http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single_payer_system_cost.php?page=all).

"The overall savings we'd gain from Single-Payer will boost the ailing economy and will cut bankruptcies by nearly two thirds," said Jody Grage, treasurer of the Green Party of the United States, who noted a recent Harvard study showing that "Medical problems contributed to nearly two-thirds (62.1 percent) of all bankruptcies in 2007" (Physicians for a National Health Program press release, June 4, 2009, http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/june/illness_medical_bil.php).

"The 'public health care option' supported by Sen. Kennedy and many other Democrats will leave the private insurance industry intact and lead to increased health care spending, especially if mandates lead to big taxpayer-funded subsidies for insurance and HMO companies and the high overhead they add to health care spending. We challenge Congress and President Obama to consult the GAO and Congressional Budget Office on the costs and benefits of Single-Payer," said Ms. Grage.

The Green Party has challenged Sen. Max Baucus and other Single-Payer opponents to hold a public debate, broadcast nationally, with Single-Payer advocates (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=221). Sen. Baucus has received more campaign money from the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries over the last four years than any other Democrat in Congress -- $413,000 since 2005, with only Republicans John McCain and Mitch McConnell receiving more (http://www.Consumer Watchdog.org).

Greens said that such a debate is urgently necessary because of the lies and distortions about Single-Payer and health care reform coming from the Wall Street Journal (http://mediamatters.org/blog/200906160005), Conservatives for Patients' Rights, and other opponents of health care reform. See also "Debunking Canadian Health Care Myths" by Rhonda Hackett, The Denver Post, June 7 (http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12523427).

"Apologists for profit-making insurance companies are dishonestly trying to paint Single-Payer as expensive and radical. In fact, Single-Payer is more fiscally conservative, because it'll eliminate the high overhead of private insurance. Secondly, Single-Payer allows full choice of physician, which will restore the American tradition of family doctors who get to know their patients' health care needs. Instead of an insurance company or HMO bureaucracy restricting treatment and referrals, Single-Payer will bring back the days when patients and physicians made decisions about medical care," said Justine McCabe, Connecticut Green, clinical psychologist, and co-author of statewide Single-Payer bill, 1999-2000 (http://www.gp.org/speakers/detail.php?ID=35).

"And finally, under a Single-Payer plan, no one will suffer financial ruin because of medical expenses," said Dr. McCabe.

"Unfortunately, President Obama and congressional leaders insist that we all spend more money on health care, with taxes on health-care benefits, to pay for 'reform' that would still leave tens of millions uninsured and underinsured. At the same time, they don't want Americans to hear about the benefits of Single-Payer -- even though they admit it would save money, cover everyone, and give us the right to choose our doctors," said Angel Torres, co-chair of the Maricopa Greens (http://maricopagreens.org), which held a Single-Payer rally in front of the office of Arizona Rep. Harry Mitchell on May 30 to persuade him to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 676.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July 23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Audio clip: Lynne Williams, Green candidate for Governor of Maine, speaks at a May 30 rally for National Health Care at the State House in Augusta, introduced by Pat LaMarche, 2004 Green nominee for Vice President http://www.asmainegoes.com/content/audio-maine-green-party-gubernatorial-candidate-lynne-williams

"Health Professionals Tell Congress They Want Single-Payer"
By Jeff Muskus, The Huffington Post, June 10, 2009
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/10/health-professionals-tell_n_213873.html

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

GPUS: President Obama and the US State Dept. must demand release of Cynthia McKinney and 20 other human rights activists on Free Gaza relief boat

Green Party: President Obama and the US State Dept. must demand release of Cynthia McKinney and 20 other human rights activists on Free Gaza relief boat seized by Israeli gunboats

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


The Free Gaza's 'Spirit of Humanity' was delivering medical and other supplies following Obama's call for relief to wartorn Gaza; the boat was in international waters


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders are calling on the White House and US State Department to intervene and demand the immediate release of 21 human rights activists, including former US Rep. Cynthia McKinney and Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire, who were taken prisoner by the Israeli navy after gunboats surrounded and seized the Free Gaza Movement relief boat 'Spirit of Humanity' on Monday.

"This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip," said Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party's 2008 candidate for President of the United States. "President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that's exactly what we tried to do. We're asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey."

Read Cynthia McKinney's latest statement here: http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/970-call-off-your-attack-dogs-cynthia-mckinney

Ms. McKinney had earlier sent appeals to President Obama and the State Department for assurances of protection for the relief mission. The Spirit of Humanity was sailing in international waters when it was seized. Greens stressed that the relief boat represents no threat to Israel and must be allowed to continue its voyage to Gaza.

For more information and updates, see the Free Gaza Movement web site (http://www.freegaza.org), including the latest release on the seizure of the relief boat (http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/hope-fleet-news/976-israel-attacks-justice-boat-kidnaps-human-rights-workers-confiscates-medicine-toys-and-olive-trees).

For communications and updates from Cynthia McKinney, visit her Green Party page (http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.php) and blog (http://dignity.ning.com).

The Spirit of Humanity was carrying medical supplies, cement, olive trees, and children's toys to Gaza after the Israeli invasion in December and January damaged or destroyed 50,000 homes, 800 industrial properties and 200 schools damaged or destroyed, 39 mosques, and two churches. The supplies were confiscated by the Israeli navy.

