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Health Care Reform
A personal account, by Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona)
"From touring a national model disability center to visiting a community health center, working in President Obama’s White House Health Reform Task Force has been an incredible vehicle to help shape national health reform. I have hosted public forums and listened to stories and ideas from thousands of Arizonans to send to the President. As one of 32 legislators nationwide – the only state lawmaker from Arizona – selected for the President’s task force, I look forward to sharing best practices and lessons I learned from being a member of this team.
 "With the task force, I am also working to create a dialogue between state leaders and the U.S. Congressional delegation, and I have weekly conference calls with the White House until the reform is implemented. On a local level, the interest in health reform is incredibly high here in Arizona, a state that has one of the worst health care systems in the nation. Just this year, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System was dealt another blow — the biggest budget cut to health care for families in Arizona in state history. The cuts keep coming — hundreds of millions more are proposed in 2010, when we know the demand for health care will be high in such tough economic times.
 "One such story, which I took back to the Task Force, is the example of the Athertons, who adopted their daughter Becca when she was just a baby. They knew she had a life-threatening heart condition, but they also knew that with enough love, they could give her a chance at life. Becca, now 16, has had four heart surgeries, 17 heart catherizations, and the placement of a pacemaker defibrillator. She takes 40 pills a day and sleeps with oxygen at night. Her parents used private insurance at first to pay for Becca’s care, but those costs doubled each month and ballooned to unthinkable costs. They turned to a state program, but the funding for that program and for other vital health services were cut this year.
 "To find out more about my efforts with the White House Health Reform Task Force and to submit your ideas and stories, please visit me on Facebook or my office website here."
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Join the Health Care Conversation
 Interested in a conference call with White House officials about the current health care reform debate and messaging? We’re working on it! If you’re interested, email rhurst@pfaw.org with “White House Health Care” in the title, to make sure we send you details and information as soon as it’s available.
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Convening 2010 Host Committee
We need your help to make National Convening 2010 happen! Please click here to learn more about the responsibilities of the Convening Host Committee, and to sign up. If you are interested, please sign up ASAP- our first 2010 Convening planning meeting will be in a couple weeks!
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Public Sector Leadership Retreat
The Center for Digital Government convenes a hand-selected group of visionaries and thought-leaders from the public and private sector for a yearly retreat. Called re:Public, the purpose of this retreat is to create an opportunity for these public sector executives to spend a few days outside of their day-to-day challenges and have an opportunity to recharge and re-engage with the mission of public sector leadership.
Now in its eighth year, re:Public is a nonpartisan event with the aim of kindling the best of public stewardship. This year’s retreat, taking place in La Quinta, California on November 15-16, would like to feature a panel of young elected officials to showcase how technology is changing the landscape of government and what leaders need to do and know today in this fast-paced, transparency-driven world.
If you are interested, please email Ryan Hurst at rhurst@pfaw.org with the subject line “re:Public Retreat.”
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We’re on Facebook!
 Join our new Facebook Fanpage by clicking here from your Facebook account. You may also find our page by typing in ‘Young Elected Officials Network’ into the search bar on the Facebook home page. The purpose of the Facebook Fanpage is to share policies, accomplishments, and ask for help in a public forum.
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BOSTON, MA
August 10, 2009 – State Representative Carl Sciortino has joined other Massachusetts state legislators to fight the proposed MBTA fare hikes. "It's our belief that with the investment we've made in our transportation infrastructure – with the Transportation Reform Bill, with $160 million invested into the T for this year – we have done what was asked of us to offset the deed for fare increases and service cuts this year," Rep. Sciortino said.
Read More
LEWISTON, ME
July 31, 2009 – House Speaker Hannah Pingree and her mother U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree testified before the U.S. House Administration Committee, touting the Maine Clean Election Act as evidence that public financing can work. "(It) has encouraged many nontraditional candidates to run — from young people and women to working people and single mothers — because they don't have to have networks and wealthy friends or industry support to be successful," Rep. Hannah Pingree said. "You have to question a system where great personal wealth can make someone more attractive to party groups, simply because they won't require as much funding help."
