Residents Dramatize Death Toll of Existing Health Care System &
Urge Senator Schumer to Keep Fighting For Public Option
Volunteers will lie “dead” on sidewalk to depict the daily toll of a lack of affordable health care

As the Senate prepares for a huge vote on health care legislation, New York City MoveOn members will gather on November 2nd at the New York Times Building, Southeast Corner of 41st Street and 8th Avenue, to urge Senator Schumer to keep fighting for health care reform, including a robust public health insurance option. To highlight the consequences of inaction, New Yorkers will lie “dead” on the sidewalk to represent the 122 people who die each day (on average) because they lack access to affordable insurance.

Each year, 45,000 people die because they cannot get access to the treatment they need. Yet insurance and HMO interests are spending nearly $5 million per week fighting against real health care reform, including a public option, in order to protect their profits.

Senator Schumer has been a powerful and consistent advocate for health care reform with a public health insurance option, which is the best way to lower costs and guarantee access to quality health care for millions of Americans. But a handful of Democratic senators are threatening to join with the Republicans to block the public option from getting an up-or-down vote.

This past week, MoveOn members voted overwhelmingly to withdraw support – no donations, no volunteering, no help getting out the vote – from any senator who takes this defiant and undemocratic step. At the rally, members will call on Senator Schumer to join us in this pledge, and promise to withdraw his own support for the reelection of any senator who blocks an up-or-down vote on health insurance reform with a public option.

WHAT:       Stand for Health Care--Dying for the Public Option Rally
WHO:        MoveOn members
WHERE:     NY Times Building, 41st Street and 8th Avenue –
SOUTHEAST CORNER
WHEN:       November 2, 2009, Monday from 12 Noon to 1PM.

*** VISUALS: MoveOn.org volunteers will “die” to dramatize that 122 people die every day because they do not have access to the affordable health insurance
a public health insurance option would provide ***

The November 2nd action is part of a nationwide “Stand for Health Care” campaign, which will include similar events across the country held between October 24th and November 4th to urge the Senate to pass health care reform with a robust public health insurance option.