The Green Party of the United States condemned the invasion and massacre of Palestinians and has endorsed the call for boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel until the Israeli government guarantees full human rights, including political rights and democracy, for all Palestinians and non-Jewish Israelis.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
International Committee of the Green Party: http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

Green Party releases:
"Breaking news: Cynthia McKinney aboard detained Free Gaza Movement relief boat," June 25, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=228
"Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation," March 26, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=192
"Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to resume," January 19, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July 23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
North Carolina page http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html
Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Breaking news: Cynthia McKinney aboard detained Free Gaza Movement relief boat

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, June 25, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org



Boat with 33 international human rights activists is acting on Obama's call for medical supplies and cement to be delivered to Gaza


WASHINGTON, DC -- 2008 Green presidential nominee Cynthia McKinney is participating in a second campaign to deliver goods to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade.

According to recent news reports, port authority officials in Cyprus have detained a multi-national Free Gaza Movement boat in Lanarca under pressure from Israel. The boat is carrying 33 human rights activists, including Ms. McKinney, and shipments of medical supplies and cement.

See Ms. McKinney's June 25 blog post for an update (http://dignity.ning.com/profiles/blogs/they-denied-us-so-they-wouldnt).

Ms. McKinney notes that President Obama himself has called for medical supplies and cement to be sent to Gaza. Despite the Obama statement and a request from Ms. McKinney to the White House for an assurance of safety, the US State Department has warned the boat against sailing to Gaza.

Cynthia McKinney, a former six-term Democratic member of the US House from Georgia, was aboard a Free Gaza Movement boat delivering medical supplies to Gaza that was rammed by Israeli naval forces in January, 2009. Ms. McKinney and running mate Rosa Clemente were nominated for President and Vice President at the Green Party's 2008 national convention in Chicago, Illinois.

For news on the unfolding situation, see:

Communications and updates from Cynthia McKinney:
http://www.gp.org/cynthia/index.php
http://dignity.ning.com

Special report on Gaza featuring Ms. McKinney and Greta Berlin of the Free Gaza Movement (audio and text):
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-281664
http://www.sendspace.com/file/7veibj

Free Gaza Movement: http://www.freegaza.org

"Cyprus halts aid boats bound for Gaza Strip: US-based Free Gaza Movement planned to take 33 activists to Gaza with medical supplies and cement; Cypriot shipping officials cited inspection requirements for stopping the two vessels from leaving port"
Reuters/Israel News, June 25, 2009
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3737002,00.html

"Activists plan to send Gaza cement, in violation of Israel blockade"
Reuters and Haaretz Service, June 18, 2009
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1093988.html

From the Green Party:

"Greens join Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on March 30 to end the Israeli occupation," March 26, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=192

"Green Party: Israel-Palestine truce must include end of Israeli occupation and observance of international law or violence is likely to resume," January 19, 2009 http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=169

International Committee of the Green Party: http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July 23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
North Carolina page http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html
Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Green Party, preparing for 2009 national meeting, ask: Is America ready for a real opposition party now?

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Friday, June 26, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org



Citing Democrats' votes for war funding and retreats on health care, Greens call Dems "the new wing of the GOP" and invite Americans to "come home to the Green Party"

Green Party Annual National meeting: Durham, North Carolina, July 23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on various issues http://www.gp.org/speakers


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders, preparing for the party's 2009 Annual National Meeting, said that America is in desperate need of a real opposition party, as Democrats maintain Republican positions on foreign policy, health care, the environment, and other big issues.

The Green Party's national meeting will take place in Durham, North Carolina, from July 23 to July 26 (http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html). Reporters are invited to cover the meeting (http://www.gp.org/forms/media).

"Democratic leaders made their party a wing of the Republican Party in June," said Wayne Turner, North Carolina Green Party co-chair (http://www.ncgreenparty.org). "Any progressive positions taken by the Obama administration are getting nullified by Blue Dog Democrats and other Republican allies. The Democratic leadership and mainstream have adopted values we associate with the GOP, while Republicans are taking ever more extreme positions and want to see President Obama fail at whatever he sets out to accomplish. That leaves two parties representing corporate lobbies and the Green Party representing the interests and ideals of most Americans. 'Across the aisle' used to mean Democrats and Republicans. Now both of them are across the aisle from the rest of America."

"With President Obama expanding the war in Afghanistan and Democrats overwhelmingly voting for war funding, the Democratic Party can no longer pretend to be the antiwar party. We invite voters who want peace to come home to the Green Party," said Mr. Turner.

Greens cited widespread popular opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, support for a national health care plan that covers all Americans (http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE55K00220090621), and resentment over the Wall Street bailout as evidence that the Green Party is closer to the political sentiments of a majority of Americans.

Green leaders pointed to several decisions and actions in June that betray the Obama promise of change:

256 Democrats in the House voted for the war funding bill, with only 30 Democratic nays. President Obama is also expanding US troops in Afghanistan, with air attacks inside Pakistani borders, and has maintained the Bush-Cheney 'preemption' doctrine in threatening Iran. (Democratic leaders endorsed both wars from the beginning and continued voting for President Bush's war funding requests after they took control of Congress in 2006.)

The Democratic leadership's health care reform plans not only reject Single-Payer, but will also omit the public health care option because it's "unfair to insurance companies" -- as if insurance industry profits were more urgent the health needs of millions of Americans.

In capitulation to industry interests, the Waxman-Markey climate bill ("American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009") would place a weak cap on greenhouse gas emissions (reductions of only 1-4% below 1990 levels by 2020), create a $2 trillion carbon-trading market with dangerously unregulated derivatives and minimal effect on emissions, give away 85% of the carbon permits to corporations over the next decade, offer a $150 billion handout to coal companies, and impose a severely inadequate 15% renewable energy standard by 2020.

