Last week, thanks to the support of hundreds of passionate reform activists, the cause of health care reform was advanced across Montana. With over 200 heath reform protesters showing up initially, the final count ended up being over 700 protesters from ACSCAN, AFL-CIO, Sierra Club, Montanans for Single Payer, AFSCME, MEA-MEFT, HCAN and, of course, SEIU. The ralliers more than outnumbered the 150 "tea partiers" protesting against reform.

Watch more video of the protest on KULR8 here

With buses full of pro-health care reform advocates from Missoula, Billings, and Wolf point, our health reform advocates claimed the best piece of protest real estate: front and center on the airport's field. Turnout was driven by creative efforts from groups like the NHCRC, who gardened tickets for volunteers and staff to attend the events. Morale was boosted by the honk and wave rally and sign making party the night before the president's visit.

"Let me be clear: if we do not control these costs, we will not be able to control our deficit. If we do not reform health care, your premiums and out-of-pocket costs will continue to skyrocket. If we do not act, 14,000 Americans will continue to lose their health insurance every single day. These are the consequences of inaction. These are the stakes of the debate we're having right now."

That was President Obama on Wednesday. Today, we got further proof of the cost of doing nothing. Just look at the table released this morning by the Center for American Progress.

Within ten years, if we fail to address the rising cost of health care in America, the average health insurance premiums paid by families will nearly double, from $13,500 today to $22,400 in 2019. Oh but it gets worse - because in addition to rising premiums, Americans lucky enough to have health insurance still face increasingly burdensome co-payments and out-of-pocket costs - the kinds of costs that you can't haggle away when you're in severe pain.

In Montana, our premiums will increase from $12,789 in 2009 to $21,822 in 2019. Given that Montana faces additional hurdles, such as 150 people losing coverage every week, and nearly 600 people dead between 2000 and 2006 because of a lack of health insurance, and inaction in the face of economic danger is something we can ill afford - and yet, that's exactly what happens every day that we fail to act on this.

Here's the thing: it doesn't have to be this way! The projections that CAP outlined don't have to come true. We can write a different story. We know how to "bend the curve" of increasing health costs. We can reform our health care system so that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care.

One way we're keeping the focus on reform is by joining with our friends at Fire Dog Lake in asking Montana's Representatives in Congress to stay and work on passing health care legislation like HR 3200, "America's Affordable Health Choices Act," over the August recess. You can sign their petition here. Congress shouldn't take a three-week vacation when 14,000 Americans are losing their insurance coverage every day.

Let's make this happen. Montana can't afford the cost of doing nothing any longer.

Here in Montana at Change that Works, we don't believe in giving up. That's why as the battle for health care reform draws down to the wire, we are fighting harder than ever to make sure our voices are heard. With 150 people in Montana losing coverage every week, and 22,920 people having lost coverage between 2008 and 2010, we cannot afford to stop fighting for the health care reform that Montana, and the country, so desperately needs.

Local new channel KULR8 covered one of our rallies last week, and spoke of the importance of our efforts in the fight for health care reform:

Watch coverage of our rally here

Activists Lou Hagwer and Josh Bradshaw spoke about their experiences with the high cost of health coverage to reporters. As covered by KULR8:

"The government has got to get involved. Insurance companies are not giving us good choices and we need another choice," said Lou Hagwer, a Change That Works volunteer at the rally Wednesday night.

Hagwer is without health insurance, she has been for 20 years. "I can't afford to buy health insurance. I work in a very small company and they can not afford health insurance."

Over the past decade the number of companies offering their employees coverage has decreased 6%. But even some of those who have coverage think the system isn't working.

"I went to the doctor to get a check up and even after insurance it was still $600 dollars and it's just unaffordable," said Josh Bradshaw, another volunteer at the rally.

As activists like Hagwer and Bradshaw know, the high cost of health care prevents hard working Montanans from being able to protect themselves and their families from health care catastrophe. As the fight draws down to the wire, we remain committed to the goal of true reform--quality, affordable, and with a public health plan option--for all.

At Change that Works Montana, we're committed to getting your stories of health care hardship heard. By sharing out stories with Senator Max Baucus, and our local newspapers, we'll convince Senator Baucus and our congressional delegation that true health care reform means quality, affordable health care for everyone. And to accomplish that reform, we need to include a public health care plan option. Thanks to your willingness to share your stories, we're being heard all the way in Washington.

