Category: Taking Action - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

What You Can Do Now - Contact Your Legislators in Support of the Kurds

10/31/2019

Contact Your Representatives to Tell Them to Support the Kurdish People

A Message to Our Members

PACG supports the Kurdish people in Syria during these difficult times (Please read our recent Blog Post - Prayer and Reflection Vigil: Standing with the Kurds in Crisis).

Whether or not you are able to attend the Vigil, we encourage you to contact your Members of Congress to express your support for these people. You can find your national legislators on our website under our Action Center tab.

Calling is easy and just takes a few minutes. You will need to state your name and address if you speak to a staffer or for the recorded message you leave. Stay on point and be polite. You can use the script below to make it easy.

If you would like to write to your legislators, the following statement is simple and straightforward. We have also attached it as a download in two forms so that you can print it, put your address and the date at the top, sign the letter and mail it.

Here's what we suggest, but feel free to make any changes you'd like:

Your Address
the Date

Dear

I am one of your constituents who votes, and I would like to express my concern about the situation in Northern Syria involving the treatment of the Kurdish people.
I encourage you to exercise the power of your office to preserve our nation’s partnership with the Kurdish people, particularly in keeping with our tradition of standing with our allies and providing protection for the victims of persecution, wherever they may live. I believe in the humanitarian values that have been the hallmarks of America and expect my elected officials to represent these values.

Please support the Kurds.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Your Name

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What You Can Do Now - Educate Yourself About Health Care Choices

10/21/2019

Health Care Reform in 2019 and 2020

A Statement by the Health Care Reform Forum
(Note: This statement is downloadable at the link below. Also, see our Blog about signing up for Health Care Insurance.)

Summary of Points

These points are the consensus position of the active members of the Health Care Reform Forum, not the official position of Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG) or its membership.
We advocate retaining and building on the foundation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
We support eliminating efforts that have been made to weaken the ACA.
We support fixing the areas where the ACA has fallen short of its goals.
“Medicare for All” and “Single Payer” are confusing terms, and they are not necessarily synonymous. We summarize some of the ways in which they can differ.
Some understanding of health care systems in other countries is helpful in evaluating proposals for health system reform in this country.
We support the following three next steps to strengthen the ACA:
1. Adopt a publicly administered insurance plan to be offered on the marketplace.
2. Require negotiated drug prices in publicly administered plans, including Medicare.
3. Create a system for transparency in the pricing of provider services as well as of administrative costs in the private sector.
In any health care reform proposal, address the projected shortfall in the Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund; this is especially important for advocates of expanding Medicare with some form of “Medicare for All.”
We believe that health care is a moral issue: its resources are finite, and health system reform entails all of us recognizing not only our rights, but also our responsibilities, individual and collective.

Disclaimer for Health Care Reform Forum Statement - August 3, 2019
The Health Care Reform Forum of PACG does not, and will not, endorse the proposal of any candidate, at either the federal or state level, for health care reform.  As we have done since our inception in 2005, we continue to advocate for the basic goal of access to quality, affordable, sustainable health care for everyone in this country.  Political proposals are the means to reach that goal.  That distinction having been made, our forum members have, after much discussion, reached our own conclusions about certain key issues in current health care reform discussions.  What follows is the consensus position of the active members of the Health Care Reform Forum, not an official position of Progressive Action for the Common Good as an organization or its broader membership.

PACG Health Care Reform Statement 2019-2020

Our forum has been discussing and advocating for health care reform for nearly 15 years.  We supported the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as an important step forward toward the goal of quality, sustainable, accessible, and affordable health care for all Americans. We believe that the best and most doable option, in the current political environment, is to retain and build on the foundation of the ACA, eliminate the efforts to weaken it by the current administration, and fix the areas where it has fallen short of its goals.

Evaluating Health Care Reform Proposals of Congressional and Presidential Candidates
in the 2020 Election

“Medicare for all” has become a popular rallying call for health care reform.  But the concept has many different variations and definitions.

