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THE
FIGHT IN TENNESSEE:
SIT IN ENTERS WEEK 4
STATE STOPS ALLOWING FOOD AND WATER INTO THE CAPITOL
Monday afternoon (day 22 of the sit in), the Governor’s Office told security to no longer allow food and water into the Capitol. There has been no reason given except that it is policy not to allow food and water into the building. Many of the people participating in the Sit-In have severe health conditions and need a minimum diet of food and water to be able to exercise their basic rights to hold our government accountable.
PRIVATE DUTY NURSING REMOVED FROM CUTS!
The Administration is going to remove Private Duty Nursing from the long list of services that are set to be cut. The exact numbers are not certain but this will save the lives and deeply impact the quality of life of at least 200 people on ventilators and Tennesseans who have severe mental disabilities, including those with Mental Retardation.
NASHVILLE HOMELESS VISIT SIT-IN
Yesterday, the Nashville Homeless Power Project organized a group of 15 homeless individuals to join the sit-in in solidarity. They came and greeted TennCare Enrollees and others and shared in their common experience. Howard Allen of the Power Project shared, “The poor peoples fight and our fight for health care is the same. I am homeless and I don’t even have health insurance. With these cuts there are going to be a whole lot more Tennesseans in my boat.” Emma McCloud, sporadically homeless and TennCare enrollee became the fifth homeless person to stay the night at the Capitol as she stayed the night last night.
HOW YOU CAN HELP Call, email or fax Governor Bredesen’s Office and offer your full support to TennCare enrollees and their supporters: “We know it is not too late to consider the dire needs of Tennesseans who are proposed to be cut. We stand with those who are in Gov Bredesen’s Office and who are exercising their rights affording to them by US and Tennessee Constitutions to peacefully assemble and instruct you as a representative of all Tennesseans.” We know you are courageous and it is not too late to do the right thing and to support the well-being of all Tennesseans. CORRECT TENNCARE, DON’T CUT IT.” Governor Bredesen’s Office: Phone:
615.741.2001 Call the Nashville Peace and Justice Center and let them know how you can help or that you want to help: 615-321-9066
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- BACKGROUND ON THE SIT IN
- WEEK 2
Tomorrow, Monday, June 27, Tenncare enrollees and others who have been occupying Governor Bredesen's office will be joined by the National Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) President, Dr. Steele, and other clergy. The clergy will speak at a NOON Press Conference and then stay the night inside the capitol.
Each day this week there will be press conferences at noon and candle light vigils at 9pm CST. On Tuesday, the press conference will feature nurses and doctors in the struggle to save Tenncare.
- WHO IS
IN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
Lori Smith – Nashville, Tennessee
TennCare Enrollee (premium payer with full time job), will be cut and is uninsurable with Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus.
Member of the Poor People's Economic Human Rights CampaignLisa Abel – Nashville, Tennessee
TennCare Enrollee, Massage Therapist, Will be cut and is uninsurable
Skin cancer, gallstones, and uterine polypsRandy Alexander– Memphis, Tennessee
ADAPT Member, Advocate for People with Disabilities and is ParapligicLewis Patrick – Memphis, Tennessee
ADAPT Member, Advocate for People with Disabilities and is ParapligicMichael Henrich – Memphis, Tennessee
ADAPT Member
Dee Hamilton- Nashville, Tennessee
Friend of TennCare enrollee who will be cutAnd others...
- SCHEDULED
EVENTS FOR TODAY, JUNE 21
5pm- TennCare Rally, Demonstrating for our Lives. TennCare enrollees and hundreds others to gather at TennCare Building, 8th & Church in Nashville, TN
9pm- Vigil for those in the Governor’s Office at Charlotte Avenue between 6th & 7th, IN FRONT OF CAPITOL
-
WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY, JUNE 20
10am- Over 20 enrollees, medical professionals and other arrive in Governor’s Office and will request to see the Governor. Will remain until Governor agrees in writing to meet with group with media present and accessible to the public.10:30am- Security and Staff ask Group to leave
1:45- Food delivered to group but not allowed into Office.
2:00- A representative of the Governor announces that the Governor offers to meet with 2-3 spokespeople behind closed doors at 10:30am on Wednesday
2:30- Group AGREES to meet with Governor on condition that he keeps the meeting open to the media and the public.
4:30- Governor’s Office admits that the Governor’s Office is a public building and allows people to stay indefinitely.
9:00- Supporters organize vigil with just 2 hours notice and over 50 arrive in front of capitol.
10:30pm- Members of Sit-in in Good Spirits and ready for sleep.
- IN THE
NEWS
VIDEO PHOTAGECh 4 http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3497067&nav=1TcRbEfV
Ch 2 http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3496782
Ch 5 http://www.wtvf.com/TUESDAY TENNESSEAN
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050621/NEWS0204/506210351
BACK TO MAIN HEALTH CARE PAGE
Monday, June 20, at about 10am CST, TennCare enrollees, people with disabilities, medical professionals, and other concerned Tennesseans occupied Governor Bredesen’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.
PPEHRC member Lori Smith, along with Glen Barnhill, Wanda Eubanks, and others who are scared of the impact of the cuts and benefit limits on their lives gathered with other enrollees and allies to issue the Governor a plea not to cut hundreds of thousands from TennCare.
Several of these enrollees and allies have been spending the night in the Capitol building all week long. These individuals plan to stay in the building until their demands are met.
View PHOTOS from the week
THEIR DEMANDS:
1. Halt the sending of termination letters immediately, the process for cutting enrollment, and the reduction of benefits!
2.
Provide written agreement to resume talks before June 30th, to review
reforms and revenue generation that could allow TennCare to be maintained
for those who are proposed to be cut and receive benefit limits.
a. That these talks happen in manner fully accessible to the public.
b. That they engage enrollees and medical professionals chosen from
and with in this participating group.