Move to mandate universal coverage in Illinois

[Guest guest]

I thought you all might like to see this information on a land mark

event taking place in Illinois. Bobbi Ryder

Spirit of 1848 Members:

>

> On Sunday, August 12th, Dr. Quentin Young, National Coordinator of

> Physicians for A National Health Program and former President of the

> American Public Health Association along with Pat Quinn, former IL

Treasurer will begin a 167-mile walk across the state of Illinois to

garner

support

> for the Bernardin Amendment, which would amend the Illinois

Constitution

to mandate health insurance for all citizens of Illinois. The two

will

walk from western border of Illinois to Chicago over a two week period,

speaking to thousands of Illinoisans to raise awareness of the uninsured

crisis and the solution

> proposed by the Bernardin Amendment.

>

> To launch this historic walk, A SEND-OFF CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN

CHICAGO

ON AUGUST 11th at 1:00 pm at Holy Name Cathedral (State and Chicago

Streets).

> If you are in the area, please plan to attend the ceremony with as

many

> supporters as you can gather.

>

> While many of you are not in Illinois, we are still in need of your

support. It's no secret that any state that takes the lead in universal

coverage

will serve as a model for the rest of the nation. Please pass on this

> information to your networks, particularly groups in Illinois. We

need

> people across the State to meet Dr. Young and Pat Quinn along their

route

> and help with press conferences, rallies, and community meetings. The

two

> hope to speak to as many groups as possible.

>

> If you have contacts or can offer any help in mobilizing groups in

Illinois, please contact Angie Schvoni in Pat Quinn's office at

312-654-8888. The

web site provides more detailed information on the walk route, the

Bernardin

> Amendment, and how you can participate:

> www.decenthealthcare.com

>

> We appreciate your support. Please feel free to call 312-654-8888

with

any questions or suggestions.

>

>***************************************************************************

*

>> What is the Bernardin Amendment?

> Named after ph Cardinal Bernardin, the Bernardin Amendment would

amend

> the Illinois state Constitution to assert the right of decent health

care

> for every individual. Cardinal Bernardin championed the right of all

people to health care, and in a 1995 pastoral letter, eloquently wrote,

> " I was deeply disappointed by our inability as a nation to move

forward

with systematic reform of our nation's delivery of health care. ..If

justice

is

a hallmark of our community, then we must fulfill our obligations in

justice

> to the poor and the unserved first and not last. "

>

>

> Arnaudy, Director

> Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellows Program

> Health and Medicine Policy Research Group

> 29 E. Madison St., Suite 602

> Chicago, IL 60602

> Tel: 312.372.4292

> Fax: 312.372.2753

> michelle@...

>

>

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