BR minister joins others pushing health care in D.C.

October 21, 2009

WASHINGTON — A Baton Rouge minister was in Washington on Tuesday as part of a national campaign calling for health-care aid to low- and middle-income families.

Senate leaders continue negotiating with the White House trying to merge two bills that came out of different committees. With the Capitol as a backdrop, Steve Beckham and other ministers from across the country said the poor and middle class lack the lobbyists hired by the health-care industry and insurance companies.

“What we want isn’t complex,” Beckham said standing on the Capitol’s east lawn. “We want lower premiums and out of pocket costs for families.”

Beckham is a member of the People Improving Communities Network, which on Tuesday held everything from candlelight vigils to prayer breakfasts across the country to call attention to the matter. PICO has 1,000 congregations as members representing 1 million people.

Organization leaders Tuesday said they like the legislation that came out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which includes a public option that would provide subsidies for government run insurance.

Beckham, who runs First Little Rock Baptist Church at 312 S. 17th St., represents about 350 members of his congregation and said PICO’s goal is to push for legislation that will help its members most.

“Ask yourself what is right?” Beckham said. “To protect those who are most vulnerable.”

People attending the event also heard from Lena Tra Jefferson, a New Orleans nurse. Jefferson told about being displaced from the 9th Ward in Hurricane Katrina and living in Dallas.

She had a lump on her breast and needed to get a biopsy. Despite having insurance, the one-hour procedure cost Jefferson $4,892, she said.

“How many of us here today can afford $4,892?” said Jefferson, standing with her white nurse’s coat in her left hand.

Jefferson has a sister between jobs who is paying $450 a month as part of the COBRA system, she said.

In an interview after the event, Beckham said the working class, seniors and single mothers in his congregation are struggling to come up with affordable health care. That is why he was in Washington, Beckham said.

“I’m the voice crying out in the wilderness,” he said.