Rallying for Healthcare Vote

Abi Zimmer |

On July 24, community members gathered outside Eau Claire City Hall to request the addition of a health care referendum question to the Nov. 4 ballots in Eau Claire and Altoona. The question, "Shall the next state legislature enact health care reform legislation by Dec. 31, 2009, that guarantees every Wisconsin resident affordable health care coverage as good as what is provided to state legislators?" is meant to urge Wisconsin legislators to support health care reform. "The fact that four people die every week in Wisconsin because they can't afford health care coverage is reason enough to push for comprehensive reform," says Citizen Action of Wisconsin organizer Andrew Werthmann. "If people in Eau Claire and Altoona vote heavily in favor of wanting a completely new health care system, it gives (politicians) the momentum and impetus to make it happen."