A “single payer” system is proposed by some candidates.  It would create a new health care insurance system run completely by federal government agencies and paid for by the government (i.e., by taxpayers). Everyone in America would be covered.  Standards of care and payments to doctors, hospitals, and other providers, as well as drug pricing, would be negotiated and regulated by the government.  Private insurance would be eliminated over a brief transition period of 2-3 years.  No one has yet come up with a credible, non-partisan estimate of the cost of, or implementation plan for, such a system, or proposed exactly how it would be paid for.

We fully acknowledge the appeal of a “single payer” approach to U.S. health care reform since it would quickly achieve universal coverage.  But to call it “Medicare for All” is misleading.

There are many flaws and injustices in the current U.S. “system,” even since the passage of the ACA.  Medical debt is still a major cause of personal bankruptcies, even for those with insurance.  Insurance and pharmaceutical companies, as well as some providers, make exorbitant profits, the costs of which are borne by customers and taxpayers.   Millions of people still lack coverage.  The list is long.  But a “single payer” plan is not the only option, and we have tried to give fair consideration to all proposals to improve the American health care system.

At least six other proposals have been made by legislators or candidates for president.  They all build on the basic foundation of the Affordable Care Act, and the existing programs of Medicare and Medicaid.  They would not eliminate private insurance companies.  Three proposals would create a new public option plan, based on Medicare, which would be offered to individuals and some (or all) employers through the ACA marketplace.  It would compete with the existing private insurance plans on the marketplace.  (A public option plan was to have been included in the ACA, butwas dropped due to resistance from insurance companies.)

Two other proposals would allow some people to buy into the current Medicare or Medicaid plans.  All of these plans would expand insurance coverage for many more families, but not everyone.  Government subsidies would continue to help make insurance affordable for low income families.

It is unclear whether a single payer plan is practical and doable at the present time.  To rapidly eliminate all private insurance and build a new system, even though it would be based on Medicare, could lead to unimaginable chaos.  One simple question it raises:  how many insurance jobs would be lost?  Also, how would eliminating that sector of the economy affect the overall U.S. economy?  We have not seen any reliable estimates of such data.  Additionally, many patients and their families would lose their current good employer or union insurance.  Also, there needs to be a credible estimate of the costs and revenues needed to make it work before such a comprehensive program is adopted.  The respected Congressional Budget Office has yet to venture a cost estimate, but other experts predict it will be very expensive.  If so, a single payer plan is likely to be opposed by many Democrats as well as by Republicans.

We believe that the ACA has accomplished important improvements in our health care system, and note that public support has grown steadily since it was adopted.  Even those who want to repeal it have so far been unable to do so, and they have resorted to tactics to sabotage and weaken it.  Yet it is still supported by half (50%) of American adults, with a considerably smaller portion (38%) opposed (Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll, April 2019)[1].  We think the best way forward is to build on the foundation of the ACA, fix its flaws, and improve its coverage of more and more families.

We also think that the term “Medicare for All” is misleading when equated with a single payer system.  At present, Medicare is available for most people over age 65.  But almost everyone pays a modest premium for hospital, doctor, and drug coverage. Also, patients covered by Medicare often pay deductibles and co-payments when they use the coverage. The government sets standards of care and payment to the providers, who are often chosen by the patients.  Medicare is forbidden to negotiate drug prices.  Many people choose to supplement their Medicare coverage with private insurance or to purchase private Medicare Advantage plans. Many of the aspects of Medicare listed in this paragraph are not included in single payer proposals, and thus using “single payer” and “Medicare for All” as synonyms is misleading and can be confusing.
Most developed countries have health insurance programs that cover everyone, with a large portion of that cost paid through taxation. We acknowledge that there are some similarities between systems elsewhere and the current U.S. Medicare system for most Americans over 65. But as Americans evaluate the various health care reforms being proposed, we believe it is important for them to know, for example, that systems in other countries also have various forms of complementary private health insurance, similar in some ways to the current Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage private plans.  Evaluating proposals for U.S. health care system reform entails a certain amount of knowledge about such facts.