Service Employees International Union President Andy Stern released the following statement on today's draft legislation for quality, affordable healthcare reform from the House Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce and Education and Labor Committee.

"In 2000, Pat DeJong, an SEIU home care aide in Libby, Montana, learned that her husband Dan had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Pat and Dan were ranchers, but when the medical bills piled up, they were forced to sell the land they loved and that had been in his family for generations.

"One thing is clear - families like Pat's pay the ultimate price for our broken healthcare system. We can no longer accept the obstructionist politics of those who wish to file hundreds of amendments to "just say no" to healthcare reform and purposely distort the reality of what fixing healthcare means to millions of American families.

"Today, hardworking families like the DeJongs finally found real hope for change in the draft legislation released by the House Ways and Means Committee. Their plan will provide a uniquely American solution where families have the freedom to keep their current plan and doctor, choose another private plan or choose an affordable quality public health insurance plan. It shares the responsibility of solving this crisis with everyone, invests in the healthcare workforce to ensure delivery of cost-effective preventive and primary care and allows Americans and their doctor to make healthcare decisions rather than insurance company CEOs.

"Americans like Pat DeJong live in every state, in every Congressional district, every big city, every small town. They are counting on our elected officials to stop playing politics and pass comprehensive high quality and affordable healthcare reform this year. At a time when healthcare costs are crushing businesses and dragging down our economy, hard-working Americans cannot afford to wait any longer."

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.

Union Members in Montana and Across the Country Earn Significantly More Than Non-Union Workers. Over the four-year period between 2004 and 2007, unionized workers' wages in Montana were on average 13.9 percent higher than non-union workers with similar characteristics. That means that, all else equal, Montana workers that join a union will earn 13.9 percent more--or $2.23 more per hour in 2008 dollars--than their otherwise identical non-union counterparts. [Unions are Good for Montana's Economy, 2/18/09]

• Employee Free Choice Would Pump Money Into Rural Economies. The League of Rural Voters writes, "Declining worker incomes have meant declining incomes for farmers and ranchers who produce food, fiber and biofuels. And that means less money has been coming into the rural economy. A big reason for shrinking worker paychecks is that big business has made it nearly impossible to join unions and bargain for solid benefits and fair wages (15 - 25 percent higher than non-union jobs). In fact, thousands of people are illegally fired every year just because they tried to organize a union. The Employee Free Choice Act can help level the playing field by making it easier for people to join unions and bargain for a better standard of living. It can give regular working folks the purchasing power to revive the economy - and to buy the products we grow and sell in rural America." [League of Rural Voters, accessed 5/19/09]
• Higher Wages & Benefits Help U.S. Economy by Giving Workers the Ability to Purchase More Goods & Services. According to the Center for American Progress Action Fund report, unionization is good for the economy overall and "putting more money in workers' pockets would provide a needed boost for the U.S. economy." Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich stated that higher wages and higher benefits would give workers the purchasing power they need to buy more of the goods and services that this economy produces. [CAP Report: Unions are Good for the American Economy, 2/18/09]

Montana Tech Professors Ratified First Contract After More Than a Year of Negotiations. In 2007, the Great Falls Tribune reported, "After more than a year of sometimes difficult negotiations, members of a union representing most of Montana Tech's professors have overwhelmingly ratified a collective bargaining agreement. 'This contract is a step in the right direction. ... This is good for both management and the union,' said Montana Tech Faculty Association President John Brower of the 32-9 vote with 95 percent of the membership voting. The union formed nearly two years ago, mainly in response to unhappiness with Tech's administration and tussles over employee selection, retention and promotion." [Great Falls Tribune, 2/11/07] A Year After Voting to Join a Union, Nurses at Roosevelt Memorial Medical Center Still Didn't Have a Contract. In July 2001, the AP reported, "A threatened nurses' strike at a hospital and nursing home here was averted... when the new union agreed to mediation. Nurses and certified nurses aides at Roosevelt Memorial Medical Center and Nursing Home voted to unionize in early 2000 and are negotiating their first contract, RMMC Administrator Audrey Stromberg said. The nurses planned to strike Friday, but will instead begin renew negotiations with the hospital board over issues including pay increases, union security and shift exchanges." [AP, 7/26/01]

