The American people have faced stagnant wages and rising inequality for decades. Many Americans voted for Donald Trump or decided not to vote at all because Democrats failed to communicate effectively with working people and turn out the vote - end of story. The fact is that shouldn't have happened. The Democratic Party has long been the Party of working people, and needs to do a better job of making that case. No one knows this better than Keith Ellison, and we are proud to endorse him as the next Chair of the Democratic National Committee.
These are extremely challenging times. President Trump has put forward a nominee for Labor Secretary who openly disdains workers. Congressional Republicans are readying plans to roll back worker protections, repeal the Affordable Care Act and end Medicare as we know it. And in state capitals across the country, the assault on workers and unions has been fierce and swift. Now more than ever, working people need public servants who will stand up and fight for better jobs, higher wages, good benefits and a voice at work.
Keith knows how to win elections, and has a track record of defeating anti-worker forces wherever they are. When Keith was first elected to Congress in 2006, his district had the lowest turnout in Minnesota. Voters just didn't feel engaged. They didn't feel like they mattered. Keith decided to do something about it: he organized. He knocked on as many doors as possible. With labor at his side, he talked about the issues that mattered to people. It worked. Since Keith began his grassroots voter turnout campaign, his district is the highest performing in the state. And on top of all this, he's been getting pro-worker candidates elected from the school board to the U.S. Senate, traveling to nearly 30 states just last cycle.
When nurses went on strike to keep their health insurance, Keith was there. When communications workers went on strike to protest pension cuts, Keith was there. When hotel workers went on strike for a decent wage, Keith was there.
He hasn't done this alone. Keith has always organized alongside working people. He's marched on our picket lines and offered support to our members. When nurses went on strike to keep their health insurance, Keith was there. When communications workers went on strike to protest outsourcing and pension cuts, Keith was there. When hotel workers went on strike to stand up for a decent wage, Keith was there.
Each and every time, he's pounded the pavement, not for some sort of political benefit, but to stand in solidarity with those who want a better life for ourselves and our families.
That's who Keith is, and that's precisely why he's long been a friend of labor - especially in the halls of Congress. He's voted to increase the minimum wage, advocated for better working conditions and proposed a bill to make union organizing a civil right. As Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, he's used his microphone over and over again to speak up when unions or working people have come under attack. Simply put, labor has the strongest possible ally in Keith-someone whose primary focus is to create opportunity for all and grow the middle class, regardless of what you look like, where you were born, or who you are.
And now that he's running for DNC Chair, he's not wavering in his commitment to us--not one bit. He understands that many working people voted for Donald Trump because the Democratic Party didn't make a compelling enough case. He understands we are hungry for political leaders that listen to us and work with us, and that labor's agenda will always lead our politics, not the other way around. With Keith at the helm of one of America's two major political parties, working people will be in a much better position to have our issues advanced and our concerns heard.
Both of us have been a part of the labor movement for decades, and we wouldn't have it any other way. But we're not in the business of mincing words. Tough days lie ahead for working people. And so, it is more important than ever that we have a leader who will stand up, fight, organize and win.
There is no doubt in our minds: Keith Ellison is the person for the job. He has our strong support. We encourage you to give him yours, as well.
Richard Trumka is president of the 12.5 million member AFL-CIO, America's labor federation.. Maria Elena Durazo is a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and a General Vice President of UNITE HERE.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.
These are extremely challenging times. President Trump has put forward a nominee for Labor Secretary who openly disdains workers. Congressional Republicans are readying plans to roll back worker protections, repeal the Affordable Care Act and end Medicare as we know it. And in state capitals across the country, the assault on workers and unions has been fierce and swift. Now more than ever, working people need public servants who will stand up and fight for better jobs, higher wages, good benefits and a voice at work.
Keith knows how to win elections, and has a track record of defeating anti-worker forces wherever they are. When Keith was first elected to Congress in 2006, his district had the lowest turnout in Minnesota. Voters just didn't feel engaged. They didn't feel like they mattered. Keith decided to do something about it: he organized. He knocked on as many doors as possible. With labor at his side, he talked about the issues that mattered to people. It worked. Since Keith began his grassroots voter turnout campaign, his district is the highest performing in the state. And on top of all this, he's been getting pro-worker candidates elected from the school board to the U.S. Senate, traveling to nearly 30 states just last cycle.
