The event has passed and yielded 50-100 volunteer activists presenting 30,000+ petitions to the Governor.
Groups of 2-8 held meetings with their (& interested) Senators and Representatives, likely reaching 20-30 elected officials (from both parties) to contact, educate and persuade current legislators about expanding Medicaid for 500,000 left in the gap.
Motivational factors include saved lives, protected health institutions, financial boost, new jobs and an important opportunity to enhance our state’s image.
Sign up via this website: bit.ly/closethegap2015 and distributed copies of this promotional flyer were helpful for recruitment.
The pre-registration service allowed planning and logistics that were quite orderly.
- Schedule:
- 8:30am: Registration begins (Outside of the 3rd floor Legislative Auditorium)
- 9-10am: Morning briefing & lobby training (3rd floor Legislative Auditorium)
- 10:30am: Press conference (Location TBD)
- All Day: Meetings with legislators.
Here’s some advance press coverage: WXII in Winston-Salem.
The media coverage is still emerging.
Fayetteville Observer posted before the event:
“Advocates of Medicaid expansion to deliver petition to Gov. McCrory”
Since both WUNC-FM and NC Health News had reporters present (and got their questions asked & answered), we’d still expect coverage at those sites, but there’s nothing there yet.
Associated Press copy was used at Charlotte Observer,Greensboro News & Record, WRAL and WNCN
“Advocates press Legislature, governor to expand Medicaid”
ABC-11, “Advocates Call For North Carolina To Expand Medicaid”
Includes video footage, dubious tone.
Mentions new proposed bill S-365
Time-Warner had the most enthusiastic intro:
“Group Floods State House for Medicaid Expansion Lobby Day”
Organizational members of the North Carolina Medicaid Expansion Coalition
- ActionNC
- ProgressNC
- NC-NAACP
- NC AIDS Action Network
- Working America
- NC Women United
- Planned Parenthood S.Atlantic
- NC State AFL-CIO
- NC Justice Center
- League of Women Voters
- MomsRising
- Carolina Jews for Justice
- HealthCare for All NC
- Health Care Justice of NC
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