President Obama approved mountaintop removal for coal, which will wreak further environmental devastation on states like West Virginia and Tennessee. The Obama Administration continues to espouse industry myths about 'clean coal.'

Despite President Obama's announcement of some limited domestic partnership benefits for gay federal employees, the Obama Justice Department has submitted a brief in support of the antigay Defense of Marriage Act, undercutting the President's claim to support equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.

To this list, Greens added other Democratic betrayals and retreats: the bailout for Wall Street (the largest transfer of wealth from taxpayers to corporations in history); continued warrantless surveillance of US citizens; refusal to hold Bush officials who approved torture and lied to Congress accountable for their actions (with torture continuing at some sites, according to reports); and uninterrupted military aid for Israel despite massive human rights violations against Palestinians.

"Why won't President Obama and congressional Democrats fight for a cap on credit card interest rates and restoration of Glass-Steagal regulations to prevent financial industry abuses? The election of a few Greens to Congress would change the dynamic of American politics. Democrats and Republicans would have to compete with Green candidates, who accept neither corporate campaign contributions nor the influence of corporate lobbies," said Jody Grage, treasurer of the Green Party of the United States.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July 23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
North Carolina page http://ncgreenparty.org/2009-ANM.html
Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Global Greens condemn violence in Peru, seek an independent investigation of police actions at protests against land grab for oil drilling

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Monday, June 22, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

Statement of the Global Green Coordination, forwarded by the Green Party of the United States


WASHINGTON, DC -- The following statement was issued by the Global Green Coordination on June 15. The Global Greens (http://www.globalgreens.org) is the international network of Green parties and political movements, founded in 2001 at the First Global Greens Congress, in Canberra, Australia. The Green Party of the United States is a member of the Global Greens.

Global Greens Condemn Violence in Peru
http://www.globalgreens.org/statements/peru

The Global Green Coordination has called for an independent investigation into the actions of police in the Amazonian region of Peru which resulted in at least 50 deaths. After the violence near the town of Bagua Grande, hundreds more people, mainly indigenous people, are missing and it is alleged that police have hidden hundreds of bodies. Indigenous people were protesting against new legislation which will mean their land can be exploited for oil and gas drilling.

We call on the government of President Alan Garcia to immediately stop all police actions against demonstrations by indigenous people. We also urge the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to launch an independent investigation into the violence, just as it did after similar violence in Bolivia earlier this year. In that instance, UNASUR played a very important role in calming an extremely volatile situation and they could do so again in this case. It is also vital that the Peruvian authorities allow human rights organizations free access to the area where the clashes took place, so that a thorough assessment of what happened can be made.

The Global Greens also call on the international community to put all the pressure it can on the Peruvian Government so that it stops police violence against indigenous protesters and launches a thorough and independent investigation into the causes of the violence.

An important element of the pressure which could be brought to bear on Peru is related to trade agreements: the change in legislation the indigenous protested against is necessary following the stipulations in the recent Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the USA. The Commercial Agreement the EU is currently negotiating with with Peru, Colombia and Ecuador contains very similar provisions, and partly goes beyond US demands. Therefore, a radical change of the EU negotiations is necessary as a first step we call on the European Commission and Council to suspend negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with Peru (as well as Ecuador and Colombia) until an independent investigation has reached its conclusions and the people responsible for the violence have been tried and, if found guilty, been sentenced to punishment. The suspension should provide the time necessary to re-orientate the contents of the negotiations, so that a future agreement protects people and the environment rather then exploit them.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Global Greens http://www.globalgreens.org

International Committee of the Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org/committees/intl

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July 23-26 http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Economic recovery plans from Obama and Congress favor giant corporate lenders, Wall Street firms, and insurance companies over the needs of Americans

Green Party leaders: Economic recovery plans from Obama and Congress favor giant corporate lenders, Wall Street firms, and insurance companies over the needs of Americans

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, June 11, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


The White House bid to seize workers' retirement health benefits to pay off GM's debt is illegal, say Greens White House and Congress must outlaw lending and credit card usury

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on economics http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-economic-justice.php
http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-economic-sustainability.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders said today that measures to end the recession must focus on the financial needs of middle- and lower-income Americans, and accused Democrats and Republicans in Congress and President Obama of favoring big banks, financial institutions, and insurance firms.

"The very banks, Wall Street firms, and insurance companies that are responsible for the economic crisis are calling the shots for economic recovery. They're using their power over Congress and the White House to make sure that taxpayers' money and workers' retirement benefits rescue CEOs and major shareholders. They're blocking badly needed regulation and the deeper reforms in our economic system that are necessary to dig us out of the hole. Unfortunately, President Obama and Democrats and Republicans in Congress are cooperating with them so that the power these corporations hold over America remains undiminished," said Laura Wells, former candidate for California State Controller (TV interview: http://www.gp.org/flash/LauraWells/lw.html). Ms. Wells intends to run for the position again "until we -- the people of this state -- win. We need to follow the money, understand it, and correct it."

"The measure of the health of the economy is the stability of the nation's households. The current economic 'remedies' offered by Republicans, Democrats, and the Obama Administration are designed to ensure the well-being of corporations at the expense of our households," said Jill Bussiere, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Congress and the White House have refused to take real action against skyrocketing interest rates, especially on credit cards, by restoring laws against usury and imposing interest rate caps. Greens called the Democrats' "Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights" a small step in the right direction but severely inadequate, with no limits on future credit card interest rates.