When nurses went on strike to keep their health insurance, Keith was there. When communications workers went on strike to protest pension cuts, Keith was there. When hotel workers went on strike for a decent wage, Keith was there.
He hasn't done this alone. Keith has always organized alongside working people. He's marched on our picket lines and offered support to our members. When nurses went on strike to keep their health insurance, Keith was there. When communications workers went on strike to protest outsourcing and pension cuts, Keith was there. When hotel workers went on strike to stand up for a decent wage, Keith was there.
Each and every time, he's pounded the pavement, not for some sort of political benefit, but to stand in solidarity with those who want a better life for ourselves and our families.
That's who Keith is, and that's precisely why he's long been a friend of labor - especially in the halls of Congress. He's voted to increase the minimum wage, advocated for better working conditions and proposed a bill to make union organizing a civil right. As Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, he's used his microphone over and over again to speak up when unions or working people have come under attack. Simply put, labor has the strongest possible ally in Keith-someone whose primary focus is to create opportunity for all and grow the middle class, regardless of what you look like, where you were born, or who you are.
And now that he's running for DNC Chair, he's not wavering in his commitment to us--not one bit. He understands that many working people voted for Donald Trump because the Democratic Party didn't make a compelling enough case. He understands we are hungry for political leaders that listen to us and work with us, and that labor's agenda will always lead our politics, not the other way around. With Keith at the helm of one of America's two major political parties, working people will be in a much better position to have our issues advanced and our concerns heard.
Both of us have been a part of the labor movement for decades, and we wouldn't have it any other way. But we're not in the business of mincing words. Tough days lie ahead for working people. And so, it is more important than ever that we have a leader who will stand up, fight, organize and win.
There is no doubt in our minds: Keith Ellison is the person for the job. He has our strong support. We encourage you to give him yours, as well.
Richard Trumka is president of the 12.5 million member AFL-CIO, America's labor federation.. Maria Elena Durazo is a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, and a General Vice President of UNITE HERE.
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website. Reported by Huffington Post 7 hours ago.
Submitted by Michael Snyder via The Economic Collapse blog,
OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. health insurance companies remained profitable in 2016 as net income improved to $9.4 billion at third-quarter 2016 compared with $8.7 billion in the same prior-year period, despite the negative impact for many plans from the health exchange marketplace. According to A.M. Best’s 2017 Review/Preview special report, a majority of carriers remained profitable in other segments, particularly employer group, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid, which helped to offset
Reported by Business Wire 11 hours ago.
*Business Wire India*The Patient Safety Movement Foundation (PSMF) announced at the 5th Annual Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit, that 69,519 lives were saved in 2016, thanks to the efforts of more than 3526 hospitals committing to patient safety and the 70 healthcare technology companies who have signed an open data pledge. During his keynote address on the first day of the Summit, former Vice President Joe Biden noted the importance of being “unwilling to postpone” the fight to achieve zero preventable deaths by 2020. As he stated, “We cannot spend billions on sublime new therapies to save lives from cancer, only to lose them tragically as a consequence of predictable mistakes.” Joe Kiani, Founder of the Patient Safety Movement, spoke of the progress made during 2016: “By January 2016 we announced 24,643 lives were saved, and we made the goal to reach 50,000 lives saved by this year. As of February 2017, we've more than doubled that number.” During the proceedings, there was an exclusive screening of the documentary Clean Hands. Clean Hands tells the story of Professor Didier Pittet’s 20-year campaign to promote hand hygiene as a means of preventing nosocomial infections, which are estimated to kill 16 million people worldwide each year. Professor Pittet is an ambassador to the World Health Organization and a speaker at this year’s Summit. Also taking place was a panel discussion on the first of three new Actionable Patient Safety Solutions (APSS) introduced at this year’s event, regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that as many as 70% of hospital-acquired cases of VTE are preventable, making the need for hospitals to improve awareness and develop new processes acute. The panel, moderated by Mike Durkin, the British National Health Service’s Director