Bishop Peggy Johnson invites conference members concerned about the health care bill being proposed by Republican U.S. Senators to join her in and others in protesting that bill outside the Springfield office of U.S. Representative Patrick Leo Meehan (R-Pa., 7th District) on Tuesday, July 18, at 6 PM.
They will advocate especially against reductions in Medicaid spending and support that both Senate and House Republican bills have proposed. Bishop Johnson will unite with clergy (wearing collars) and laity who are members and supporters of the local grassroots advocacy organization POWER.
"We will continue to remind the congressman that we don't want Medicaid to be changed with the proposals for the new health care plan." Other United Methodists have also sought meetings and held protests at Senator Pat Toomey's offices in Harrisburg and other locations.
Congressman Meehan will likely not be at his office at 940 West Sproul Road, Springfield, Pa, said a conference press release. "It is really a publicity action to draw attention to this concern," said the bishop. "Concerned church and community members are welcome to join us."
The Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church is made up of 415 churches, which serve nearly 103,000 members in 16 counties.