Here's one of the four buses that came from Philadelphia to rally for health insurance for low-income workers, and reforms in everyone else's health insurance program. All in all, about 150 to 200 Philadelphians made there way up to Harrisburg to back up the Governor's Prescription for Pennsylvania.

Just the day before, InsurePANow released a high-quality poll showing that the public supports the Prescription for Pennsylvania. Even Republicans. Even after hearing the strongest arguments against it. The public isn't even resisting the 3% payroll tax. Hopefully, legislators take notice.

One of the great successes of this trip was the sheer number of actual legislators we met with. PUP and staff at PathwaysPA buckled down and called every single Philadelphia legislator. We were able to secure appointments with many of them. Many others got seen along the way, while we were up there.

We had had a lot of bad news about Philadelphia Democrats experessing a lack of enthusiasm for the Governor's plans to get all the working people health insurance. Our members found this very discouraging. This trip, though, appeared more positive. We heard from many more legislators who are unhesitantly backing the Governor and others who are supportive, if not in lockstep.

For example, we had one group that got a chance to sit down with Rep. Dwight Evans. Rep. Evans said he was supportive, though unfamiliar with a few of the insurance reform points. It's great to have such a Senior Philadelphia official behind the Governor. Hopefully more will take his lead.

Then, of course, there was a rally. That's the photogenic part of these days, though I really think it's the process of sitting down with the voting legislators that has the most impact.

PUP member Pearl Johnson was one of our speakers.

There must have been at least 500 people there. Maybe more like 600 or 700. The crowd was not small. Still as large as any of our Minimum Wage rallies.

PUP Board member John Meyerson stands with other advocacy notables to declare the support of organized Labor.

And Gov. Rendell, with the workers once more.

If you missed it, you can see even more photos here. But you should go one step further than that, call your legislator and tell them to support The Prescription for Pennsylvania!

________________________
also posted at The P.U.P. Blog