In mid October,1199SEIU registered nurses from Massachusetts travelled to Washington DC to attend the SEIU Nurse Alliance Summit. Louise Bucchiere, a Union Hospital RN was part of the Massachusetts delegation as well as Cheryl Mazar, a Boston Medical Center RN. Nurses attended several educational workshops. On Wednesday October 18, nurses held a “Code Blue” rally on Capitol Hill. Nurses visited both Congressional and Senate offices with a clear message - no cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. The visits were especially timely since Congress is debating a deficit reduction plan.
Members visited Senator Kerry’s office. Senator Kerry sits on the Super-Committee. The Super-Committee is charged with developing a plan to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years. The committee must release its proposal by Thanksgiving and the House and Senate must vote on it by December 23. Medicaid and Medicare don’t just provide lifesaving care to million of seniors, people with disabilities, and children, they also help reimburse hospitals for the care they deliver. Delegations of SEIU nurses made clear that our country cannot afford any cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. Cuts in any form to these essential healthcare programs would endanger the health of our communities and lead to cuts in funding and job at hospitals.
Members also visited the office of Scott Brown and every office of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation. Cheryl Mazar, a member from Boston Medical Center, shared her view of the experience: “It was thrilling to be able to speak for my patients who don’t have the same opportunity. This was an honor for me to be here to lobby and to participate in our democracy. I am glad I can give a voice to my patients’ needs and let members of Congress know how important Medicaid and Medicare funding is to our hospitals.”
- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/1199seiu_rns_from_massachusetts_travel_to_dc_the_seiu_nurse_alliance_summit#sthash.oKKhYC5U.dpuf
Members visited Senator Kerry’s office. Senator Kerry sits on the Super-Committee. The Super-Committee is charged with developing a plan to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next ten years. The committee must release its proposal by Thanksgiving and the House and Senate must vote on it by December 23. Medicaid and Medicare don’t just provide lifesaving care to million of seniors, people with disabilities, and children, they also help reimburse hospitals for the care they deliver. Delegations of SEIU nurses made clear that our country cannot afford any cuts to Medicaid or Medicare. Cuts in any form to these essential healthcare programs would endanger the health of our communities and lead to cuts in funding and job at hospitals.
Members also visited the office of Scott Brown and every office of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation. Cheryl Mazar, a member from Boston Medical Center, shared her view of the experience: “It was thrilling to be able to speak for my patients who don’t have the same opportunity. This was an honor for me to be here to lobby and to participate in our democracy. I am glad I can give a voice to my patients’ needs and let members of Congress know how important Medicaid and Medicare funding is to our hospitals.”
- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/1199seiu_rns_from_massachusetts_travel_to_dc_the_seiu_nurse_alliance_summit#sthash.oKKhYC5U.dpuf