• NLRB Found That Roosevelt Memorial Violated Labor Law By Coercively Interrogating Employees Before the Scheduled Strike. In October 2006, the NLRB agreed with Administrative Law Judge Thomas M. Patton's finding that the management of Roosevelt Memorial Medical Center violated federal labor law "by interrogating employees about their intention to participate" in the scheduled strike in 2001. The Board wrote, "the Respondent sent a letter to unit employees asking them to say whether they intended to participate in the strike and followed up by questioning some employees directly." [NLRB Decision and Order, 10/26/06]
• NLRB Found That Roosevelt Memorial Violated Labor Law "By Unilaterally Implementing Its Final Contract Proposals." In October 2006, the NLRB agreed with Administrative Law Judge Thomas M. Patton's finding that the management of Roosevelt Memorial Medical Center violated federal labor law "by unilaterally implementing its final contract proposals for dues checkoff, a no-strike clause, a grievance procedure with nonbinding arbitration, and a 2-year term. As the judge found, because the no-strike provision involves the surrender of statutory rights, and dues checkoff is 'contract-bound,' those terms cannot be imposed on the Union without its consent." [NLRB Decision and Order, 10/26/06]

Who says activism can't be delicious? That's why Change that Works Montana is bringing together seniors and activists to eat pancakes, and discuss one of the most important battles in the fight for quality, affordable health care: the choice of a public plan.

We cannot let big business insurance and their propaganda win the battle in the conversation for health care reform. A public health plan option would help ensure that everyone who needs it would have access to affordable, health care coverage, by providing more choices for those who need it.

Join us in reaching out to Senator Max Baucus and urging him to support a public health care plan option. By writing letters, making phone calls, and signing cards, let's convince Senator Baucus that a public health care plan option is a crucial component to effecting real reform.

RSVP for LIBBY

RSVP for POLSON

RSVP for GREAT FALLS

Thanks to your efforts, we can make a difference the fight for health care reform. As one of the most influential senators working to reform health care, Senator Baucus is in unique position to make a real difference. Let's remind him that Montanans want real reform, and not a bandaid, but actual change for everyone. And the first step towards that change is supporting a public health insurance plan option. That, and pancakes.

Montana's time in the political sun continues, as Sen. Max Baucus' role in national health care reform takes shape. Late last week, Baucus told reporters that he was fairly certain that health care reform with a public insurance option was very likely to be signed into law this year. Baucus, chairman of the pivotal Senate Finance Committee, also said the reform must ensure that reform provided something close to universal coverage.

In a recent article by the Swampland blog for the online Times Baucus said a health care system for everybody is close:

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, speaking to reporters this morning at a breakfast sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation, sounded extraordinarily optimistic about the prospects for bipartisan support of the health care reform bill that his committee will begin writing in mid-June. "Very high. Very, very high," he said, saying he puts the odds at 75-80%. ....

... Will the bill provide universal coverage? It has to come pretty close, Baucus said, if all the other reforms are going to work. Most health care experts agree. By "nearly everybody," Baucus added he was talking about something like 96% of all Americans.

Even as the scheduled date for the introductions of bills gets close, specific elements of Baucus' reform package have remained somewhat elusive. His office produced a white paper late last year. Since then, health experts and an anxious public have hung on every word from Montana's senior senator.

Earlier this year, Baucus said a public health insurance option was on the "edge" of the table, suggesting that he was considering, but not endorsing, an idea that is embraced by the public and experts but which the insurance industry has argued vehemently against.

Last week, though, Baucus changed his stance, saying he supports "a version" of a public, or government-run health insurance plan.

"I do support a version" of a public option, he told the Washington Times adding that's it's a "hot-button" issue.

Many experts agree that a public health plan option will provide more choices and control health care costs.

Just as Baucus is doing his part, we need to do ours and let him know that supporting a public health care plan option must be a critical part of health care reform. Attend our pancakes breakfast and let Senator Baucus know you care about health care.

Sociology professor Daisy Rooks of the University of Montana put the Employee Free Choice Act in its proper perspective with her glowing endorsement atop the editorial page of The Missoulian.

Too often the forces against America's working families derail true debate by posing false -- but seemingly powerful and righteous -- concerns. Does Free Choice deprive workers of the secret ballot?

No. Under today's laws, the "secret ballot" requested by employers is a sham. It's a way for employers to intimidate and fire pro-union workers to rig the election.

