People's Team

 It's been a busy two weeks at the State House for the People's Team. This special report brings you two updates from People's Team Bloggers Liz Kane and Brittany Nevins, who have been monitoring S.59, a bill that would fulfill direct support providers' right to organize, as it moves through committee.

We were asked to testify in the Vermont House of Representatives Committee on Healthcare today. Here is the text. Let's keep organizing!
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Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign
Testimony to House Committee on Healthcare
January 15, 2013

Thank you. My name is James Haslam, I am the Executive Director of the Vermont Workers’ Center. The VWC was started in 1998 and launched the Healthcare Is A Human Right Campaign in 2008 to change what was politically possible and establish a universal healthcare system.

January 10th, 2013

TOP TEN REASON TO COME MAKE MAY DAY HISTORY: May 1st celebrates working people’s struggles for justice dating back to 1886 in the fight for the 8 hour day. Come be part of people’s history as we heroically fight to be the first state in the country to have a truly universal healthcare system! Join us in building a movement for all of our human rights and a real democracy!

If you weren’t already excited enough about coming to Montpelier for May Day, here are the top ten reasons to come:

[also published in VT Digger and Bennington Banner]

The response to the devastation of Tropical Storm Irene should make us proud to be Vermonters. Thousands of people volunteered and contributed to efforts to get communities back on their feet. The new “I Am Vermont Strong” campaign has tapped into this community pride with the goal of rebuilding stronger than before the storm. To me, stronger communities means communities where we no longer have policies that leave so many people vulnerable or threaten the livability of the planet.

[Note more groups our signing up daily. Please email james@workerscenter.org if you want to learn how you your group can be added. See this video hear to learn more: http://www.workerscenter.org/media/may1promo].

Last week we posted our video about the importance of Universality with healthcare. The video explained how important it is that everyone has access to healthcare regardless of jobs or how much money someone makes. This weeks video talks about equity and how everyone would get the care they need and would pay what they could afford. This would guarantee high quality care for everyone regardless of someone's situation. Like and Share the videos on our Facebook page! And don't forget to sign up for our May 1st Rally Put People First!!

Vermont Workers’ Center — People’s Budget Campaign
Testimony before the House Appropriations Committee
14 February 2012

Healthcare Is a Human Right Campaign Update, March 28, 2012: What’s happening in the Senate?

Discussions in the Senate are focusing on several roadblocks to our universal system, Green Mountain Care. We need to urge them to remove all roadblocks!

• If a private insurance market continues outside the exchange, this would undermine our future public healthcare system. The House has done the right thing and eliminated the outside market by standing up courageously to the insurance industry interests. Let’s make sure the Senate does the same!