More than 100 advocates from across the state, including a strong Western Mass. contingent (pictured here), gathered at the Statehouse for Lobby Day on Jan. 23rd.
After a spirited rally, delegations formed to talk with their legislators about cosponsoring “An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Mass.”
Many thanks to those who attended Lobby Day, and to all of you who called and emailed your state reps and senators.
The final tally for cosponsors on HD2974, the House Medicare for All bill is 62. This is a 40% increase since last session – and Western Mass. more than doubled its cosponsors from 7 to 15! The total number of legislators who have signed on at this point to either the Senate or House bills is 73. Reps and Senators can continue to sign on to the Senate bill (SD2062) until it comes out of committee.
As we continue to build the grassroots movement for Medicare for All in Massachusetts, more legislators are getting on-board. They can see that this matters to the people in their districts. We are also starting to get some pushback. A new columnist in the Hampshire Gazette recently chose to challenge Medicare for All in his first opinion piece. Responses by Prof. Gerald Friedman and Deborah Levenson, WMM4A Co-Convener, were published a few days later. Standing up to the opposition is part of this struggle … and here we go!