But we invited all 187 of them out to the movies last Friday night. The reason? Well, we think there's a lot left to be done on healthcare that the legislature just didn't accomplish this year. We need comprehensive reforms of our healthcare system, not just short term band aids.
And no one conveys that urgency like Michael Moore in his new film Sicko.
So we invited our legislators out on a date, as part of the haveyouseensicko.org campaign to get all of CT's legislators to see the movie Sicko before the start of the next session. We're not asking for anything big. Not a promise or a vote, just to keep an open mind, and come see a movie.
And on Friday, 6 legislators (and 50 movies viewers to keep them company) took us up on our offer at the Bowtie Cinema in Hartford. (And tremendous thanks to the movie theater's staff for being so accommodating).
Keep reading for lots of photos and a wrap up of what happened and who came.
(Making progress on getting CT legislators to see Sicko -- have you emailed your legislators yet? If you've seen Sicko, share your thoughts in the comments! - promoted by Maura)
Have you seen Sicko yet? Well, so far 8 legislators have. And 179 haven't.
O'Brien, a great State Rep. and a blogger to boot, (see his blog) was the most recent legislator to send in a review.
He really takes the insurance industry in this state to task.
Of course, these denials of health care and inefficiencies are not, as the insurance industry would have us believe, to keep insurance jobs in our state. Despite the reputable and thorough economic analysis showing that reforming our health care coverage system would save the people and businesses of our state hundreds of millions of dollars, increase the number of jobs in Connecticut and free up a billion dollars for Connecticut families, insurance companies had the audacity this past year to make their employees feel like their jobs would be at risk if state legislators did the right thing for the people of the state on health care. This audacity was despite the fact that these companies have never hesitated to layoff Connecticut workers in order to increase their own profits.
You can read the whole review here. (And then make sure to email your State Rep. and Senator and ask why they haven't seen it yet, and then send the site along to your friends to do the same.)
And here's the list of legislators who've seen the movie so far:
Rep. David McCluskey - 20th
Rep. John Geragosian - 25th
Rep. Joan Lewis - 8th
Rep. Denise Merrill - 54th
Rep. Tim O'Brien - 24th
Rep. Melissa Olson - 46th
Rep. Elizabeth Ritter - 38th
Rep. Elissa Wright - 41st
In this year's session, the legislature disappointed us on healthcare. Rather than pursuing real, substantive reform, they settled on a band-aid that doesn't really address the healthcare crisis.
As a result, insurance costs will continue to grow, and hundreds of thousands of people will be left uncovered.
The only thing we can guess is that our legislators don't really understand the urgency of our healthcare crisis.
And no one lays out that crisis more clearly than Michael Moore in his new film Sicko. Thus, the goal behind the new website, haveyouseensicko.org: to get every legislator in the state to see the movie, so when they come back next session, we can know that ignorance won't be an excuse for avoiding healthcare.
So far, 3 have seen the movie, and 184 are left to go. So check out the site, see which legislators are the first three to see the movie, send your legislators an email, sign the petition, and send the website along to your friends.
Also, you can download that nifty little counter which will change automatically, every time a new legislator sees the movie.
In Michael Moore's new film "SiCKO" there's a brief moment which should bring gladness to the hearts of many a Connecticut democrat. As Moore is railing against politicians bought and paid for by the drug industry he puts a dollar figure over their heads.
Moore voice over: "Here's what it cost to buy this woman."
"She" was followed by Tom DeLay in the clip. And "she" received $45,900 from Aetna alone last election cycle. Who is "she"?
Have you seen Sicko yet? Well, so far 8 legislators have. And 179 haven't.
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