RALEIGH, N.C. -- Scores of state workers are taking a bus from North Carolina to Washington to join a rally protesting insurance industry opposition to overhauling health care.

Members of the State Employees Association of North Carolina are leaving Raleigh before dawn on Tuesday to demonstrate at an annual health insurance industry conference in Washington.

A coalition of labor unions and activist groups organized the protest at the same time President Barack Obama is raising his attacks against insurance companies.

Obama this week launched a last-ditch effort to get the public and congressional Democrats behind his health overhaul legislation.

SEANC's 55,000 members are affiliated with the Service Employees International Union, though North Carolina law bans bans labor deals with public employees.

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