>> THE FIRST HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE FEBRUARY
WHEN STATE REPRESENTATIVE PETER KOCOT DIED OF CANCER.
TWO PEOPLE STEPPED UP TO RUN, DIANNA SYZNAL AND LINDSAY
SABADOSA.
SABADOSA EMERGED THE WINNER.
WHAT IS AT THE TOP OF HER AGENDA?
HERE IS WHAT SHE SAID?
>> THE TOP OF MY AGENDA IS OBVIOUSLY HEALTH CARE MOVING
INTO THIS SESSION.
THAT IS THE ISSUE I SPOKE THE MOST ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN
TRAIL.
PEOPLE START TO TELL YOU THEIR HEALTH CARE STORIES.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME KNOCKING ON DOORS IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE
AND HEARD DEVASTATING STORIES FROM PEOPLE RIGHT ACROSS THE
DISTRICT.
IT IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR ME, TOP PRIORITY FOR TWCONSTITUENTS.
>> I KNOW HEALTH CARE WAS SOMETHING YOU TALKED ABOUT AS AN
ACTIVIST AND HAPPENS TO BE SOMETHING PETER KOCOT WAS
PASSIONATE ABOUT AND A CHAMPION FOR.
AND IN FACT, HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE MADE SURE SOME
OF THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS STANDING MADE ITS WAY THROUGH
THE LEGISLATURE EVEN THOUGH HE HAD PASSED.
BUT FOR YOU, IS IT ABOUT ALSO CARRYING ON THE LEGACY FOR HIM?
>> NO.
I MEAN, PETER WAS A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE AND I REALLY
LOVED WORKING WITH HIM AND WE HAD MANY, MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
HEALTH CARE, PARTICULARLY SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH
CARE FOR ALL.
I HAVE NO INTENTION OF TRYING TO CARRY ON A LEGACY.
I HAVE TO ACT AS I SEE APPROPRIATE AND IS POSSIBLE IN
THIS NEW POLITICAL CLIMATE.
I AM ALWAYS GOING LOOK TO HIM AS A ROLE MODEL AND SOMEONE WHO I
JUST REALLY APPRECIATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE BODY.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT LEGACY.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT MEDICAID FOR ALL.
I KNOW IT IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE ADVOCATED FOR ON A STATEWIDE
LEVEL.
>> YES.
>> I THINK THAT TITLE CONFUSES PEOPLE SOMETIMES.
MEDICARE IS OUR 65 PLUS HEALTH CARE BRACKET FOR PEOPLE.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT IT IS CALLED SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE.
>> YES.
>> FOR YOU, DO YOU WORK ON CLEARING UP THAT CONFUSION?
DO YOU THINK THERE IS A NEED TO?
>> THERE IS.
THERE IS A NEED TO.
PEOPLE ARE VERY CONFUSED, PEOPLE OVER THE AGE OF 65 DON'T WANT
ANYTHING TO CHANGE.
THEY LIKE THE SYSTEM THEY HAVE.
MEDICARE IS A VERY CONFUSING SEMIQUASI PUBLIC SYSTEM.
THERE IS A LOT OF PRIVATE INSURANCE INVOLVED.
A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY IT IS CONFUSING AND NEEDS TO BE
CLARIFIED.
MEDICARE WAS SUPPOSED TO CONTINUE TO DROP DOWN AND
INCLUDE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE AND, OF COURSE, THAT DIDN'T
HAPPEN.
BACK IN THE 40s.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SINGLE PAYER, IT IS NOT NECESSARILY
MEDICARE FOR ALL.
WE HAVE CHOSEN THIS MEDICARE FOR ALL OR EXPANDED AND IMPROVED
MEDICARE FOR ALL AS THE LEGISLATION IS KNOWN IN THE
STATEHOUSE TO PROVIDE A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM THAT IS UNIVERSAL.
>> WHEN YOU SAY UNIVERSAL, EXPAND BEYOND THE 65 BRACKET.
>> OF COURSE.
TO COVER EVERYBODY.
RIGHT NOW HEALTH INSURANCE IS NOT AFFORDABLE TO MOST PEOPLE.
I CAN TESTIFY.
I PURCHASE MY OWN HEALTH CARE.
I KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE INSURANCE THROUGH EMPLOYERS FINDING
CO-PAYS AND PREMIUMS GOING UP.
IT IS IMPACTING EVERYTHING, TOWNS AND CITIES SEEING THE
RISING COSTS.
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT HEALTH CARE AS SORT OF THE LINCHPIN, THE
THING WE NEED TO SNOVL THIS STATE TO RESOLVE OTHER ISSUES.
IT IMPACTS EVERY SINGLE PERSON.
>> THERE ARE CRITICS WHO LOOK AT SINGLE PAYER AND SAY WE DON'T
SEE HOW THAT WILL WORK.
THEY WILL POINT TO THE VA AND SAY THAT IS IS A SINGLE PAYER
SYSTEM.
