Earlier this week, Congressman Jim Moran hosted a town hall at South Lakes High School in Reston, VA, with special guest Dr. Howard Dean. The contentious town hall was a big target but Change that Works Virginia and pro-health care activists outnumbered the opposition by 2,000 people! Volunteers and Change that Works team members filled the pro-health care question box that Rep. Moran had designated, but unfortunately, 85% of the questions were from the anti-reform box.

CSPAN-1 broadcast the town hall live.

Volunteers made homemade signs that read "Moms and Babies for Public Option" and "Patriots for Public Option." Check out a slideshow of some of the signs the constituents made in support of reform:

The Town Hall commenced with a prayer from a local rabbi and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, lead by the local Boy Scout Troup. Congressman Moran started the forum with a slideshow that addressed many of the health care myths. After the slideshow, Rep. Moran introduced Dr. Howard Dean--this introduction was met with much verbal consternation from the opposition and a few particularly dramatic protesters had to be removed from the room.

Howard Dean was in Poland Springs on Sunday talk with Mainers about healthcare reform. On a delightful summer day, Dr. Dean took questions on the importance of a public insurance option and what reform will mean to us.

Supporters of health care reform were out in full effect to listen to Howard Dean, as well as the rest of the event's guest speakers. We were pleased to see so many Mainers show up and express their support for what is one of the most important causes of our time: reforming our health care system. (We're sure the delicious afternoon barbeque must have helped.)

Check back for video of Howard Dean expressing his support for health care reform and explaining what it means to support a public health plan option!

The fight for health care is hotter than ever. With myths and lies entering the public conversation, it's time to bring in the big guns.

Enter Howard Dean.

Will you join us and Howard Dean this Sunday as he sets the facts straight about health care reform?

Click Here to RSVP to Howard Dean's discussion about health care reform

• When: Sunday, August 16, 11:30 AM-2:30 PM
• Where: Range Pond State Park
Poland Spring, ME 04274

Hosted by our friends at the Androscoggin County Democratic Committee, at their Second Annual Volunteer Appreciation Barbeque, this is sure to be an exciting event, full of the positive energy that comes with brave people like you who support health care reform.

In addition to Howard Dean, there will also be special guest speakers:

• Announced Gubernatorial Candidates Rep. Dawn Hill, Hon. Steve Rowe, & Rosa Scarcelli


• State Senators Margaret Craven, John Nutting & Deb Simpson


• State Representatives Brian Bolduc, Stacy Dostie, Mike Lajoie, Peggy Rotundo, & Dick Wagner


• Senate President Libby Mitchell

Lately, democratic town halls have been hijacked by the health care reform opposition. Backed by special interests and big insurance companies, they've reverted to spreading fear and misinformation to paralyze the debate around health reform.

So join us, and Howard Dean as he talks about his book and sets the record straight. We cannot win this battle unless everyone knows the facts. We will continue to press for safe, open dialogue. We will not be intimidated or bullied. We believe that all Americans deserve the right to health care. And so does Howard Dean.

RSVP to our event this Sunday here:
http://action.seiu.org/page/event/detail/changethatworksmaine/wrvl

There are more of us - those who want to fix our broken health care system - than there are of them - those folks who'd like nothing more than to continue believing that there's nothing wrong with our health care system. But we cannot win the public conversation unless we know the facts. So come show your support, spread the word, and show up this Sunday.

With the truth on our side, we will win.

In the movement to fix health care, we've just entered into a new phase. Health care legislation passed huge hurdles in the House and Senate last week, and experts predict a full vote within weeks. The New York Times declared, "this is a bill worth fighting for," but threats to this legislation appear to be growing with each day.

Because of this, Dr. Howard Dean has issued an emergency conference call on Wednesday, July 22 at 6:30 p.m. ET with nurses and doctors to discuss elements of the House and Senate bills, and how they will impact health care professionals. Most importantly, Dr. Dean wants to talk directly to nurses and doctors about the role they must play during this critical moment.

Are you a nurse or doctor? If so..... Click here to join the call.

In the fight to fix health care, Dr. Howard Dean is a stand-alone figure. A doctor, governor, and currently, a vocal advocate for a public health insurance option--Dr. Dean has brought fresh ideas and leadership to the often stale air of Washington, D.C. For the past year, he's been rallying Americans to band together to fix health care - and now he wants to talk to you.

President Obama recently said, "few understand why we have to pass reform as intimately as our nation's nurses." It's true. We see the emergency room care, the short-staffing of nurses and aides, the burdensome amount of paperwork, and the denial of coverage by insurance companies. We're the eye witnesses to the best and worst of our health care system - and now it's our job to speak up.

With nurses and doctors working together, there's no limit to what we can do. RSVP for this week's call with Dr. Dean: http://action.seiu.org/drdean

On May 29th, SEIU hosted an event with Gov. Howard Dean to discuss health care reform with people in Wilmington, Delaware. Watch a clip of Howard Dean reacting to a story from a local resident who was forced to file for divorce in order to afford cancer treatment:

Dean's reaction is something many of us feel - a kind of patriotic outrage. "There is not one other industrialized democracy on the face of this earth that somebody with that story would have--not one other country, not one! How could America be like this? This is America for God sakes. Doesn't this make you angry?" He continues, "This is a disgrace, and that is why we need real health insurance reform."

We're continuing to hold events around the country, culminating in a June 25th mobilization in Washington, DC. Check out our Change that Works page to look for upcoming events in your area.

All eyes will be on health care in the next couple of weeks, as language is expected from the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. Across the country SEIU members and Change that Works activists worked at a feverish pace to spotlight the value of reforming our broken healthcare system.

• In Nebraska, organizers earned coverage across the state from Lincoln to Grand Island with 24 stories in 24 hours.
  
• Change that Works teamed with Democracy for America this week to promote a public health insurance option. In the Buckeye State, Change that Works Iowa teamed with SEIU Local 199 and state Senator Joe Bolkcom to encourage Senator Charles Grassley to support a public health insurance option.
  
• Pennsylvanians for Healthcare released a video profile of an advocate for healthcare reform and encouraged residents to "share their story" with elected officials.
  
• Change that Works Montana attended Senator Max Baucus' "Listening Tour" across Montana and encouraged him to remain a strong advocate for a public health insurance option.
  
• In Ohio, SEIU 1199WKO members delivered a book of Healthcare Worker Stories to Representative Marcia Fudge.
  
• Change that Works Tennessee delivered over 500 petition signatures urging Representative Gordon to support a public health insurance option.
  
• Wednesday at First Unitarian Church in downtown Denver, Colorado, former Governor Howard Dean discussed the need for a public option with more than 350 town hall attendees. On Friday, Governor Dean co-hosted a town hall of nearly 100 participants in Wilmington, DE, with SEIU Change that Works.