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Dear friend,
[Please note: This is not a fundraising email. But my hope is that when you read about what is happening in our state, you will consider pitching in to some nonprofits that are working tirelessly every day to help.]



I am fed up. So I will speak bluntly and candidly.

America is at a breaking point. Over the last few decades, the economy in Southeastern Missouri has experienced a severe shrinking in manufacturing, skilled trades, and an all-out assault on family farms. A disturbing trend of annually increasing deaths by suicide, opioid overdose, and preventable illnesses has become a full-blown public health crisis. Now, we stand to lose another of the district's scant rural hospitals, which would leave multiple counties without access to care even in times of emergency.

When working people do seek medical care, too often they are left holding an outrageous bill. I was heartbroken, yet not surprised, when I read a recent article in the Washington Post [[link removed]] that detailed the choice many rural and poor Americans make between healthcare, medical bankruptcy, and in many cases imprisonment for failure to pay those bills. The article featured residents in Poplar Bluff--part of Missouri’s 8th Congressional District. These are my neighbors, my friends, and the people I wish to represent in Congress.

Our broken political system allows do-nothing “representatives” like Jason Smith to hoover up millions of dollars in campaign contributions, enrich himself and promote his family’s interests, and stand idly by while thousands of his constituents die. People die, people suffer, and Jason Smith returns to Washington, D.C. every year. When this happens, something is wrong with the system.

I believe that healthcare is a basic human right. The United States can and should ensure every American has health care at an affordable cost. Doing so would not ruin our economic prosperity. It would strengthen it.

Normally, when a candidate talks about an issue, they explain their positions, followed by a call for donations to help run their campaigns. I’m not a normal candidate. I’m a person, just like you, and I’m frustrated by what’s happening in our state.

Today, I’m asking that if you feel angry or sad about what’s happening in our poorest communities--in our very backyards--that you consider supporting the efforts of Missouri Healthcare for All [[link removed]] or Physicians for a National Health Program-Missouri Chapter [[link removed]] , two fantastic organizations fighting for Missourians every day, with a financial donation. Consider volunteering if you have the time, too.

I can promise you that I am in this fight with every fiber of my being. People are senselessly dying in my county, my district, and my state. We can fix this, and people want us to fix it.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for doing everything you can to lend a hand to our neighbors, our brothers and sisters, and our fellow Americans.

Sincerely,

Kathy

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Please mail checks to: Ellis for Congress, PO Box 580 Festus, MO 63028 [email protected] unsubscribe: [link removed]