Diane Shamis moderated an informal call aimed at catching up on current healthcare news and finding out what people’s plans are for April 25th’s Day of Action.

Bill Gallagher from California Nurses Association (CNA) spoke from a PDA event in Orange County, California. He talked about the April 6 CA White House healthcare forum with a big outdoor presence for single payer, with a number of groups represented and good speeches and press coverage. They’ve had face-to-face meetings with members of Congress about single payer. He’s also going to be in Washington, DC, on May 12 and 13, 2009, for the big lobbying day, with 500 nurses from CNA and 500 other supporters, it’s hoped from PDA. And there will be a big protest early in June in San Diego at an AHIP meeting.

PDA members from Rhode Island to California reported on their plans for demonstrations and informational forums. PDA’s CDPP for Montana reported that HCAN and local SEIU hires are working against single payer with phony populism. The discussion went into strategies to get media attention and refute misleading information.