Harrisburg, Pa. - The U.S. Senate is now working to merge two health care reform plans into one. Local advocates want to make sure all of us are involved in the debate.

On Wednesday, they staged a day-long event at the state Capitol. It included a complete reading of House Bill 3200, the reform plan the group prefers. The reading got underway at 5 a.m. and lasted into the night.

The group is unhappy with a bill approved by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday that does not include a government-run health insurance program, otherwise known as the 'public option'.

"Public option would be an alternative, a choice," said Berry Friesen, public affairs manager of the Pa. Health Access Network.  "It's a government backed insurance plan that people could buy who are uninsured or whose employers don't offer them coverage or are self-employed."

The group is made up of union leaders, clergy members and senior citizens.  They urged local citizens to contact their representatives.

"Today's the day we start," said Bill George, President of the Pa. AFL-CIO.  "You need to pick up that phone and give that congress person a call and tell them you want health care reform today."

"We expect there will be legislation on the President's desk by Christmas," Friesen said. "We've just got to make sure it's good legislation and that's where people need to get involved. This cannot be a decision the lobbyists make. The people have to make this decision. It's personal. We all need health care."

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