Looking Ahead
We believe that the next step for reform should be the adoption of a publicly administered insurance plan to be offered on the ACA marketplace.  This would retain employer and union insurance and still
bring real competition to the insurance market.  A second reform should be negotiated drug prices in publicly administered plans, including Medicare.  A third reform should be the creation of a system for transparency in the pricing of provider services as well as of administrative costs in the private sector.  Besides directly benefitting consumers of health care resources, such transparency is essential for cost control:  there are too many hidden costs and loopholes that do little to improve the quality of care but that contribute significantly to making our health care twice as expensive as it is in other developed countries.

One health care coverage issue that must be addressed in any reform proposal is the projection by the Medicare trustees that the Medicare Hospital Insurance trust fund (although not all of Medicare) will begin to run a shortfall in 2026.  A stable Medicare program is vital to all current and future seniors, yet too often discussions of health care reform ignore this looming instability in the program. All health care reform proposals must address this situation, but doing so is especially critical for advocates of expanding that very program, i.e., “Medicare for All.”

We believe that health care is a moral issue.  Every human being deserves care when an accident or disease strikes; moreover, broad preventative health care measures underscore the positive value of mutual support within the human community. But health care resources are also finite, and we need to set some personal and societal limits on our health care expectations.  Setting those limits will entail some hard moral choices, but we can’t all have it all.  Health resources need to be shared among all members of our national community -- and the costs need to be shared by that community.  Insurance, carried by all, is one means of cost sharing, and government subsidies for insurance premiums for lower income families are essential to enable all to be insured.  We each have a responsibility to care for our own health, a right to receive care when we need it, and a responsibility to help care for others in their time of need.

Finally, we need to be prepared for a worst-case scenario:  if the courts rule the entire Affordable Care Act unconstitutional, we and all those who support the ACA will need to take action.  People’s lives will depend on it.

Good health care for everyone - It’s something we all want, but how do we get there?

[1] Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll, April 2019:  www.kff.org/interactive/kff-health-tracking-poll-the-publics-views-on-the-aca/#?response=Favorable--Unfavorable&aRange=twoYear

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August & September Green Drinks - After Action Report

10/17/2019

Green Drinks for August and September - After Action Report

Environmental Forum - Green Drinks!

August

Our August Green Drinks included an excellent presentation on Rain Gardens by Andy Parer, and we learned about how to choose native plants that have more extensive root systems to absorb rain and groundwater. Some of these plants are available each spring from local county conservation programs, as well as local gardening shops or online. In the city of Rock Island, you can receive financial support for putting in a rain garden, and then have your sewer fees reduced quarterly because you will have less run off.

September

Our September Green Drinks included a presentation by Dr. Cheryl True about Plant Based Diets. Dr. True discussed general ways to improve your lifestyle, but focused on plant based diets, which not only decrease health problems but help the environment. Even if you don't want to go completely vegetarian, you can go to meatless Mondays or reduce the size of your meat servings and increasing the vegetables and fruits on your plate.
An additional bonus is that each month a few staff from local presidential campaigns come by. They offer up current information about policies their respective candidates endorse.

Check out www.greendrinks.org/IA/QuadCities for more details about our group. We meet at Fresh Deli from 5-7 pm on the last Thursday of each month. We will take November and December off due to the holidays. We hope to see you on October 31st.

Lori McCollum

The Lane Evans Forum: Putting People First - Saturday October 19th at 1 pm

10/9/2019

Election 2020: Putting People First -
Saturday, October 19th at 1pm

Augustana College
Denkman Building
Wallenberg Hall
3520 7th AV
Rock Island, IL 61201 (map)

The Lane Evans Forum

Celebrating the memory and progressive populist legacy of the late Congressman Lane Evans (D-17 Congressional District of Illinois).

Hear and share ideas, messages and principles that will earn votes and support.

Learn how you can be a catalyst for change.

Join us for a dynamic conversation!

