Dear editor,

Did you know that lobbyists are meeting secretly in Washington to write the health bill for the nation (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/us/politics/20health.html?ref=politics)?

The New York Times this week reports that lobbyists for AARP, Aetna, the A.F.L.-C.I.O., the American Cancer Society, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the Business Roundtable, Easter Seals, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and the United States Chamber of Commerce are meeting behind closed doors with staff of Senator Edward Kennedy to hammer out legislation for health care reform that America’s big corporations can livewith, and that we ordinary Americans will have to live with.

Doesn’t look as if we’re represented in that room, does it?

Shouldn’t your senators and congressmen know how you feel about it?

Sincerely,

J. Walden Retan, M.D.

State Coordinator

Health Care For Everyone-Alabama