Medium-Term Single Payer Campaigns – Lessons from Movement History [Why this matters] Years long struggle: we need victories along the way. We need to grow and strengthen our movement.

Agenda Overview: Possible campaign ideas Small group workshop What is a medium-term campaigns? How can a medium-term campaign be useful? Possible campaign ideas Small group workshop

Importance of Strategic Medium-Term Campaigns

A Medium-Term Campaign: Is achievable within 1-2 years with existing resources; Should build power necessary to win long-term campaign goal; Should matter to an identifiable group or community.

Campaign Assessment Internal Impacts External Impacts Fits with our values Capacity to win Duration & resources Risk of negative outcomes Builds our internal capacity Builds our external power Internal Impacts Grows member-ship base Mobilizes our base Leadership development Fundraising potential External Impacts Coalition building Demonstration of power Shifts the public narrative

Single Payer Campaign Targets Legislative Campaigns Corporate & Solidarity Campaigns Outreach Campaigns

Government Targets (Nat’l) Congressional Committees: Inclusion in hearings (Baucus 8) Symbolic amendments (Wiener amendment to repeal Medicare) Individual Congresspeople: Co-sponsorship Leadership roles: website, public speaking, LTEs/Op-Eds, etc.

Government Targets (State) State Legislatures: Single-payer studies (many states) Non-binding single-payer resolutions Healthcare expansion/defense (Medicaid expansion fights, Medicare4All in CA) Improved regulations of healthcare industry (surprise billing, etc.) All-payer rate setting

Government Targets (State) Individual State Legislators: Co-sponsorship Leadership roles: website, public speaking, LTEs/Op-Eds, etc Governors/State Agencies Insurance rate increase hearings (Put People First PA) Make single payer an election issue Appoint a public advocate

Government Targets (Other) Non-Binding Ballot Initiatives Ballot questions at city, legislative district, or county levels (30+ in MA, FL) Municipalities Resolutions (Win Win campaign) City- or county-level universal healthcare programs (Healthy San Francisco, Los Angeles County)

Corporate Targets Insurance Companies: Employers, Hospitals: Demanding patient bill of rights (HCN’s civil disobediences during ACA) Challenge corporate mergers Employers, Hospitals: Solidarity campaigns for patients (HCN Kevin Jarvis), workers (UE Local 248 campaign), hospital closures (Huey Long) Mutual Funds: divestment (TIAA-CREF)

Outreach Campaigns Intermediate Organizations: Labor council and union endorsements (Unions for Single Payer campaign) Medical societies (Hawaii, Massachusetts) Single-payer business network (Business Leaders Transforming Healthcare) Municipal resolutions (HCN Win-Win campaign)

Outreach Campaigns Affected Individuals: Story-collecting campaign (Southern Maine Workers Center) Petition-gathering campaign (100x100 campaign – HCN New York) Statewide truth hearings (Vermont Workers Center, HCN road tour) Movie viewings (SiCKO tour, FixIt, etc)

Campaign Assessment Internal Impacts External Impacts Fits with our values Capacity to win Duration & resources Risk of negative outcomes Impact of victory on people’s lives Potential for media/education Internal Impacts Grows member-ship base Leadership development Mobilization of base Fundraising potential External Impacts Coalition building Demonstration of power Shifts the public narrative