Featuring special guests:

Representative Jan Shakowsky (D-CD 9 IL)
Fred Harris, Former Senator (D-OK) and former Presidential Candidate
Jim Hightower, America's #1 Populist
Thomas Frank, Best-Selling Author of "What's The Matter With Kansas?"

RSVP online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-lane-evans-forum-tickets-73484073843

Iowa Federal Aid Swap Program - What You Can Do Now

5/19/2019

Oppose the Iowa Federal Aid Swap Program

What You Can Do Now

You may be aware from recent media reports, there is a growing coalition of organizations opposed to the new Iowa Federal Aid Swap program. Under this program millions of federal dollars allocated to the Quad Cities for road construction and other infrastructure projects are “swapped” for state dollars. Why does this matter?

Federal dollars contain certain protections, including Davis-Bacon Act “fair wages,” “BUY AMERICAN” sourcing restrictions, environmental regulations as well as women and minority-owned business engagement incentives. State dollars do not. This creates a competitive advantage for contractors outside the QCA to import less skilled, under-paid, transient workers in order to underbid our reputable local contractors. Bottom line, this leads to greater local unemployment and more money draining away from our local economy. Most importantly, it’s not right. This community needs to “opt-out” of this ill-conceived program, now. And, there will be a vote to do so on Tuesday, May 28th.

Please make your voices heard in opposition to the Iowa Federal Aid Swap program by going to: https://noswaps.com/. There you can learn more and “TAKE ACTION” by sending an email to local elected officials telling them “No SWAPS!” It’s easy. It’s quick. And, all the information you need is right there, including a sample email you can use. Please act today. And then encourage others to give input as well.

Click this link more information about the Iowa Federal Aid Swap program and the reasons to oppose it.

Candidate Questions - Civil Rights

4/22/2019

Candidate Questions - Civil Rights

Immigration/Refugee Policy

Let’s get organized before the next presidential candidates come to town! It’s hard to know what questions to ask, but here is a list that Quad Cities Interfaith created. If you have additional questions you think should be asked, please contact our Office Manager, Amber Bordolo and we will add to this list.

If you attend a candidate’s event, print off this list (see the download link below) and have it handy in case you get a chance to ask a question. Listen carefully to the answers on the topics below. Take notes if you can, and report back to us in the Blog Comments below. We want to know what you hear and think!

These are also good questions that should be addressed to your State legislatures when they hold legislative sessions or campaign for re-election.

1. As President, will you work to re-unite families separated at the border and change this policy so that future children and families are not separated while their legal status is in limbo?

2. What is your position on the Central American migrant caravan asylum-seekers at the border?

3. As President, will you work to ensure that tear gas is not employed against any persons at the border, like that which took place in November of this last year?

4. In Iowa, legislators have passed a state bill to prohibit local municipalities from establishing local sanctuary laws. Are you willing to speak out against these efforts at outlawing city and county rights to establish local sanctuary status?

5. We are against ICE workplace and community raids that unnecessarily terrorize, and often separate, families. A prominent example took place in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in the past year. What is your stance on the role of ICE in our local communities?

6. We are against laws that put undue burdens on local police forces to do the work of area ICE agents. We don’t think these measures make our communities more safe; in fact, they make people less likely to report crime for fear of retaliation or deportation. What is your stance on the role of local police in matters pertaining to immigration enforcement?

7. Do you support driver’s licenses for immigrants and other local efforts such as Community ID programs?

8. Do you support efforts toward providing a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in the United States?

9. There has been a call to overhaul our immigration policies. What provisions do you think should be a part of revising and changing our nation’s immigration laws?

10. As President, will you take leadership in permanently eliminating “The Muslim ban?” Will you support policies that increase the numbers of refugees the U.S. accepts?

11. What role do you think the U.S. has in accepting refugees from countries where we currently or have previously actively supported or engaged in military conflict in those countries?

12. Given that the policies and actions of our government have helped to create the conditions which people in the Migrant Caravan are fleeing, what are our responsibilities to these asylum seekers? How should they be treated at the border?

