YOUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF ACTION
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10,2019
ISJ General Meeting February 7
Dr Jen Cowart, MD, gave a great presentation on Why Medicaid Expansion would be good for
Florida. She offered a data based discussion of not just the morality but
the economic benefit to our state. Principally, our tax dollars are going to
states that accepted expanded Medicaid. Most have shown positive outcomes in cost savings and health. In Florida alone, around 1.3 million residents would be eligible for expanded Medicaid, including well over 300,000 adults who currently have no insurance coverage. Medicaid Expansion would help in these ways:
Improved health outcomes, including earlier cancer diagnoses
Early and less complicated cases
ending up at the hospitals
Mental health services, including
medication and counseling
Opioid treatment and smoking
cessation medications covered
Reduced health disparities across
race, income, educational and employment status
Although the Federal Government offered to pay 100% for the expansion until 2020, our previous governor rejected the offer. Starting in 2020, the Feds will pay 90% with Florida
having to come up with 10%. If Medicaid can be expanded, final savings to the
state in the first year are projected to be $500 million.
Actions to take:
Petition drive, currently
underway.
If successful, GOTV for the vote
If successful, any tax increase
now needs 2/3 of the legislature so there’s still work to do
If legislature tries to insert
work requirements, oppose. They are a barrier to
coverage.
ISJ is helping with the Medicaid Expansion Petition Drive
Andrea Degeorge explained
our progress. ISJ was active at the St Augustine Farmers Market on Saturday February 2. Members got 150 petitions signed - a good contribution to the overall state effort! She outlined future public actions:
2/9 at both the Main and SE Branch
libraries
2/23 at the Saturday Farmers Mkt
2/16 a possibility, TBD
Contact Andrea DeGeorge if you can spare some
hours. andrea.degeorge@gmail.comThe group was treated to a video of Amy Goldin’s original poem "Switchback on empowered women!” Check it out at checkout https://youtu.be/44RKM16Yx2Y
New ISJ legislative advocacy task group. ISJ members plan to visit their State representatives to speak about priority issues. They are going to see Rep Cyndi Stevenson Florida House of Representative for the 17th district the week of 2/10. Contact Andrea Degeorge if you're interested in participating in this important work (andrea.degeorge@gmail.com)
ISJ participated in a Equality Florida Training/Event in St Augustine with Equality Florida, Indivisible St. Johns, and Women's March St. Johns. The training discussed the LGBTQIA community not feeling safe and comfortable in St Augustine.
ISJ participated in a Equality Florida Training/Event in St Augustine with Equality Florida, Indivisible St. Johns, and Women's March St. Johns. The training discussed the LGBTQIA community not feeling safe and comfortable in St Augustine.
THURSDAYS AT GROWERS ALLIANCE
POSTCARD PARTY
Thursday February 7 2-3 PM
Thursday February 7 2-3 PM
Topics provided! Come meet some great people and let off some steam making a difference!
Our topics for this week:
_______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
STAY ALERT TO PROTECT THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION!
NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!!!!
Friday Social at Briksy's
Great turnout for the Indivisible St Johns monthly social at Brisky’s! Food, drink and sane conversation. What a treat!
Calls To Action
Petition to Stop the Coquina Ave Property Purchase Express Train
https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stop-the-coquina-land-purchaseSome residents of Davis Shores concerned about the way the 91-93 Coquina Ave property purchase was handled by the city are going around house-to-house collecting signatures on a petition to stop the deal. Since they cannot knock on every door in St Augustine, they've asked me to share a link to the on-line version of the petition. Here it is:
Press Conference
Please attend to show support if you live in the Tallahassee area. If you can't attend, please use the hashtags and amplify the event on social media.
State Lawmakers, shooting survivors, advocacy groups to unveil comprehensive gun violence prevention agenda
Tallahassee, Fla. - On Tuesday, February 12, state House and Senate Democratic lawmakerswill gather in the Florida State Capitol with shooting survivors and the Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence to unveil a comprehensive legislative agenda addressing the epidemic of mass shootings and everyday gun violence that has gripped the state.
When: Tuesday, February 12 at 1:00 P.M. EST
Where: 4th Floor Rotunda, The Florida Capitol Building
Social Media:
@CarlosGSmith, @farmerforFLSen, @SenJanetCruz, @loriberman, @GoodforFlorida, @kionnemcghee, @AnnaForFlorida, @CindyPoloFL103, @TinaPolsky, @FLCoPreventGV, @LWVFlorida, @FloridaPTA, @KeepGunsoffCamp, @equalityfl, @bjoewolf, @MFOLParkland
SAVE THE DATE! FEBRUARY 12, 2019
STAY ALERT TO PROTECT THE MUELLER INVESTIGATION!
Our plans haven't changed. Be ready to mobilize on short notice! Sign up here: Rapid Response to Mueller Investigation shutdown
