Just returned from Washington DC and wanted to offer up a report from the ground. Doctors for America (DFA), in conjunction with Representative Ruiz (D-CA), who is also an emergency physician, organized a rally and press conference outside the Capitol today. It was a terrific event, with a few surprises….
The rally was organized last week; little did we know that our event would coincide with the very day that the McConnell WealthCare draft bill would be released. The buzz in the Senate office buildings and capitol area was palpable!
First, we split up into state delegations and visited at the offices of our respective Senators. Our Pennsylvania group, 7 in total, was a collegial group from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh who brought great energy to our meeting with Senator Casey’s staffer. She was very much on our side, so it was an easy conversation — with one key takeaway that is worth sharing with all of you. She pointed out that if the Senate passes this trainwreck of a bill, it will require a second vote in the House. Given that the House version passed with a relatively thin margin, pressure on house reps is still VERY important. She encouraged us to write, call or visit with house reps in vulnerable districts and turn up the heat — maybe a few “yes” votes can be converted, and maybe a few “no” votes can be supported and maintained.
Then came the rally and press conference. Reps Pelosi, Hoyer, Ruiz and Bera were all present (seeing Pelosi up close was such a highlight of my day) and spoke forcefully about the immoral nature of what is being proposed by the Republican congress, emphasizing that in keeping with the physician’s oath we should “do no harm”. And this bill…. it harms.
One surprise: members of the public were there and prepared with passionate messages. One in particular stood out — a woman appeared in the audience, topless, with clearly visible breast scars denoting cancer surgery. She carried a sign saying “Pre-existing condition”. An important warning to the millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions who may be harmed by this bill.
Another surprise: we witnessed the arrest of protesters outside of Senator McConnell’s office — a group of wheelchair-bound folks, many of whom elderly, were protesting the AHCA. Capitol police arrested them — creating quite a spectacle in the halls of the Russell Senate Office building. Lots of onlookers, lots of press snapping photographs. The protesters were proud, well-behaved, and truly gave us a master class in how to do civil disobedience. I got a little misty eyed watching them, I must admit, mostly out of a mix of admiration and guilt.
The overriding lesson from the event — getting active in the resistance is fun, ennobling, community-building. . . . and most of all, NECESSARY. Today I pledged to get more active — I hope we all can keep our morale high and fight hard.