"The economic meltdown is the result of deregulated lending -- predatory mortgage lending, outrageous credit card interest and fees, and other practices that have put working Americans into endless debt and bankrupted small businesses," said Jody Grage, treasurer of the Green Party of the United States. "But Democrats and Republicans alike have refused to consider modest steps like an 18% interest rate cap, out of loyalty to major corporate campaign contributors and lobbies."

"The most important step in ending the economic crisis must be reversal of the Reagan-Bush-Clinton revolution, which deregulated the financial industry. All that rhetoric about 'shrinking big government' really meant repealing protections for working people, especially laws against usury. Since 1980, bipartisan legislation favoring giant corporate lenders have paved the way for the current disaster. It's time to restore and expand the Glass-Steagal Act, overturn recent bankruptcy bills that put millions of Americans in hock to credit card companies and other financial corporations, and place restrictive caps on corporate lenders and creditors," said Ms. Grage.

More information: "The Trouble With Democrats" by William Greider, The Nation, June 22, 2009 (http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090622/greider).

While the recent massive taxpayer-funded bailouts for Wall Street firms and major banks have imposed minimal conditions, the Obama Administration forced General Motors into bankruptcy and now demands that the retirement health benefits of workers be used to pay off the GM's debt.

"By demanding that GM workers' retirement money be sent to creditor banks, Steven Rattner, President Obama's 'Car Czar,' is breaking the law. That money belongs to the workers, not to GM or the banks. This is outright theft, for the benefit of powerful banks," said Jody Grage.

The 1974 Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) protects benefits that workers have already paid for, prohibiting their use to pay off an employer's debt. More information: "Grand Theft Auto: How Stevie the Rat bankrupted GM" by Greg Palast, June 1, 2009 (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vlatibertaciana/message/3894).

A Harvard Medical School and Ohio University study reported in the American Journal of Medicine (http://www.pnhp.org/new_bankruptcy_study) reveals that medical bills are behind 60% of bankruptcies in the US.

"Insurance companies are chiefly responsible for the breakdown of US health care and skyrocketing medical costs, and for contributing to the greater economic crisis by sending Americans into bankruptcy. The only solution is to remove for-profit insurance from the health care system and converting to a Single-Payer/Medicare For All national health care plan, which would protect everyone from financial ruin because of illness or injury," said Ron Forthofer, PhD, Green candidate for Congress in 2000 and for governor of Colorado in 2002 and retired professor of biostatistics, the University of Texas School of Public Health (see http://www.healthcareforallcolorado.org).

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

2009 Annual National Meeting of the Green Party, Durham, NC, July 23-26
http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM
Media credentialing page http://www.gp.org/forms/media

"Wall Street Ends Hope for Homeowners Via Congress"
By Shamus Cooke, Global Research, June 7, 2009
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=13887

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Green Party to hold 2009 national meeting in Durham, North Carolina, July 23-26

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org
Theresa El-Amin, North Carolina Green Party, 919-824-0659, teagreenparty@aol.com
Hillary Kane, Green Party Annual Meeting Committee, 267-971-3559, hillarya@upenn.edu


National meeting web page: http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM

Media credentialing page for the meeting: http://www.gp.org/forms/media


WASHINGTON, DC -- The Green Party of the United States will hold its 2009 Annual National Meeting in Durham, North Carolina, from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday July 26. The meeting will take place on the campus of North Carolina Central University.

State Green Party delegates, party leaders, candidates, officeholders, and others will gather in Durham for a weekend of plenary sessions covering party business, numerous workshops, social events, committee meetings, and other events. Many of the events are open to the public.

Press conferences will take place on Thursday and Friday, July 23 and 24 (schedule to be announced). Reporters and photographers are invited to the press conferences and other events.

The meeting will be hosted by the North Carolina Green Party (http://www.ncgreenparty.org). Health care and the need for a Single-Payer national health plan will be among the major issue focuses of the meeting.

North Carolina Central University (http://www.nccu.edu), the nation's first public liberal arts institution founded for African-Americans, is currently celebrating its 100 year anniversary. For information about Durham, visit the city's online Visitors' Guide and Information Center (http://www.durham-nc.com).

A web page for the 2009 national meeting (http://www.gp.org/2009-ANM) has basic information for registration and contacts. More information, including the meeting schedule, guest speakers, and special events, will be announced soon.

The Green Party's last national meeting was the 2008 Presidential Nominating Convention in Chicago, Illinois, at which Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente were chosen as the party's presidential and vice-presidential nominees.


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

When natural gas drilling comes to your town: New York Greens hold forum to educate about new drilling methods

When natural gas drilling comes to your town
New York Greens hold forum to educate about new drilling methods
by Deyva Arthur, Green Party of New York State

Green Pages
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog/?p=1003

The Steuben Greens decided not to wait but to take a proactive approach to encroaching natural gas drilling. With state hearings not far away, they felt residents of western New York needed to be prepared. This local Green Party held a forum on the health and environmental impacts of new horizontal gas drilling techniques proposed for the district. While natural gas drilling is becoming a more popular energy alternative to oil, communities across the country do not know the full environmental consequences of this industry.

The forum, organized in conjunction with the Bath Peace and Justice Group, began with a documentary film, (Title) by Two Cent Films and Crestone Media. The film documents the impacts of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in Colorado, and features Theo Colburn, a research chemist who has studied the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids.


