Edie Falco To Lawmakers: Fix Health Care

"Sopranos" And "Nurse Jackie" Star, A Breast Cancer Survivor, Speaks At D.C. Rally

(AP)  Award-winning actress Edie Falco, cable television's no-nonsense "Nurse Jackie," delivered a stern message to lawmakers Thursday: fix health care.

"I'm here because I've traveled through the health care system and there are some holes," Falco, a breast cancer survivor, told a Capitol Hill rally for health care overhaul. "I'm here because I care about the people in this country and I know that we can do better, that we must do better."

Falco, who stars in the Showtime series "Nurse Jackie, said she went without health care coverage for many years. Nearly 50 million Americans are without coverage and President Barack Obama's goal is to provide health benefits for all.

"I work in a business where they take great care of you if you are working," Falco told a crowd of several hundred at the rally.

"It's bad enough the emotional impact of not having a job," she said. "But to get sick on top of that, and worry every day that your symptoms are not getting better, figuring out what you're gonna have to do without so you can afford a doctor's visit - I am far more familiar with that than I am with my situation these last number of years."

Before taking on the role of a New York City nurse, Falco was nominated for a best actress Emmy six times for her role as mob wife Carmela Soprano in HBO's "The Sopranos." She won three times.

Lawmakers have been working on legislation to control the costs of health care while expanding coverage.

Falco, labor leaders and other supporters of Obama's effort appeared at the afternoon rally on behalf of Health Care for America Now. The organization has launched $1.1 million in television ads in 10 states supporting Democrats' health efforts.

[edieruinedthesopranos]

Edie Falco is a horrific actress, she completely ruined seasons 2 through 6 of the Sopranos and now she's trying to ruin the country by cheerleading for yet another government run boondoggle.

Fun times.

[mutnauq4842]

So Edie plays a nurse on tv-does that mean she is a real nurse?

If Jesse Jackson plays a minister on tv, does that mean he is a real minister?

If Baraq Obama plays an economist on tv........

[inesje88]

to apple2pie:
While $30 million is outrageous, do you know about William McGuire of United Health? He received a golden parachute of over $1.1 biliion dollars. Why did he receive a golden parachte? He was forced to resign over a back dating stock scandal where he could have profited over $1.6 billion. Thank goodness the SEC stepped in . While at the helm of the UHG empire, it is estimated that $1 in every $700 that was spent on premiums to UHG, went directly to pay Mr. McGuire. That is money not to doctors, hospitals or pharmacies for a policiy holders doctor ordered care, but to the CEO.Our for profit system of health care is one where the profits are measured in billions of dollars and the losses in lives.

By law corporations can only consider the interest of their shareholders. It is legally bound to puts its bottom line before everything else, even the public good. They have no soul, no conscious. Time to take health insurance corporations out of the equation. Problem is that the corporations donate a great deal of money to many of our elected officials. Just like war, health care in this country is a racket. The middle class is shouldering the expense of both so the elite and elected can continue to prosper. Those on the hill work for us. We are their employers. If we the people aren't allowed to have an affordable health plan similiar to what they have, we need to terminate their plans. Until then, lets replace the white street lights near the Capitol with red ones. We know what most of our elected officials are, might as well advertise.

[apple2pie]

When the CEO and PRES of Oxford Health (just ONE Managed Care Company) make at least $30 miilion a piece a year!!! - How can ANYONE Complain about Gov't Costs???

[tbbaot]

Edie Falco: Fix your big ego and sut your yap. You are a TV nurse and have no business speaking out about healthcare. Your mandate to an enept government that fails to do anything right, is wishful thinking at best. Shut up and go back to pretending to be someone else.

[sjc_1]

National Health Insurance as an option for individuals and employers will insure more people because it will be a better plan for a lower price.

[cdegolier]

Why don't they just use 1 million to help fund obamas plan, then maybe he won't tax me more.