More than 300 activists crammed into the Cedar Creek Room on the first day of the legislative session to pressure lawmakers to adopt a single-payer health care system in Vermont.
In speeches in front of the cheering crowd, House Speaker Shap Smith, Sen. Bill Carris and the chairs of the health care committees in the House and Senate pledged to support the passage of a plan in this session that would provide universal medical coverage to Vermonters.
The activists who represent the Health Care is a Human Right Campaign delivered 4,000 petitions to the Statehouse.
Dr. William Hsiao will be releasing a much-anticipated report on Jan. 19, detailing three health care reform plans that would provide all Vermonters with access to health care. One of the three plans will be a single-payer option.
The Vermont Workers Center organized the rally. Video footage follows.