of Patient Safety, discussed the challenges surrounding VTE prevention. Honored at the first day of the Summit were those who have made the greatest contributions in 2016 toward achieving the PSMF’s goal of zero preventable patient deaths by 2020. The 2016 Humanitarian Awards recognized the lifesaving achievements of the following leaders in patient safety: *Patrick H. Conway, MD, MSc* As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Acting Principal Deputy Administrator and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Conway oversees vital programs that serve the more than 130 million Americans who receive health care services through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. He and his team work to improve quality, affordability, access, and health outcomes. In 2014, Dr. Conway was elected to the National Academy of Medicine Institute of Medicine (IOM), one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine. Dr. Conway, in receiving the award said, "I am honored and humbled to receive the patient safety movement humanitarian award. I look forward to continuing to help improve patient safety across the nation." *Dr. Dave Mayer, MD* Dr. Mayer is Vice President of Quality and Safety for MedStar Health, the largest healthcare provider in the mid-Atlantic region. He oversees the infrastructure for clinical quality and its operational efficiency and designs, and directs system-wide activity for patient safety and risk-reduction programs. Under Mayer, MedStar has been at the vanguard of embracing transparency in communications with patients and families when something goes wrong in treatment. Recently, MedStar worked with the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to develop and pilot a toolkit for their Communication and Optimal Resolution (CANDOR) program. In receiving the award, Dr. Mayer said, “It’s an amazing honor to be recognized by Joe Kiani and the Patient Safety Movement, to be honored with other recipients who have worked so hard to reduce medical harm. I am humbled to be included with such a wonderful group.” *Annamarie Saarinen* Ms. Saarinen is the CEO of the Newborn Foundation. She has been recognized by the Patient Safety Movement for spearheading the national effort to ensure all newborns are screened for the most prevalent birth defect, critical congenital heart disease (CCHD), which afflicts one in every 100 newborns. The Newborn Foundation is the first national organization focused on leveraging health, medtech, and biotechnology to improve outcomes and reduce disparities specifically for newborns. Through her work, 99% of babies are now screened for CCHD in the US every year. In receiving the award, Ms. Saarinen noted, “I am surprised and humbled to receive the Humanitarian award from the Patient Safety Movement Foundation. I am grateful for the work Dr. Granelli has done in heart disease which has created a strong platform for the Newborn Foundation to help improve and save the lives of babies. It has been an incredible opportunity to work with the Patient Safety Movement and the other advocates toward this end.” *Dr. Anne de-Wahl Granelli, PhD, MBA* Dr. Granelli has spent the last decade researching CCHD screening and it is because of her work that organizations like Annamarie Saarinen's, the Newborn Foundation, have been able to successfully create policies across the US and the world to ensure that babies don’t leave the hospital without being screened. Dr. Granelli received the award in conjunction with Annamarie to show the great work that has been accomplished in 2016 through continued research. Dr. Granelli said, “I am so honored to be a recipient of the Humanitarian award. It is truly amazing. It has also been a privilege to work with Annamarie Saarinen, and to have such an impact on the lives of babies with critical congenital heart disease.” *About the Patient Safety Movement Foundation* More than 200,000 people die every year in U.S. hospitals and 3 million worldwide in ways that could have been prevented. The Patient Safety Movement Foundation was established through the support of the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation, and Competition in Healthcare, to reduce that number of preventable deaths to 0 by 2020 (0X2020). Improving patient safety will require a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, medical technology companies, government, employers, and private payers. The Patient Safety Movement Foundation works with all stakeholders to address the problems and solutions of patient safety. The Foundation also convenes Patient Safety, Science and Technology summits. The Summits bring together some of the world’s best minds for thought-provoking discussions and new ideas to challenge the status quo. By presenting specific, high-impact recipes to meet patient safety challenges, called Actionable Patient Safety Solutions, encouraging medical technology companies to share the data for whom their products are purchased, and asking hospitals to make commitments to implement Actionable Patient Safety Solutions, Patient Safety Movement is working toward zero preventable deaths by 2020. Visit http://patientsafetymovement.org/. *@0X2020 #patientsafety #0X2020* 
