Senator Jeff Merkley addressed hundreds of health care defenders today at a Portland rally in support of Measure 101. The event was the first of three Martin Luther King Jr. weekend rallies to stabilize premiums and protect Medicaid for the one in four low-income and working Oregonians who count on it for their health care coverage in our state.
“Last year we stood together to protect health care from being decimated by federal funding cuts. This year we are standing together to protect it from those who would break it at the state level by cruelly slashing our state’s Medicaid program, leaving hundreds of thousands of children and adults at risk of losing their care,” Merkley said. “Oregonians believe that everyone deserves health care and that’s why we need everyone to vote YES by January 23 to protect health care for Oregon children and families.”
Senator Merkley was joined by Hillsboro mother Crystal Baran, who suffered for years without adequate treatment for a disease similar to Lupus and racked up tens of thousands of dollars in medical debt. Her life turned around when she qualified for Medicaid in 2014. Today, her health is stable and she is paying down her debt.
“My husband and I both work, but we could not afford healthcare for ourselves and our two children without Medicaid,” Baran said. “It is so important that we pass Measure 101 because families like mine - just normal, everyday people who are working to make ends meet - depend on the security that Medicaid provides.”
Serena Cruz is the Executive Director of the Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation. This week the Virginia Garcia Clinic in Hillsboro announced that without Measure 101, three-quarters of their patients could lose coverage. Cruz said Measure 101 is the only guaranteed way to protect health care for hardworking families like Baran’s.
“Thank goodness for Medicaid. It is a literal a lifesaver for Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families,” Cruz said in her remarks to the crowd. “That’s why we are proud to stand with the more than 165 organizations, including the Oregon Nurses Association, the Oregon Medical Association, AARP Oregon, Oregon teachers and school board members and so many more who are standing up to protect health care coverage for everyone in our state.”
Following the rally, volunteers knocked on doors throughout the city to speak with their neighbors about the importance of voting yes on Measure 101 and returning their ballots by 8pm on Tuesday, January 23. Health care supporters will rally again in Portland and Eugene on Monday. Over the weekend hundreds of thousands of grassroots supporters turned out for Measure 101.
Volunteers will be working to get out the vote everyday between now and Election Day. To join the campaign and help spread the word, visit www.yesforhealthcare.org.
About Measure 101:
Measure 101 funds the state Medicaid program which serves more than one million Oregonians - including 400,000 children - through temporary assessments on insurance companies and large hospitals. M101 also stabilizes health insurance premiums and lowers premiums for people who purchase their own health insurance. It is supported by more than 175 organizations, including the entire health care system and advocates for health care, children, education, people with disabilities, and seniors. Measure 101 has received support from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. M101 has so far received the endorsement of 15 newspapers in every part of Oregon.
