Voice: Arrests on Capitol Hill over Single Payer Health Care Issue

On May 5, 2009, eight activists were arrested at a health care hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, in the Dirksen Office Building, Room 106. As soon as the Committee Chair, Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), opened the proceedings, the activists began in turns to stand and to make comments, like: “Why isn’t a single payer at the table?” They were immediately “escorted” out of the room by the Capitol Hill police and placed under arrest.

The demonstrators’ press release underscored “how 22,000 people die in the U.S. every year due to a lack of health insurance.” This is seven times the number of victims that perished in the 9/11 tragedy.
Dr. Margaret Flowers, one of the eight arrested, added in the press release: “Health insurance administrators are practicing medicine without a license. The result is the suffering and death of thousands of patients for the sake of private profit. The private insurance industry has a solid grip on patients, providers and legislators. It is time to stand up and declare that health care is a human right.” The activists are supporting HR 676 and S 703. For background and any updates, see:

http://www.healthcare-now.org

and

http://singlepayeraction.org and http://md.pnhp.org

and

http://www.prosperityagenda.us/

and

http://freshaircleanpolitics.net