Contributor Catherine Hunt, OPS, NJ Universal Healthcare Coalition
State-based SP organizations
NJ Universal Healthcare Coalition https://www.universalhealthcarenj.org/
Our Revolution/NJ has M4A campaign
National Affiliations: NNU, OPS, Indivisible, Reclaim Our Vote, Center for Common Ground, Healthcare-NOW, PNHP.org, Progressive Democrats of America
State-based SP bills
A540, was A2269: Expands Medicare coverage to all NJ residents (A. Jimenez, S. Speight, R. Mukherji, primary sponsors; 2 co-sponsors) https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2020/Bills/A1000/540_I1.HTM
S 395, was S2598: (same bill) L. Weinberg, primary sponsor
This bill simply asks the CMS to allow NJ to be covered under Medicare, similar to Libby Montana. See Montana entry.
Obstacles to SP in the current context
Center of Rx industry, strong machine politics, strong opposition from Democrats
The Democrats are completely bossed by the machine “liberals”
NJ is the Alabama of the NorthEast. Diverse population/immigrants, poor/undocumented everyone many people are not covered by insurance policies, undocumented not covered by Medicaid or anything else. There is great income disparity. Machine politics prevents change. Our many jails/private prisons/immigrant detention centers/nursing homes spread Covid and other disease. Lead in old pipes everywhere, new water pipe infrastructure needed, all the pipes in the whole state have aged out all at once. Water processing plants are unable to keep up with needs; they simply backed up during Sandy and there has been little or no improvement. Sewage overflow, many superfund sites and many sites that should be superfund sites, a great deal of pollution from years of industrialization and from current output of pollution, land and water, and air quality. Our machine politics prevents us from raising the funds needed to improve the state and wastes what funds we have.
What would help: measures to overcome unelected political bosses and return power to the people, measures to end the machine and continual security and reelection of incumbents, progressive taxation including ending tax breaks for the wealthy and millionaire’s tax, a Public Bank of NJ, include undocumented and expand MedicAid/State-mediated health care coverage to all. Special attention to maternal-child health especially among poor and people of color is needed. End private prison industry and end private ownership of nursing homes. More funding and training in the care of autistic and special needs children.
Advantages for SP in current context
Bonnie Watson-Coleman signs on to M4A every year. (Other politicians need to be voted out.)
Goals for SP movement in NJ 2021-2022
Education and advocacy!
Where can people find news about Single Payer in your state and/or join a group?*
Online at the NJ Universal Healthcare Coalition website, and at events sponsored by OurRevolutionNJ.
https://act.newmode.net/action/our-revolution/new-jersey-call-your-member-congress-and-demand-they-support-medicare-all