Fight for Our Health Coalition
#Fight4OurHealth
Contact: Tom Webster
(661) 348-3378
tom.webster@seiu521.com
Media alert for Feb. 23, 2017 at 5:50 p.m.
EMERGENCY VIGIL IN BAKERSFIELD
Community Takes Demands to Protect Healthcare and Local Immigrant Families to Rep McCarthy’s Doorstep
- Local action comes as Republican Congress members are
under pressure nationwide for supporting
attacks on healthcare and immigrant families - McCarthy refuses town halls, locks his door to constituents
- Continues “pay for access” attitude by offering $10,000 seats at fundraiser
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Community members and faith leaders will hold a vigil at Rep. McCarthy’s house on Thursday, Feb. 23 to denounce Republican attacks on healthcare and immigrants. The action comes at a time when Republican members of Congress are back home in their districts facing heated crowds and increasing pressure to back away from divisive health care and immigration actions spearheaded by President Trump and congressional GOP leadership.
From California to Florida and everywhere in between, members of Congress are finding it very difficult to defend their support for repealing the Affordable Care Act, hiking taxes on individuals who purchase health insurance, slashing healthcare for the poor, raising prescription drug prices on grandparents, and breaking the Medicare guarantee for our seniors. Congress members are also facing heated questions about their position on the Trump Administration’s Muslim ban and indiscriminate raids on immigrant families’ homes.
The mounting pressure to maintain healthcare and protect immigrants from extreme actions is so intense, members like McCarthy are effectively hiding from their constituents rather than face questions. Congressman McCarthy has been locking his office doors for a long time and continues to keep his constituents at a distance.
Just before this week’s congressional recess, Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other leaders released the outlines of their approach to slash health care security for Americans. These GOP talking points are far from the “better” plan they promised; instead, they are hastily cobbled together ideas that would actually result in millions of Americans losing coverage, increased costs for all of us, and fewer protections from insurance companies’ predatory practices.
On Thursday, community members will join faith leaders and United Farm Workers Foundation, the Kern, Inyo, Mono Central Labor Council, Health Access, Planned Parenthood, Faith in the Valley, Dolores Huerta Foundation, SEIU Locals 521 and 2015, and SEIU UHW for the emergency vigil. They will call on Rep. McCarthy to commit to voting against the Ryan approach and any plan that undermines health care coverage and raises costs, and stand up against Trump’s divisive immigration actions.
WHO: The Kern, Inyo, Mono Central Labor Council, Health Access, Planned Parenthood, Faith in the Valley, Dolores Huerta Foundation, and SEIU Locals 521 and 2015, SEIU UHW, and United Farm Workers Foundation.
WHAT: Emergency march and candlelight vigil on health care and immigration at Rep. McCarthy’s house
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017
March at 5:50 p.m., Vigil at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: March begins at Town and County Village Shopping Center
8200 Stockdale Hwy., Bakersfield
VISUALS: Community standing together with signs, candles, American flags
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