Southeast Minnesota is hotbed for health care debate

On Thursday, Aug. 20, Congressman Tim Walz will hold a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Mankato East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road. Union members are mobilizing to turn out en masse.

“We are two days away from one of the most important days in the history of health care reform here in Southeast Minnesota!” said Liz McLoone, staff member for the Southeast Area Labor Council, in an e-mail to members.

“The other side is well organized, well funded and very vocal. We need to show up in great numbers with our hopeful message and positive attitude!”

Other town hall meetings around the country have been disrupted by people who have shouted down speakers and spread false rumors about health care proposals in Congress. In response, unions have started organizing members to attend to promote universal, affordable health care coverage, including a public alternative to private insurance.

On Thursday, Aug. 27, unions and other organizations will participate in a “Health Care for America Now Rally” outside the offices of Walz and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar in Rochester.

The rally will start at 4:30 p.m. outside the offices at 1134 7th St. NW, Rochester.

Last week, national AFL-CIO President John Sweeney announced an intensive, 30-day grassroots health care campaign calling on Congress to side with working families – not insurance companies.

In a memo to the leadership of the AFL-CIO federation and its state and local bodies, Sweeney laid out the stark choice facing Congress: “Side with health insurers and vote for legislation that continues their control over health care in America, or vote for reform that puts people in charge of their health care.”

For more information

To ride the bus to the Mankato town hall meeting, contact Liz McLoone, lmcloone@mnaflcio.org or 507-254-9249

Visit the national AFL-CIO website’s special section on health care