The rising tide of public discontent over the health care crisis in Montana has grown into a full-fledged movement, complete with paid staffers and community organizers pushing for legislative reform. In a news story on Sunday, Mike Dennison wrote in the five Lee Enterprises newspapers in Montana (the Billings Gazette, the Butte Standard, the Helena Independent Record, the Missoulian and the Ravalli Republic) about the size of the movement and its aims. Says the Missoulian:

From Troy to Billings and many places in between, a small army of organizers is working a campaign in Montana - but they're not working to get someone elected.

This loose-knit band is knocking on doors, holding pancake breakfasts and writing letters to rally the public behind health care reform.

"We didn't want to leave the public space (on this issue) to be dominated by the opponents," says Matt Singer, chief executive officer of Forward Montana, a political organizing group based in Missoula. "We want to talk to people so they don't get nervous about reform, so there isn't confusion for (opponents) to prey on, if they want to kill this."

The campaign's goal is to push Montana's congressional delegation to support reforms that mean affordable health care coverage for all citizens. They're especially aiming to influence Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., a key player in reform legislation.

Along with our campaign for Change that Works, Forward Montana, Montana Human Rights Network, and Montanans for Health Care were also mentioned as part of the coalition for health care reform. Across the state, no matter what their political views, people are uniting to work to change our broken health care system into one that works.

Thanks to the hard work of every day Montanans, our efforts are being recognized. Newspaper articles are only the first step in making a difference. The fight for an affordable health care system that works for everyone is one that needs all the help it can get. From holding pancake breakfasts, to writing letters, every effort is a contribution to winning this historic battle.

Become a part of Change that Works and start making the difference in health care reform today: http://action.seiu.org/page/s/changethatworks

Momentum is building for real reform to take place at Bank of America.

Today thousands of taxpayers will tell Bank of America it's time for reform - and for CEO Ken Lewis to be fired - by gathering at "Take Back the Economy" events around the country. The purpose of these events is to show Bank of America it's time for reform - you can collect "taxpayer proxy cards" that we'll deliver to Bank of America's annual meeting on Wednesday.

Here are the events happening in Montana this week:
Missoula (Bank of America: Enough!): May 1 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Merrill Lynch, 330 N Higgins Ave., Missoula, MT 59802

What kind of impact does Bank of America have in Montana? Here are the facts:
Bank of America is the largest bank in the United States, with an estimated $2.3 trillion in assets and counts almost 1 in 2 households as customers. Bank of America is also the country's second largest issuer of credit cards. In Montana, Bank of America is the state's largest mortgage lender.

Bank of America is a major small business lender in the state, with more than 1,502 loans to small businesses totaling $19.6 million.

Bank of America has put taxpayers on the hook for as much as $200 billion in bailout money, making it one of the top two recipients.

Bank of America in Montana by the numbers:

Mortgages (2007)
Mortgages: 4,591
Mortgage Value: $835.1 million
Mortgage Rank (2006): 1

Small Business Loans (2007)
Total Small Business Loans: 1,502
Total Small Business Loan Value: $19.6 million

This past week, health care blogger and policy wonk Ezra Klein, along with Change that Works and Forward Montana, came to Missoula to discuss the current state of health care in Montana. Klein also spoke to activists and young people about the fight in Washington, and how we'll win reform. Thanks to your support, it was a raging success. We look forward to many more successful events to come!

Watch Ezra Klein's speech and Q&A from the April 22, 2009 event:

More photos from the event after the break. To view the whole set, visit SEIU's Flickr page here.

This past week, blogger and policy wonk Ezra Klein, along with Change that Works and Forward Montana, came to Missoula to discuss the current state of health care in Montana. Thanks to your support, it was a raging success. We look forward to many more successful events to come!

SEIU issued a statement in support of the diagnosis of and prescription for mending our broken health care system released today by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the chairman of the Finance Committee:

On the heels of a historic election where voters ranked health care among their top overall issues--and health care costs as their number one economic concern--Senator Max Baucus's thoughtful and comprehensive approach to address the nation's broken health care system is a significant contribution to the growing discussion around solutions to the crisis.

The progressive 35,000-word "Call to Action" proposed by Senator Baucus would guarantee health insurance for all Americans by encouraging sales of private insurance, expand Medicaid and Medicare, and requiring most employers to provide healthcare benefits for their employees.

Read SEIU's complete statement in support of Sen. Baucus's new blueprint to solve our nation's health care crisis.

Full PDF text of blueprint here.