Laura Packard

Campaigns

• SHAME: Senate Republicans must vote NO on Trumpcare

  My cancer came out of nowhere for me. I had a nagging cough a few months ago, it was diagnosed as pneumonia, but the cough continued so I eventually went back to urgent care. This set off a chain of events and fun medical procedures that ended up with me being diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer. It sounds terrible--but it can be cured. But I need access to health insurance to get better, and now they are threatening Obamacare, which is what will keep me alive, and hopefully well soon. Cancer, or any kind of devastating medical condition can happen to anybody at any time. We need to stand up and tell them to stop.

  137,980 of 200,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• Dept. of Justice: Investigate Arizona voter suppression

  UPDATE 4-5-16 I delivered your signatures to the DOJ last week, and now the Department of Justice is going to investigate! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/justice-department-arizona_us_5702b720e4b083f5c6085933 - In Maricopa County (Phoenix area) Arizona, the number of polling places was reduced from 200 during the 2012 primary election, to just 60 for 2016. They were warned that this would mean long lines and discourage people from voting. But they did it anyway. Some predominantly Latino areas only got one or no polling places at all. County officials allocated one polling place for every 108,000 residents but Anglo communities had more polling sites per residents. The result was traffic jams, and people had to wait in 5+ hour lines to vote. [Republican] "Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell, in charge of overseeing the election, told reporters she was sorry people were upset but didn’t offer solutions." The Justice Department can put a stop to this, they are the best hope for upholding the rights of all Arizona voters. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton has asked for the DOJ to investigate, now it's our turn to keep up the pressure. Reference: http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/2016/03/23/arizona-primary-our-view-we-outraged-long-lines/82152636/ http://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/elviadiaz/2016/03/22/maricopa-county-election-officials-writing-off-voters-you-bet/82145554/

  153,310 of 200,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• Dept. of Justice: Investigate Alabama voter suppression

  Alabama just closed 31 drivers license bureaus in counties with the highest percentage of non-white voters. Every county with over 75% of registered voters that are African-American will have their DMV office closed. Alabama requires voters to have photo ID to vote, so this will disenfranchise the voters in those counties. The Justice Department can put a stop to this, they are the best hope for upholding the rights of all Alabama voters. Reference: http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/09/alabama_sends_message_we_are_t.html UPDATE 12-9-15: Great news! The U.S. Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into the closure or reduction in services at 34 drivers' license office in Alabama, "as part of the agency's responsibilities under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make sure federal dollars going to state and local governments are used in a non-discriminatory fashion". http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2015/12/us_dot_launches_investigation.html UPDATE 10-16-15: Alabama Governor Bentley says drivers license tests will be offered 1 day a month in those counties that formerly had an office. It's a start, but as Rep. Sewell put it, it provides "only bare minimum access". Please keep contacting the DOJ to make this right. http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/gov_robert_bentley_says_licens.html UPDATE 10-13-15: Alabama Governor Bentley is considering a plan to open the 31 drivers license bureaus back up, but nothing is decided yet. Please keep the pressure on. http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/bentley_plan_would_reopen_clos.html UPDATE 10-5-15: The Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund have asked the DOJ to investigate, as has Rep. Terri Sewell (who represents the Selma area of Alabama). "Dena Iverson, a spokeswoman for the Justice Department, confirmed that the department had received Sewell’s letter, declining to comment further." Please keep contacting the DOJ. http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/alabama-dmv-closings-draw-call-federal-voting-rights-probe

  134,518 of 200,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• Tell the FTC: Oppose the latest Big Pharma Merger!

  Bristol-Myers Squibb wants to spend $74 billion to buy out a rival, Celgene. It would be the largest pharmaceutical merger ever, and their consolidation would give the combined companies number one positions in oncology and cardiovascular drug sales. But there's something we can do to stop this mega-merger. We've seen what happens when big pharmaceutical companies merge -- drug prices soar. It happened to the Epi-Pen. It happened with arthritis drugs. It even happened with insulin. As patients, we bear the ever-increasing costs and many of us can't afford to keep paying and paying. Several of us depend on our prescriptions to stay alive, and nobody should have to choose between a roof over their head and the drugs they need to thrive. The Federal Trade Commission must listen to comments from the public before approving the merger. Here is our chance to speak up. This mega-merger will block the development and sale of affordable drugs and reduce competition just when we need more of it. We can't sit by and let Big Pharma get even bigger, at our expense. Take action and tell the FTC to protect patients by stopping this potential merger now.

  11,690 of 15,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• Lower prescription drug prices now!