Schoharie Valley from Vroman's Nose. photo by Andy Coates

With several public hearings coming up sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Steuben Greens wanted local residents to be ready to voice their opinions about the substantial increase in drilling and held a discussion on how drilling impacts health and the environment. The forum was meant to prepare people to give testimony at the DEC hearings in Bath, Elmira and Allegany (near Olean).

The DEC has scheduled these hearings to receive comments on its “Draft Scope for Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on Well Permit Issuance for Horizontal Drilling and High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing to Develop the Marcellus Shale and Other Low-Permeability Gas Reservoirs.” The scope states the DEC has received applications for permits to drill horizontal wells to evaluate and develop the Marcellus shale for natural gas production. Wells will undergo a stimulation process known as hydraulic fracturing. While the horizontal well applications received to date are for proposed locations in Chemung, Chenango and Tioga Counties, drilling could expand to other counties such as Delaware, Sullivan, Otsego, and Schoharie, where natural gas production has not previously been pursued.

“The rush to use natural gas as a transition fuel has serious negative environmental consequences.” David Cyr

As natural gas drilling increases, Greens such as David Cyr of the Green Party of New York State are speaking out. He said, the “politicized concept of ‘energy independence’ is producing an un-clean net result. … The rush to use natural gas as a transition fuel has serious negative environmental consequences. Whenever a corporate solution to an environmental problem seems remarkably green, look into it again - much more carefully.”

Cyr said it is predicted that over the next 20 years natural gas use will double and efforts to find new sources increase. To the west of the country there already is a sizable natural gas industry; now companies are eyeing the east, especially from Virginia up to Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.

As the Steuben Greens are finding, natural gas companies use newer methods for drilling. Cyr said natural gas companies have to go deeper and in more difficult places to find sources. Halliburton has developed a “high pressure, horizontally bored and hydrofractured drilling process … which essentially — rather like alchemy — converts stone into gas.”

Cyr said the natural gas industry has increased use of shale gas drilling by 300 percent since 1990 and is in turn creating substantial amounts of hazardous waste that can easily contaminate fresh water. In his description of the process he said, “The vertical holes are drilled far deeper and the bits bore multiple horizontal holes over great distances. A large number of hazardous chemicals are combined with enormous quantities of good fresh water. That “slick water” mixture is used to flood the drilled holes. By means of huge diesel burning air compressors, it’s then pressurized up to 8,000 psi. That converts as much as a thousand times more water than traditionally used into toxic waste…Far higher volumes of toxic fluids, and much higher pressure is used to make those fluids behave as powerful explosives to shatter stone formations that lie beneath water supplies.”

Cyr warns the public is ill informed regarding the impact of gas drilling and it is up to activists like the Steuben Greens to educate communities about the dangers. He said, “cheerfully optimistic TV advertisements assure viewers that gas corporations are going to bring about energy independence for America, by using new technologies providing amazing quantities of domestic ‘green’ energy production. They don’t mention the invasive scale of well sites required to achieve that; nor their expropriation of enormous quantities of fresh water which is more valuable than the gas squandered to get it; nor the staggering amount of hazardous waste the new technology produces.”

NY Green Party Decries NY Senate Coup and Calls for Grassroots Resistance

NY Green Party Decries NY Senate Coup and Calls for Grassroots Resistance
www.GPNYS.org

Peter LaVenia chair2@gpny.org 518-463-8653
Eric Jones chair@gpny.org, 716-908-5226

The New York State Green Party decries the latest power play in the NY State Senate. The leadership coup on Monday night by the Republican Party and at least two Democrats, one under investigation for fraud and the other for physical assault, is the newest in a serious of undemocratic and disgraceful acts that have earned the State Legislature the title of most undemocratic and “Stalinist” from the Brennan Center for Law and Justice. The Green Party calls for immediate overhaul of Legislative procedures and electoral reform, including full public financing of campaigns, proportional representation, and allowing bills to come to a floor vote without leadership approval. The Green Party also calls for the NY State Attorney General and the Albany District Attorney to protect taxpayers by taking action against Floridian Thomas Golisano for potential bribery of two of the coup members, and all of the legislators who have been suspected or convicted of criminal activity.

“The coup leaders: Golisano, Skelos, Espada, and Monserrate claim that this is a step towards democratic reform – which is always the refrain of autocratic coup leaders worldwide. Yet this is clearly a power play by a few disgruntled Democrats who are under investigation for fraud and physical assault, Republicans angry about their allotted share of pork, and a billionaire who believes he has a right to manipulate state government because of his wealth. While the former Democratic majority was in no hurry to make any reforms to state legislative practices, this is a coup instigated by Tom Golisano who was so angry that there was any move made to tax the ruling class to cover the budget shortfall that he has claimed a move to Florida, with this as his parting gift,” said Eric Jones, state co-chair of the Green Party.

“Real reform would require basic but fundamental changes to the legislature and electoral politics that would actually increase grassroots democracy in New York. The legislature should decrease leadership power by allowing bills to come to a debate and vote without leadership approval – something that is commonplace in most parliaments around the world. Pork and earmarks should be banned from bills and replaced with a state bank that provides low-interest loans to municipalities. Public financing of elections and proportional representation would help remove money from politics and break the stranglehold of the two parties on the legislature. Finally, government should be decentralized from Albany and power should be invested as much as possible in the citizenry and direct, grassroots assemblies, not Legislators-for-life in Albany,” said David Doonan, mayor of Greenwich.

“Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans care for any fundamental change that might democratize New York State. The Democratic majority had six months to make sweeping and progressive changes to labor law, conduct electoral reform, start radical environmental reforms, and actually overhaul the Legislature and its anti-democratic procedures. Instead of maintaining a modicum of democratic pretensions in January by creating a coalition government with Republicans and allowing members to vote bills onto the floor the Democratic leadership was the first to make a rotten deal with Espada and Monserrate; now it is the Republican’s turn to make the same deal. On Monday it was business as usual: in the morning the Dems had planned to dole out $76.7 million in member items to their caucus and only $8.2 million to the Republicans. While member items should be banned under any real plan for change, this highlights how much change for Senator Smith, Speaker Silver and Gov. Paterson was about money, and for the Republicans as well. It is time for real change in Albany, which means the citizenry of New York electing Green Party members to the state legislature and pushing for real reforms at the grassroots level. We quote the famous Latino phrase “Que Se Vayan Todos” – they all must go – used often against corrupt Latin American legislatures and quite appropriate for our own,” said Peter LaVenia, co-chair of the New York State Green Party.

Green Party leaders challenge Sen. Baucus and defenders of private insurance to debate Single-Payer advocates

http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, June 4, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


Greens challenge major media to air the debate: "Americans deserve to hear a debate on the merits of Single-Payer vs. health care dominated by for-profit insurance companies"

Greens warn: Beware misleading Conservatives for Patients' Rights ads attacking health care reform

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on health care http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders challenged Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and other defenders of health care reform based on private insurance to debate advocates of Single-Payer national health care in a public forum.

Greens also challenged the major media to broadcast the debate.

"Americans deserve to hear a debate on the merits of Single-Payer/Medicare For All versus the merits of a health care system dominated by for-profit insurance companies and HMOs," said Angel Torres, co-chair of the Green Party of Maricopa County (http://www.maricopagreens.org), which organized a rally for Single-Payer in front of the office of Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.) on May 30.

"Greens are prepared to defend Single-Payer publicly. We also challenge groups like Physicians for a National Health Program, the Healthcare-Now Coalition, Single-Payer Action, and the California Nurses Association to represent the Single-Payer side. Single-Payer supporters have been fighting to get public attention, especially for Rep. John Conyers' Single-Payer bill, HR 676," said Mr. Torres.

Greens participated in national Day of Action for Single-Payer events throughout the US on May 30 (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=218). In Augusta, Maine, 2004 Green vice presidential candidate Pat LaMarche hosted a Single-Payer rally at the statehouse (http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/6407921.html).

Sen. Baucus, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has called Single-Payer "off the table" and barred Single-Payer advocates from participating in committee roundtables on health care reform that took place in May.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic politicians are trying to discourage state Single-Payer advocates (http://www.Healthcare4allPA.org), including Greens, from participating in a health care lobby day on June 11 organized by the AFL-CIO.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Democrats and Republicans accepted over $46 million in insurance industry donations in 2008 (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09). According to Consumer Watchdog, Sen. Baucus has taken more campaign contributions from health insurance firms ($183,750 in the last two election cycles) and pharmaceutical companies ($229,020) than any other Democratic member of the House and Senate.


Greens blast misleading TV ads

Green Party health care activists warned that private insurance defenders are placing ads to mislead the public about health care reform, even to the point of confusing private insurance-based plans favored by President Obama and Democratic leaders with Single-Payer.

Recent TV ads have featured Rick Scott, chair of Conservatives for Patients' Rights, who was fired from his position as CEO of Columbia/HCA in 1997 after he was caught trying defraud the federal and state governments for hundreds of millions of taxpayers' dollars in false Medicare and Medicaid payments, the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud in history. The company had to pay back $1.7 billion, but Mr. Scott, instead of facing prosecution, received $10 million in severance pay and $300 million worth of stock.

"The last thing private insurance lobbies want is open and honest discussion about Single-Payer. Sen. Baucus has remained steadfast in rejecting Single-Payer and excluding advocates from future hearings. But we're hopeful that Sen. Ted Kennedy will invite pro-Single-Payer physicians to an upcoming June 10 and 11 hearing hosted by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, which Sen. Kennedy chairs," said Jody Grage, treasurer of the Green Party of the United States. (See http://www.opednews.com/articles/Baucus-Tells-Single-Payer-by-David-Swanson-090603-713.html)

Greens argue that for-profit health insurance adds high costs (administrative overhead, demand for profit) but no value (medical treatment). All other industrial nations guarantee their citizens health care; no one in Canada, which has a Single-Payer system, faces financial ruin because of illness or injury.

Single-Payer, based on Medicare (administrative costs: about 3%), eliminates the inefficiency of private coverage, drastically cutting costs while covering all Americans ("everyone in, no one out") and allowing full choice of physician and hospital. Greens said that the reforms favored by President Obama and many Democrats don't curb inefficiency, because they leave the insurance/HMO gatekeepers in charge (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=216).