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PHILADELPHIA, PA
July 29, 2009 – Congressman Patrick Murphy is co-sponsoring legislation to reduce healthcare fraud. The Improving Medicare and Medicaid Policy for Reimbursements through Oversight and Efficiency (IMPROVE) Act would require government programs to pay providers and suppliers using only direct deposit into bank accounts, instead of mailing reimbursement checks to post office boxes.
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ST. PAUL, MN
July 23, 2009 – City Councilman Melvin Carter is supporting a campaign to implement instant run-off voting, which will allow voters to specify a second and third choice candidate, in case their first choice candidate loses. "We have a chance to eliminate some of those wasted votes and that decision that so many people have to make when they go to the polls and say, 'Do I want to cast a vote for that person I really, really, really believe in, or do I want to take the pragmatic route?'" Councilman Carter said.
Read More
To view more YEO In the News, click here.
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Director, Young People For (YP4)
People For the American Way Foundation
Washington, DC
Open Until Filled
Young People For (YP4), a Program of People For the American Way Foundation, is a progressive leadership development program focused on identifying, engaging, and empowering the next generation of progressive leaders. YP4 is dedicated to identifying young campus and community leaders, engaging them, and supporting them with the skills and resources they need to create change. Together, People For and YP4 are building a long-term network of emerging leaders committed to protecting our nation’s fundamental rights and freedoms. They are currently seeking a Director. Click here for full details.
Director of Finance and Administration
Project HEALTH
Boston, Massachusetts
Last day to apply: September 6, 2009
Project HEALTH is seeking a smart, talented, and energetic Director of Finance and Administration to provide strategic leadership while building and managing the day-to-day financial and administrative systems needed to support the high level of growth expected for this entrepreneurial organization. This is a position with high growth potential that requires strong analytic, accounting and financial management skills as well as exceptional interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with varied constituents. Read More
Research Analyst/ Policy Analyst
SEIU/District 1199 WV/KY/OH
Columbus, Ohio
Last day to apply: September 28, 2009
SEIU/District 1199 has unique work for an individual who is comfortable with numbers and looking for a meaningful role in the labor movement. The successful candidate possesses excellent interpersonal skills, is not afraid to draw his or her own conclusions and looks forward to joining health care workers in a fight to change their lives and their industry for the better. Read More
CFO (Part-Time)
Primary Care Coalition
Silver Spring, Maryland
Last day to apply: September 29, 2009
Primary Care Coalition (PCC) of Montgomery County is currently in need of a seasoned Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to guide all the financial decisions of this growing mid-sized organization and, in collaboration with the CEO, provide strategic financial leadership for the Directors. In addition, the CFO will lead and oversee the annual work plan and budget processes for the entire organization. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 15 years financial experience in the non-profit arena and at least 10 years in organizational financial development. Read More
Political Organizer
Transportation for America
Washington, DC
Last day to apply: October 2, 2009
The Transportation for America Campaign is seeking an experienced Political Organizer to work with and build a national coalition of prominent businesses, health leaders, civil rights leaders, and elected officials interested in reforming federal transportation policy. This is a tremendous opportunity for an organizer to take a leadership role and significant responsibility while working with these sectors and learning about transportation reform issues. Political organizing experience is a must. Read More
Communications Manager
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC)
Washington, DC
Last day to apply: October 2, 2009
NASBHC’s mission is to improve the health status of children and youth by advancing and advocating for school-based health care. The Communications Manager is responsible for conducting the organization’s communications/outreach efforts, executing communication programs to advance NASBHC’s position as preeminent advocacy organization for school-based health care, and working with all staff to ensure the consistency and quality of NASBHC’s message and brand. Read More
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Other Health Care Reform Efforts
 Many of our YEOs are also working tirelessly on the health care issue.