  President Biden has vowed to lower prescription drug prices. And now, Congressional Democrats are focusing on HR 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a measure that will allow the federal government to directly negotiate lower drug prices. This bill previously passed the House but stalled in the McConnell graveyard-of-a-Senate. But now we have a chance to pass this legislation with or without Republicans, and we must demand Congressional Democrats do just that. Democrats can and must attach this bill to the infrastructure and jobs package. This legislation will then have the chance to be passed via reconciliation and provide the relief from soaring drug prices we need while avoiding Republican roadblocks. We must demand Congress include HR 3 in the Build Back Better budget reconciliation package to ensure we have a fighting chance at lowering drug prices that have become unaffordable for millions of Americans! 3 Democrats, Scott Peters (CA), Kurt Schrader (WA) and Kathleen Rice (NY) voted against this provision in committee, and some Senators have indicated they don't support it. They need to hear from us NOW! Sign the petition: Congress include HR 3 in the infrastructure package and address soaring, unaffordable drug prices in the U.S.

  3,159 of 4,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• 

  Colorado needs a public health insurance option

  Too many Coloradans are struggling to afford the health insurance and care they need. People shouldn't have to choose between taking care of their health and filing for bankruptcy or losing the roof overhead. The healthcare industry has not controlled runaway health care costs. Instead of taking accountability to lower costs, they spend millions of dollars to keep health care unaffordable and inaccessible. Colorado leaders are discussing the right solution for Colorado. They need to hear your story. CONTACT YOUR COLORADO STATE LEGISLATORS AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT THE COLORADO HEALTH INSURANCE OPTION This bill will make health insurance more affordable for individuals and small businesses while improving the available plans' value with health equity-focused standardized plans. It helps address health inequities created by systemic racism, which are unjust and costly for our healthcare system and our communities' health as a whole, by providing pre-deductible coverage for services that address conditions that disproportionately impact people of color. It is time to hold the healthcare industry accountable and offer a better, more affordable health care option.

  1,347 of 2,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• Congress: Pass universal background checks for all guns NOW

  Guns are a public health issue, and easy access to guns MUST be stopped. Holes in our background check system still exist online, in newspaper ads, at gun shows, and between individuals. All of our elected officials, Democrats and Republicans, need to go beyond words and prayer and take action to stop the next tragedy before it happens. A background check bill is the bare minimum, but it's a good start.

  68 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
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  Nevada needs a public health insurance option

  Even before the pandemic, 1 in 7 Nevadans did not have health insurance. Layoffs and business closures have made this problem worse. We must take action and pass the Nevada Public Option to ensure that every Nevadan has better access to affordable, quality healthcare. A public option would save Nevada families on their premiums and out-of-pocket costs by leveraging the state’s bargaining power to negotiate lower prices for healthcare services and prescription drugs. A public option will increase the amount of compensated care in rural Nevada, providing much needed funding for our state’s rural hospitals. The Nevada public option will lower insurance premiums and help more Nevadans get the critical care they need, when they need it.

  522 of 600 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• Support CDC Research on Gun Violence Prevention

  Gun violence is a major public health issue. In the wake of shooting after shooting, we've got to figure out the root causes and how to prevent the next tragedy before it happens. Did you know that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used to research gun violence in the 80s and 90s, but the NRA bullied Congress into banning it nearly two decades ago? After the Sandy Hook tragedy, President Obama ordered the CDC to get back to studying “the causes of gun violence” but the CDC still avoids it. We have a chance to do something about this, and potentially save lives. In the hours before the latest San Bernardino shooting, doctors urged Congress to lift the funding ban. New legislation introduced back in June in the House and Senate would restore funding for gun violence prevention and gun safety research by the CDC. But it won't get passed unless we pressure Congress to stand up to the NRA and do the right thing for us, their constituents. Reference: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2015/01/14/why-the-cdc-still-isnt-researching-gun-violence-despite-the-ban-being-lifted-two-years-ago/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/12/02/hours-before-san-bernardino-mass-shooting-doctors-were-on-capitol-hill-petitioning-congress-to-lift-ban-on-gun-violence-research/

  2,070 of 3,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard
• Gov. Brown: Sign AB 1461 California's New Motor Voter Act Today

  Update 10/10/15: Victory! Governor Brown signed AB 1461 the New Motor Voter Act into law today. AB 1461 passed the Assembly and Senate, and awaits Governor Brown's signature, there are just a few days left for him to sign it (October 11 is the last day). Staff in his office are telling callers that he hasn't made up his mind on this bill yet. This bill would automatically register to vote any citizen who gets or updates a drivers license in California. (Much easier than the current process, which has extra paperwork.) An estimated 6.6M citizens in California are not currently registered to vote. This bill could make a difference, and Governor Brown needs to hear from you now that you support it. These signatures are being sent directly to the Governor's office, and also to Assemblywoman Gonzalez, one of the authors of the bill.

  7,881 of 8,000 Signatures

  Created by Laura Packard