Over five-hundred people, armed with banners, signs, and stories of health insurance industry abuse rallied at the Minneapolis United Labor Center Sunday afternoon to demonstrate that people across the country want Congress to deliver on the change people voted for by finishing comprehensive health care right.

The rally’s keynote was delivered by U.S. Senator Al Franken, who earlier this week, had signed on to a letter asking Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to use the budget reconciliation process to pass the public option. Reconciliation would require only fifty Senate votes, plus the Vice-President, and has given many people hope that passage of a public option may still be possible.

In opening remarks, Bill McCarthy, President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, praised Franken for his leadership on federal health care reform and called the Senator "a fighter and champion of Minnesota’s working families." McCarthy said "workers across the country are at the mercy of insurance companies’ soaring premiums, denied claims and inflated profits. It’s time Washington listened to those that elected them, not corporate insurers."

Franken took the stage to thunderous applause midway through the rally. Citing insurance industry profits which continue to rise despite a weak economy, Franken told the packed hall "I think you know why they’re fighting us." He warned that people "can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the very, very good" referencing tea party protesters who picketed outside the hall. Promising to fight to make sure health care costs are lowered and quality goes up for all Americans, Franken concluded saying "All I can tell you is we’re going to get this done."

Rally attendees included members of the Minnesota Health Care for America NOW (HCAN) coalition, Organizing for America (OFA), MoveOn, ISAIAH, labor and progressive organizations. Sunday’s attendees were united in the need for Congress to rein in corporate greed, create more jobs, protect workers’ rights and achieve comprehensive, affordable health care for all Americans.

The rally was part of a week-long nationwide push insisting Congress act now on health care reform and listen to everyday Americans, and not insurance industry lobbyists who have spent record amounts to block health care reform and protect their profits. Sharon Sund of MoveOn told the crowd "enough is enough. Congress has been debating health care reform for over a year. We voted for change and we want results now."

The Minneapolis rally precedes a bi-partisan, televised health reform summit scheduled with President Obama on Thursday.