THEY POINT TO THAT IT WOULDN'T WORK.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?
>> WE ARE THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT DOESN'T HAVE A
SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
CLEARLY IT DOES WORK.
WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL.
LUCKILY THE LEGISLATION HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 20 YEARS.
STUDY AFTER STUDY SHOWS COST SAVINGS, IMPROVED OUTCOMES,
IMPROVED CARE.
I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THIS.
IT IS JUST GOING TO TAKE SOME POLITICAL WILL TO DO IT.
>> SOMETHING ELSE YOU TALKED ABOUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WAS
THE NEED FOR MORE TRANSPARENCY AT THE STATEHOUSE.
>> YES.
>> WHAT NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT?
>> I THINK THE PROCESS NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT.
HOW OUR REPRESENTATIVES VOTE.
WE TOOK THE TRANSPARENCY PLEDGE, A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES SIGNED
ON.
WE SAID WE ARE GOING TO STAND AND TELL OUR CONSTITUENTS HOW WE
VOTE ON EVERY SINGLE ISSUE.
THEY DESERVE THAT.
>> PEOPLE ASSUME I CAN GO AND LOOK AND SEE HOW MY LEGISLATOR
VOTED.
THAT IS NOT THE CASE ON BEACON HILL.
IT NEEDS TO BE A ROLL CALL VOTE AND THEN THERE IS A RECORD.
THERE IS CONCERN THAT A ROLL CALL VOTE WOULD SLOW DOWN THE
PROCESS.
I HEAR YOU SAYING, NO, THAT WILL GIVE PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SAY I WILL KEEP VOTING FOR X, Y AND Z.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT WILL TAKE TO GET THAT APPROVED?
>> WE NEED REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE WILLING TO STAND UP AND SAY
THAT.
IT TAKES A CERTAIN NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES TO CALL FOR A
ROLL CALL.
OUR CONSTITUENTS NEED TO KNOW.
THIS CYCLE ALONE THERE WERE MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT
DIDN'T PASS.
CONSTITUENTS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY.
HEALTH CARE REFORM WAS A BIG ONE.
YOU MENTIONED PETER KOCOT HEALTH CARE BILL DIDN'T PASS IN THE
END.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THESE BILLS CONTINUE TO FAIL.
WE NEED OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COME BACK HOME AND EXPLAIN
EXACTLY WHY THEY AREN'T PASSING TO BRING PEOPLE BACK IN THE
PROCESS.
>> LOOKING AT WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS RIGHT NOW, IT IS A
VERY UNPRECEDENTED TIME.
THERE ARE FIVE SEATS THAT HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING AND
CAMPAIGNING VERY ACTIVELY.
YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE SEATS.
REPRESENTATIVE KOCOT DID DIE, OTHER PEOPLE RESIGNED OR
RETIRED.
FOUR OF THE FIVE SEATS WILL LIKELY SEE WOMEN BARRING
SUCCESSFUL WRITE-IN CAMPAIGNS, AT THE GENERAL ELECTION.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE MESSAGE VOTERS ARE SENDING IN THAT, WE
ARE SENDING SO MANY WOMEN TO BEACON HILL?
>> I THINK IT IS A MESSAGE OF CHANGE.
I THINK PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO SEE SOME DIVERSITY IN THE
STATEHOUSE.
IT IS SAD YOU HAVE A WHITE WOMAN REPRESENTING DIVERSITY IN THE
STATEHOUSE.
THAT IS THE DIRECTION WE ARE HEADING IN.
THERE ARE MORE WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR AS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY
CANDIDATES THAN ANY OTHER TIME IN HISTORY.
THAT IS EXCITING.
MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT.
I'M EXCITED TO BE PART OF THAT.
I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EMERGE MASSACHUSETTS.
WE TRAIN WOMEN TO RUN FOR OFFICE.
THIS IS AN EXCITING YEAR FOR US AS WELL.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HITTING A POINT TO WHERE FOUR WOMEN
WINNING SEATS IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS IS NOT A BIG DEAL.
I IS JUST THE NORM.
>> I WAS TAKEN BY EMERGE'S TAGLINE, WE INSPIRE WOMEN TO
RUN, WE HONE THEIR SKILLS TO WIN.
FOR YOU, DID THEY HELP YOU HONE SKILLS
>> I HAVE.
I WORKED ON POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS SINCE I WAS A LITTLE CHILD.
I LOVE POLITICS AND I LOVE CAMPAIGNING.
CAMPAIGNING IS THE TIME YOU GET OUT THERE AND TALK TO PEOPLE.
IT IS SAD IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY TWO YEARS.
IN THE CASE OF INCUMBENTS MAYBE EVEN LESS.
IT HAS JUST BEEN FABULOUS TO GET OUT AND GET TO DOORS AND EMERGE
TEACHES YOU THAT.
YOU HAVE TO RUN YOUR CAMPAIGN AS YOUR OWN.