Green leaders noted that polls have shown widespread popular support for a national health care program that guarantees universal coverage (http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html). In 2008, the US Conference of Mayors endorsed Single-Payer (http://www.usmayors.org/resolutions/76th_conference/chhs_03.asp), as have thousands of physicians.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-719
Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Green Party information page on Single-Payer http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html

"Fire Departments and Health Care"
By Scott McLarty, OpEdNews.com, May 15, 2009
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Fire-Departments-and-Healt-by-Scott-McLarty-090511-756.html
http://www.gp.org/commentary/scott-mclarty/fire-health.shtml

"Rx and the Single Payer"
By Bill Moyers and Michael Winship, Common Dreams, May 22, 2009 http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/22-4

"We Spend Twice as Much on Health Care as Other Rich Countries -- and What Do We Get for It?"
By Dean Baker, AlterNet, May 19, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/140098

Single-Payer advocates:
Physicians for a National Health Program http://www.pnhp.org
Healthcare-Now Coalition http://www.healthcare-now.org
Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care http://guaranteedhealthcare4all.org
Single-Payer Action http://singlepayeraction.org
California Nurses Association http://www.calnurses.org

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

Greens prepare for the national Day of Action promoting Single-Payer national health care on May 30

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Thursday, May 28, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


Greens, joining other groups throughout the week, protest the exclusion of Single-Payer from the public debate on health care reform

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on health care http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Parties are planning various events and actions for the national Day of Action for Single-Payer national health care (Medicare For All) on Saturday, May 30 (http://www.healthcare-now.org/campaigns/may-30th-day-of-action).

The Day of Action is being organized by Healthcare-Now (http://www.healthcare-now.org) and other groups dedicated to winning a national health care program that covers all Americans and replaces private insurance/HMO coverage. Polls show strong popular support for a national health care program that guarantees universal coverage (http://www.wpasinglepayer.org/PollResults.html).

The Green Party of Maricopa County (http://maricopagreens.org) and other Single-Payer activists in Arizona will gather at 10:00 am on May 30 in front of the office of Rep. Harry Mitchell, 7201 East Camelback Road in Scottsdale. "Unlike Representatives Ed Pastor (CD 4) and Raul Grijalva (CD 7), Harry Mitchell has not signed on as a co-sponsor of HR 676. The time has come to change our inefficient and costly healthcare system," said Maricopa Greens co-chair Angel Torres.

The Maine Green Independent Party (http://www.mainegreens.org) will participate in a 'Your Feet to the Street' rally at noon on May 30 at the Maine Statehouse in Augusta. Maine Greens will join Midcoast Health Care Reform, the Maine State Nurses Association, Physicians For A National Health Program, the Maine AFL-CIO, and other Single-Payer advocates at the rally. Pat LaMarche, the Green Party's 2004 vice presidential candidate, will emcee.

New York Greens (http://www.gpnys.org) will attend an 8pm vigil on May 30 at Union Square for Single Payer NYC sponsored by the Private Health Insurance Must Go! Coalition, Healthcare-NOW! and ACT-UP in honor of the thousands of people who die each year because they lack access to health care.

Pennsylvania Greens (http://www.gpofpa.org) are supporting and will join a demonstration from noon until 1:30 pm on May 30 at Cigna headquarters, Two Liberty Place, 16th and Chestnut Streets in Philadelphia.

The Illinois Green Party (http://www.ilgp.org) has endorsed and will participate in a Single-Payer rally in Chicago at the offices of Cigna Insurance, 525 West Monroe, on Tuesday, June 2, at 4:30 pm. A coalition of Single-Payer groups is sponsoring the event.

Greens throughout the US are also writing letters to newspapers, sending messages to Congress members, and urging public support for Single-Payer and for HR 676, Rep. John Conyers' (D-Mich.) Single-Payer bill.

Earlier this week:

On Tuesday, May 26, the Green Party of Pima County (http://pimagreens.org), the Arizona Green Party (http://azgp.org), and other pro-Single-Payer groups rallied in Tucson and then testified at US Rep. Grabrielle Giffords' 'Health Care Town Hall.'.

On Thursday, May 27, New York Greens helped organize a rally and lobby day at the state capitol in Albany in support of a statewide Single-Payer health care plan and passage of HR 676 nationally. The rally was sponsored by Single Payer New York (http://www.singlepayernewyork.org) and other groups; New York Green activist Mark Dunlea serves as co-chair of Single Payer New York.

Greens have been involved in the campaign for Single-Payer throughout the US. David Doonan, Village Mayor of Greenwich, New York, submitted a resolution supporting Single-Payer to the Village Board of Trustees in September, 2008, which passed. Green Party activists Dr. Jill Stein and Dr. John Battista have led efforts to win statewide Single-Payer legislation in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

After Senate Finance Committee chair Max Baucus stated that Single-Payer would be "off the table," Greens supported and participated in public protests against attempts in the media, Congress, and White House to bar Single-Payer from the health care reform debate (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=212). Greens were among protesters at congressional health care reform roundtables on May 5 and 12, at which the 'Baucus 13' were arrested for speaking out against the exclusion of Single-Payer advocates.

Greens reject the 'public health care option' promoted by many Democratic politicians and pro-Democrat liberal groups, since a public option will leave the private health insurance industry intact and not curb the current inefficiencies and soaring costs of health care (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=216).

Democrats and Republicans accepted $46 million in contributions from the insurance industry in 2008 (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09). Sen. Baucus took $183,750 from health insurance companies and $229,020 from drug companies in the last two election cycles. The Green Party and Green candidates do not accept corporate contributions.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Green Party information page on Single-Payer http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html

"Fire Departments and Health Care"
By Scott McLarty, OpEdNews.com, May 15, 2009
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Fire-Departments-and-Healt-by-Scott-McLarty-090511-756.html
http://www.gp.org/commentary/scott-mclarty/fire-health.shtml

Interview with Dr. Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen and Dr. David Himmelstein of Physicians for a National Health Program, Bill Moyers Journal, PBS, May 22, 2009
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05222009/watch2.html

"We Spend Twice as Much on Health Care as Other Rich Countries -- and What Do We Get for It?"
By Dean Baker, AlterNet, May 19, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/140098

