On Friday, June 14, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-30) announced to his followers that he was co-sponsoring of The Medicare for All Act of 2019. His announcement came after persistent and unceasing efforts by a wide variety of individual activists and advocacy organizations in the 30th District.
In an email blast to his followers with the subject line Democrats Delivering on Healthcare, Sherman made the following statement:
I have decided to Co-Sponsor Medicare for All (H.R.1384) and will explore Co-Sponsoring other bills that will help close-the-gap and make sure everyone is covered.
“It was an amazing campaign,” said Betty Doumas-Toto, board member of Health Care for All and Americans for Democratic Action, and long-time, well-connected healthcare reform organizer for the San Fernando Valley.
Multiple organizations, acting independently and in coalition, engaged in a series of different actions that convinced the congress member to co-sponsor the bill. Below are descriptions of actions taken and the sequence of events:
SEQUENCE OF ACTIONS
Letter Drop
It all began with a letter drop led by Mike Goldman of Progressive Democrats of America – San Fernando Valley (PDA-SFV). This was followed by separate face-to-face visits with Sherman’s staff by Green New Deal activists and East Valley Indivisibles.
Personal Visit
On April 26, representatives from Healthy California Now affiliates HCA-SFV, AFSCME Retirees and National Union of Healthcare Workers met with Congressman Sherman in person. When asked to co-sponsor the bill, Sherman declined to do so explaining that he was still studying it.
More Letters, More Visits
After that, Our Revolution National, Our Revolution Los Angeles – FTB and Feel the Bern-LA Democratic Club San Fernando Valley RC (FTB-LA-SFV-RC) sent letters urging Sherman’s support for the bill and requesting meetings.
Day of Phone Calls
Then PDA-SFV, West Valley Our Revolution, FTB-LA-SFV-RC, and East Valley Indivisibles sponsored a day of phone calls to Sherman’s office.
Direct Personal Approach: Parade
On May 27, during the local Memorial Day parade, FTB-LA-SFV-RC tabled for Medicare for All, distributing literature, passing out signs along the parade route, and chanting. When Brad Sherman drove by sitting in a convertible, Betty ran right up to the vehicle with her Medicare for All sign, handed him information and asked for his co-sponsorship.
Betty Doumas-Toto & Brad Sherman, Memorial Day Parade, Van Nuys
Impact Statements at District Office
Only three days later, on Thursday, May 30, HCN volunteers Lenny Potash (AFSCME Retirees) and Al Saavedra (HCA-SFV) escalated the Sherman outreach by covering the front door of his district office in Van Nuys with testimonials from constituents about their healthcare struggles and urging Sherman’s support for Medicare for All.
Al Saavedra, HCA-SFV, at Sherman’s District Office Door
Direct Personal Approach: Town Hall
Subsequently, on June 1, a group of single payer supporters from various organizations attended Sherman’s Town Hall held in Granada Hills. A member of HCA-SFV, Chrys Shimizu, took the mic, voiced her support for the bill and asked the Congressman to co-sponsor it. He declined to do so, indicating that he was still studying it.
Door-to-Door Canvass in District
Later, on June 8, Shimizu hosted a canvass in Winnetka, which is in Sherman’s District 30.
More Phone Calls
And on June 11, Doumas-Toto spoke at a Resistance Northridge meeting about the bill and successfully urged attendees to call Sherman’s office.
Victory!
At long last, late on Friday, June 14, Congressman Sherman sent out an email blast announcing his co-sponsorship of the bill. (Congressman Sherman’s office was invited to make a comment for this article but declined.)
According to Doumas-Toto,
The actions of many different activists and organizations – working both independently and in coordination – resulted in this victory. It should not have been this hard! After all, Sherman co-sponsored HR 676. When it comes to healthcare policy, there’s a terrible difference of vision among our political leaders. The damage it’s causing is not theoretical. There are victims who are suffering. The victims are the American people.
— Georgia Brewer for HEAL California
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