Public, single-payer, universal health care bills have been introduced in the Pennsylvania House and Senate. The Family and Business Health Care Security Act (SB300 in the PA Senate and HB1660 in the PA House) provides for much-needed real health care reform for Pennsylvania’s citizens. (It is not Gov. Rendell’s plan.)

Only two Berks legislators, Tom Caltagirone(D-127) in the House and Mike O’Pake(D-11) in the state Senate, have agreed to co-sponsor the bills in their respective bodies. Many thanks to them for showing political courage in leading the way to health care reform.

As of this writing, eight other Berks representatives and three other Berks senators have declined to offer their support and leadership as co-sponsors. They are Representatives Dave Argall(R-124), Tim Seip(D-125), Dante Santoni(D-126), Sam Rohrer(R-128), Jim Cox(R-129), Dave Kessler(D-130), Doug Reichley(R-134), Carl Mantz(R-187) and Senators Mike Folmer(R-48), John Rafferty(R-44) and James Rhoades(R-29). It is disappointing that these legislators do not heed the call for meaningful reform of our broken health care system. What heroes they woud be if they were on the side of the people instead of giving the impression that they side with the powerful health insurance industry.

Let your voice be heard. Thank Rep. Caltagirone and Sen. O’Pake for fighting for us. Call the others and request that they reconsider their position on this very important legislation.

For more information visit www.HealthCare4AllPA.org .