Laura Packard (born May 23, 1976) is an American health care activist[1] and political commentator. She is the founder of Health Care Voices,[2] a non-profit grassroots organization for adults with serious medical conditions. She is executive director of the group Health Care Voter,[3] with actress Alyssa Milano, singer T-Boz, politicians Donna Edwards and Anton Gunn, activists Ady Barkan and Brad Woodhouse, and others as co-chairs.[4] Packard is also executive director of Get America Covered, a group that promotes increased health coverage.[5] She hosts a weekly call-in television show for Americans with health care and health insurance questions on act.tv, Care Talk.[6]
Laura Packard | |
|---|---|
 Packard in 2020 | |
| Born | May 23, 1976 |
| Education | University of Michigan (BS, Computer Science) |
| Occupation | Health care activist |
| Known for | Health Care Voices, Health Care Voter |
| Website | healthcarevoices |
Packard was a featured speaker at the 2020 Democratic National Convention with Joe Biden.[7][8]
A self-employed small business owner,[9] she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma in 2017.[10] Believing that the Affordable Care Act saved her life[11] and that without it she would be bankrupt or dead without the care she received through her insurance,[12] she became an outspoken critic of repeal attempts. Her sharp questioning led United States Senator Dean Heller to eject her from a public event,[13] and her criticism of President Donald Trump resulted in him blocking her on Twitter.[14] A 2018 lawsuit, Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump, forced President Donald Trump to reinstate her access to his social media accounts, along with that of 40 others.[15]
Packard spoke on five national bus tours with progressive health care advocacy organization Protect Our Care in 2018,[16] 2019,[17] 2021,[18] 2022,[19] and 2023.[20], and a national bus tour with advocacy organization Courage for America on the debt ceiling crisis in 2023.[21]
Moving to Denver, Colorado in 2019, her political advocacy broadened to include challenges to United States Senator Cory Gardner’s community engagement, and she went on a statewide bus tour with “Cardboard Cory” to accentuate his purported inaccessibility.[22] She also challenged United States Representative Lauren Boebert's health care record.[23] and was blocked by Boebert on Twitter[24] in February 2022.
In 2018, Packard was noted for her outspoken opposition to the nomination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh.[25] She was included again in media coverage for her 2020 opposition to the nomination of Justice Amy Coney Barrett.[26]
References edit
- ^ Epstein, Reid (July 16, 2019). "Pete Buttigieg and Kamala Harris Have Made Waves. Some Progressives Remain Skeptical". New York Times.
- ^ Menendez, Alicia (September 19, 2020). "'Healthcare is at risk': The impact of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death on everyday Americans". MSNBC.
- ^ Cancryn, Adam (August 19, 2021). "What's driving Biden's booster plan". Politico.
- ^ "Health Care Voter announces Six new campaign co-chairs, ramps up ahead of 2018 elections". Patriot Not Partisan. January 22, 2018.
- ^ Carrns, Ann (February 5, 2021). "In 'Do-Over,' Enrollment in Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Reopens". New York Times.
- ^ "Care Talk". act.tv. November 1, 2021.
- ^ Wingerter, Justin (August 18, 2020). "Denver health care activist speaking at Democratic convention". Denver Post.
- ^ Phillips, Amber (August 19, 2020). "Four issues besides coronavirus that Democrats are hammering at their convention". Washington Post.
- ^ Liacko, Alexa (October 30, 2020). "Cancer survivor worried politics over healthcare will bankrupt or cost her her life". ABC Denver 7.
- ^ Packard, Laura (December 23, 2019). "Obamacare saved my life, now its on the brink of destruction". Denver Post.
- ^ Packard, Laura (September 24, 2020). "Trump and Republicans' health care 'plan' would endanger people like me amid Covid-19". NBC News.
- ^ Packard, Laura (March 22, 2020). "I'd be bankrupt or dead without the Affordable Care Act. We're both survivors — so far". USA Today.
- ^ "Woman says she was asked to leave after asking Sen. Heller health-care question". Washington Post. December 4, 2017.
- ^ Hayes, Christal (September 20, 2017). "Trump Twitter-Blocked a Woman with Stage 4 Cancer — And She Has a Message for Him". Newsweek.
- ^ Binder, Matt (August 29, 2018). "President Trump forced to unblock dozens of Twitter users after court ruling". Mashable.
- ^ "Health Care Activist Laura Packard to Join Protect Our Care's Bus Tour". Protect Our Care. September 11, 2018.
- ^ "THIS WEEK: Protect Our Care "Health Care Emergency" Bus Tour Kicks Off With Stops in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado". Protect Our Care. August 1, 2019.
- ^ Roberts, Spencer (August 9, 2021). "'Protect Our Care' bus tour advocates for better, affordable healthcare". WABI.
- ^ Douglas, AJ (October 3, 2022). ""Lower Cost Better Care" bus tour kicks off in Bangor". Fox 22 Bangor.
- ^ "Expanding affordable health care in Wisconsin". Wisconsin Examiner. August 16, 2023.
- ^ Brown, Tyler (April 3, 2023). "'Back Off Our Benefits' campaign travels through Durango". Durango Herald.
- ^ Grenoble, Ryan (August 26, 2019). "A Cardboard Cutout Of Sen. Cory Gardner Just Wrapped Up A Statewide Bus Tour". Huffington Post.
- ^ Packard, Laura (May 22, 2021). "Lauren Boebert cares most about Lauren Boebert, not Coloradans like me". Colorado Newsline.
- ^ Packard, Laura (February 17, 2022). "The GOP's Cancel Culture Warriors". The Progressive.
- ^ Scherer, Michael (July 9, 2018). "With Trump's nominee announced, the battle for the court begins". Washington Post.
- ^ Holpuch, Amanda (October 2, 2020). "Fears for Obamacare if Amy Coney Barrett confirmed to supreme court". The Guardian.