The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life-the children; those who are in the twilight of life-the elderly; those who are in the shadow of life… – Hubert H. Humphrey

I want to share some statistics with you that I found staggering.

• 39 million people in the United States live below the poverty line
• 35 million people in the United States go to bed hungry
• 47 million people in the United States have no healthcare

In our 8th Congressional District one in five people do not have healthcare coverage. 15% of our neighbors in the 8th Congressional District live below the poverty line. North Carolina ranks number one on the increasing number of those who are uninsured.

As a community activist, worker and concerned citizen, I know many of these people. They are my friends, my family, and my neighbors. For those I do not know, they are your family, your friends, your neighbors. All are a part of a larger family calling ourselves Americans. To have to make the decision to put food or the table or to pay for a doctor’s visit is an abomination. To lose one’s home to pay medical expenses is an abomination. Now is the time for us to take action.

Our current Congressional Representative Kissell doesn’t understand our problems. He claims he is protecting seniors from higher costs and reduced benefits. But, AARP the organization that represents 45 million senior citizens nationwide has endorsed healthcare reform. In addition, an overwhelming majority of Americans want healthcare reform. We elected a Congressman in this district because of his promise to support this agenda.
Once it was time to vote on healthcare reform he voted “No” under the guise of protecting seniors. His “No” vote protects insurance companies-not seniors. As a retired senior, you can be assured that I will not support legislation that harms seniors.

Our representative also voted “No” on a law that allowed families to restructure their finances rather than going into foreclosure. I believe it’s important to help hard-working Americans, who may have been laid-off in this recession, to remain in their homes until they are able to get back on their feet.  His “No” vote was a big “No” vote against Main Street.

This Congressman has lost credibility by not supporting the agenda he promised to support. As an independent thinker and a true Democrat, I’ve thrown my hat into the ring. The hat I wear and have consistently worn is one of a compassionate mother and grandmother who understands the needs of our families. As a tireless worker, I will meet our challenges with dignity and honesty for all our families.

Thank you for listening to me and I ask that you stand with me in the moral stance for a better life.