Report from the Progressive Democrats of America Convention

One of the biggest issues on the table here is Universal Single Payer Healthcare. While everyone here supports it, some advocate for federal legislation and others, led by Chuck Pennacchio of Healthcare4allPA.org , support state level legislation, with the belief that it will be faster and easier to make things happen at the state level, and that once that occurs, it will be a faster, more effective process to make it happen at the federal level. Pennacchio's group is hopeful because state governor Ed Rendell has promised that he'll sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. What Pennacchio is looking for at the federal level is enabling, bridge legislation, introduced by Bernie Sanders (S.2031) and Tammy Baldwin (HR 506) that will help fund a state level single payer startup.