In addition to Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, four other YEOs have been named to President Obama’s White House Health Reform Task Force: Maine State Representative Hannah Pingree, Maryland State Delegate Heather Mizeur, Illinois State Representative Susana Mendoza, and Pennsylvania State Representative Josh Shapiro. The goal of the task force is to “educate… communities on the need for health reform this year…host public events, author opinion pieces in local publications, and use their established networks to organize constituents in support of health reform." In addition, the team will submit a white paper that includes recommendations based on feedback received from town hall meetings, cyber discussions, conference calls, and emails with health care professionals, insurers, and citizens who are having trouble finding affordable health insurance.
 Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy has introduced legislation that will waive mandatory waiting periods for uninsured children who would otherwise qualify for health coverage under state-federal programs. "Struggling families across the U.S won't have to make an impossible choice between providing vital health care coverage for their kids or paying for other basic needs, if they lose their jobs or face unaffordable out-of-pocket medical expenses," Congressman Murphy said.
Read more
 Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan has announced a bill that aims to reduce the need for abortions by preventing unintended pregnancies. The legislation would increase access to contraceptive services, health care coverage for pregnant women and children, and adoption. It would also expand access to comprehensive sex education and adoption programs.
Read more
 Alabama State Representative Merika Coleman introduced a bill that would require hospitals to disclose information in writing to patients about financial assistance programs for which they may be eligible. The information would be sent along with bills for hospital services. "What this would do is highlight for folks charitable programs," said Rep. Coleman. "Oftentimes people don't even know they exist."
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 Maine State Representative Alex Cornell du Houx served in Iraq with the Marines in 2006, and in his recent article in The Huffington Post he speaks about his discovery that health care for veterans is not as ironclad as you would think. Click here to read the full article by Rep. Cornell du Houx.
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YEO Announcements
Rev. Joseph Lowery Receives Medal of Freedom
 On behalf of the Young Elected Officials Network and the entire People For the American Way Foundation staff, it is our pleasure to congratulate Reverend Dr. Joseph Lowery for being one of the 16 individuals selected by President Barack Obama to receive the Freedom Medal. We had the distinct honor of having Dr. Lowery as our keynote speaker at the Opening Reception during the YEO National Convening in Atlanta. His words inspired and invigorated us to continue our public service on the front lines of change.
 When asked his thoughts about receiving the highest honor bestowed on a civilian Lowery said, “I am simply overwhelmed by this honor and especially grateful that an ordinary small town preacher such as I could be so honored....should be a great encouragement to all ordinary folks.”
We salute Dr. Lowery for this most deserved award and thank him for his lifetime service to justice, equality, and to humanity.
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YEOs Training the Next Generation
 The YEO Network would like to thank Florida YEOs, State Representative Oscar Braynon, II and State Senator Dave Aronberg for their participation in the inaugural Lawton Chiles Foundation Leadership Corps. This Florida-specific youth program is a bi-partisan effort to take the state’s education system from “worst to first.” Rep. Braynon co-trained 45 young people at a YEO Network civic engagement workshop, teaching the student leaders about grassroots campaigns. Both YEOs participated in a rousing Political Leaders Q&A, which was followed by an address from former President Bill Clinton.
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Policy Brief from the Sloan Work and Family Research Network
“Paid Family Leave: One Solution to Helping Today’s Working Families Meet Their Family Responsibilities at Critical Times”
The Alfred P. Sloan Work and Family Research Network is a premier online destination for information about work and family. The Network serves a global community interested in work and family research by providing resources and building knowledge. The Network targets the information needs of academics and researchers, workplace practitioners, state public policy makers, and interested individuals. It is the place to find high-quality research and reports, easy-to-read summary sheets and briefs, and work-family topic pages.
Click here to read their brief on Paid Family Leave (PFL), entitled “Paid Family Leave: One Solution to Helping Today’s Working Families Meet Their Family Responsibilities at Critical Times." The brief describes state policy efforts to address PFL, why such policy is being introduced, why federal legislation in the form of the Family and Medical Leave Act is insufficient for many, and how PFL affects working families, employers, and the government.
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The YEO Network Northeast Caucus, at this year’s national convening, voted to support high-speed rail. 