Single-Payer advocates:
Physicians for a National Health Program http://www.pnhp.org
Healthcare-Now Coalition http://www.healthcare-now.org
Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care http://guaranteedhealthcare4all.org
Single-Payer Action http://singlepayeraction.org
California Nurses Association http://www.calnurses.org

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog

America needs Single-Payer, not the public health care option, say Greens

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org


Greens blast Democrats, liberal caucuses in Congress, unions, and health care advocacy groups that have backed away from Single-Payer in favor of the public option

Sen. Baucus and other Democratic and Republican foes of Single-Payer are taking big money from the private health insurance/HMO industry; Greens cite likely 84% reduction in administrative costs only possible through Single-Payer's public finance-private delivery plan

Green Party Speakers Bureau: Green leaders available to speak on health care http://www.gp.org/speakers/speakers-health-care.php


WASHINGTON, DC--Green Party leaders and health care reform activists said today that the 'public health care option,' promoted by many Democrats, is not an acceptable alternative to a Single-Payer/Medicare For All national health care program (HR 676).

The Green Party of the United States has endorsed the national Day of Action (http://www.healthcare-now.org/campaigns/may-30th-day-of-action) for Single-Payer national health care on Saturday, May 30 (http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=212).

Party leaders sharply criticized Democratic politicians, health care advocacy groups like the Health Care For America Now coalition and Maine People's Alliance, unions, and liberal and progressive caucuses in Congress (http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/04/28-25) that have backed away from demanding Single-Payer in favor of the public option.

"The so-called public health care option is an attempt to confuse Americans who actually want Single-Payer. The 'public health care option' leaves the for-profit insurance and HMO industry intact and in charge, with expensive segregated and multi-tiered coverage designed for maximum complexity and minimum efficiency," said Phil Huckelberry, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

"The public health care option constitutes political malpractice," Mr. Huckelberry added.

Greens call insurance companies and HMOs the principal reason why the US spends far more money for a 'sick care' system that performs worse than all other industrial countries' health care programs.

"Democrats in Congress are killing real health care reform by insisting on a dominant role for insurance companies. A public option alongside numerous private insurance and HMO plans will not curb the high cost of coverage. Single-Payer will cover all Americans in a single insurance pool, with comprehensive health care for all and full choice of physician and hospital, while cutting administrative costs to the tune of $400 billion," said Jody Grage, treasurer of the national Green Party.

According to Physicians for a National Health Program, "over 31% of every health care dollar goes to paperwork, overhead, CEO salaries, profits, etc." in private coverage, and has estimated a reduction of 84% in administrative costs under Single-Payer (http://www.pnhp.org/facts/singlepayer_faq.php). The public health care option cannot guarantee any such savings, because private coverage would continue to exist.

Single-Payer, argued Greens, will also give government the leverage to negotiate and reduce the cost of medicine and medical technology. The public health care option will not allow such negotiation and will not stem the rising costs of health care.

Another danger, warned Greens, is that a multi-option system would result in many employers shifting their health care benefits plans to the less-expensive public option, which would already cover many working Americans and older, poorer, sicker, and at-risk populations. The resulting strain will lead to a demand to privatize public insurance and to huge taxpayer subsidies for private insurers.

"It is absolutely inevitable that additional taxpayer subsidies would be required to pay for private plans, whether through tax credits, tax deductions or vouchers. It is morally wrong to require taxpayers to subsidize inferior private health plans when they could be replaced with a superior, more efficient public insurance program--an expanded and improved Medicare for all." (Physicians for a National Health Program blog, http://www.pnhp.org/blog)

Greens noted that the health care industry recently sabotaged an announcement from President Obama that insurance and other health care companies had pledged to trim the rapid growth of health care costs (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601110&sid=ai_lzQQmWn3U). The promised reduction over ten years would have slowed the expected 6.2% per year increase by 1.5%, too negligible to have an effect on Americans' health care expenses. However, the health care industry decided that even this amount was too much (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/health/policy/15health.html).

Greens called this a sign that insurance companies and allied industries will not cooperate in any effort to cut health care costs and expand coverage.

"Senate Finance Committee Max Baucus, who keeps insisting that Single-Payer is off the table, took $183,750 from health insurance companies and $229,020 from drug companies in the last two election cycles. Many of his fellow Senators and Representatives have taken similar contributions (http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=F09). The health insurance and HMO industry wants to kill reform so they can continue to enlarge their profit margins by excluding Americans and by overcharging and restricting treatment for those who do have coverage," said Starlene Rankin Co-chair, co-chair of the Lavender Green Caucus (http://www.lavendergreens.us).

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

Tally of Green election victories http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/election-results.html
Green candidate news http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/candidate-news.php
Green candidate database for 2008 and other campaign information: http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections

Green Party information page on Single-Payer
http://www.gp.org/organize/sicko.html

Physicians for a National Health Program on the public health care option
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/singlepayer_faq.php#public-option
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/singlepayer_faq.php#public-option-right-direction

Interview with Dr. Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen and Dr. David Himmelstein of Physicians for a National Health Program, Bill Moyers Journal, PBS, May 22, 2009
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05222009/watch2.html

"We Spend Twice as Much on Health Care as Other Rich Countries--and What Do We Get for It?"
By Dean Baker, AlterNet, May 19, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/140098

"Baucus Flees From Single Payer Advocates"
Single-Payer Action, May 21, 2009
http://www.singlepayeraction.org/blog/?p=726

Green Pages, Vol. 13, No. 1
The official publication of record of the Green Party of the United States
http://gp.org/greenpages-blog