FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2014
Contact: Sarah Bufkin, NC NAACP - (404) 285-3413
Adam Linker, NC Justice Center - (252) 375-6520
Medicaid Expansion Lobby Day Draws Crowd of Politically Diverse Advocates
More than 25,000 petition signatures will be delivered to Speaker Tillis today as advocates from both sides of the aisle call for Medicaid expansion
Medicaid Lobby Day -
Media Conference
Today, Wednesday, June 4
10:30 am
Lawn in front of Legislative Building
16 West Jones St, Raleigh, NC
RALEIGH- Hundreds of advocates for Medicaid expansion from across the state and representing both political parties will gather in Raleigh roday, June 4 for Medicaid Expansion Lobby Day. A news conference will be held at 10:30 am on the lawn in front of the Legislative Building (16 West Jones St.)
Advocates will be joined by diverse speakers including Republican Mayor Adam O'Neal of Belhaven, NC and Rev. William Barber II, president of the North Carolina NAACP and architect of the Forward Together Moral Monday Movement.
"These are life-and-death issues," Dr. Barber said. "If extremists in our General Assembly have their way and deny North Carolina the federal funds to expand Medicaid, people will die. Studies have shown that 2,800 lives will be lost each year in our state if we do not expand Medicaid. As people of conscience, we will not be moved from our purpose - calling upon them and Gov. McCrory to repeal these disastrous policies that are hurting the very people God loves - the sick, the poor, the women and children, the elderly, the least of these."
Legislative speakers will highlight bills introduced in the short session that would expand Medicaid in North Carolina and will include Democratic Minority Leader Larry Hall (Durham) and Senator Gladys Robinson (Guilford). They will be joined by individuals impacted by state leaders' refusal to expand Medicaid.
Following the news conference, boxes of more than 25,000 petition signatures collected by Medicaid Expansion Lobby Day organizing groups will be delivered to Speaker Thom Tillis's office.
The new 2014 legislation (HB 1083 and SB 730) would reverse the Legislature's 2013 decision to refuse to accept federal funds designated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to provide coverage to low-income working families. The decision has threatened critical medical providers particularly in rural parts of the state and impacted approximately 500,000 North Carolinians.
WHEN: Today, Wednesday, June 4 at 10:30 am
WHERE: Lawn in front of the Legislative Building
16 West Jones Street
Raleigh, NC
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