13. We stand strongly against the profit incentive behind incarceration of immigrants and citizens promoted by the prison industrial complex. Will you reject campaign contributions from banks and corporations that have a profit incentive in the building of private prisons and immigrant detention centers?

Mass Incarceration and Restorative Justice

1. Our groups in the Quad Cities are dealing with racial disparities in rates of out-of-school suspensions. As President, what will you do to address these and other racial inequities in our nation’s public school systems?

2. There our racial inequities across the board in our public schools here locally, and throughout the nation. What will you do to close the opportunity and achievement gap in public education between low-income and students of color, relative to their more affluent white peers?

3. What is your take on the recent bi-partisan criminal justice changes at the federal level? What do you think is the next step towards improving our current criminal justice system?

4. As president, what will you do to provide opportunities for criminal ex-offender re-entry programs and to create employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated persons to reduce recidivism?

5. Do you support “banning the box” policies that require ex-offenders to disclose their felony history in job applications?

6. The U.S. remains the most over-incarcerated nation on the planet. What steps will you take as President to decrease the numbers and reduce racial disparities in populations of offenders behind bars?

7. We stand strongly against the profit incentive behind incarceration of immigrants and citizens promoted by the prison industrial complex. Will you reject campaign contributions from banks and corporations that have a profit incentive in the building of private prisons and immigrant detention centers?

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Call Your Reps - Voter Suppression Bill in Iowa - What You Can Do Now

3/24/2019

Contact Your Iowa State Legislators Regarding Voter Suppression Bill

Iowa Senator Roby Smith has introduced Senate File 575 that impacts Iowans' ability to vote. Read more about it at:

Senate File 575

PACG members kept the focus of the March Scott County Legislative Forum on the voter suppression bill. Read this excellent article in the Quad-City Times for coverage of the reactions of the audience and legislators when questioned about the bill. The article also provides in-depth information about the threat to voting rights included in this legislation.

Call your Iowa State legislators to express your views on NOT restricting the voting rights of Iowans.

Senate Switchboard: 515-281-3371
House Switchboard: 515-281-3221

To find your representative's email information click here.

Breakfast Before Legislative Forum - March, 2019

3/18/2019

Breakfast and Legislative Forum -
Saturday, March 23rd at 9:00 am

Fresh Deli - 421 W. River Drive, Davenport, IA (map)

Out and About

Join PACG Out and About for breakfast before the Legislative Forum on Saturday, 3/23. We will meet at 9:00 a.m. at Fresh Deli in Davenport to socialize and to discuss strategies for effective questioning during the forum.

If you cannot make breakfast, be sure and show up to the Legislative Forum at Davenport Central High School - 1120 N. Main Street in Davenport (map). Social at 10:00, forum starts at 10:30.

Check our newest Facebook group - PACG Out & About! It's a way that we can appreciate and create culture TOGETHER. See our Blog Post here for more information.

Allison Ambrose

Contact Your Iowa Legislators About Sensible Gun Control - What You Can Do Now - March 18, 2019

3/18/2019

Demand Sensible Gun Control in Iowa - Contact Your Representatives!

The bills HJR 13 is being discussed on the House Floor this week. These bills, if passed and signed into law, would eliminate background checks on gun purchases in the state. They will also allow guns to be carried on college campuses, state fairgrounds and school buses.

The House is also discussing HF636 which allows concealed weapons in weapon-free zones, courthouses, and public/private workplaces.

Please contact your Iowa State legislators and demand that these actions be termed "dead for the year." We want sensible gun control for Iowa.

Iowa Voting Rights! - What You Can Do Now - March 18, 2019

3/18/2019

Contact Your Iowa State Legislator to Stop Voter Suppression

Iowa Senator Roby Smith has introduced Senate File 575 that impacts Iowan's ability to vote. Read more about it at:

Senate File 575

Call your Iowa State Senator to express your views on NOT restricting the voting rights of Iowans

Senate Switchboard: 515-281-3371

Allison Ambrose