Wilton DTC Unanimously Endorses Health Reform With Public Option

by: catchlightning

Wed Sep 02, 2009 at 00:52:46 AM EDT

The Resolution comes on the heels of a contentious public event Sunday, August 30 outside Wilton Town Hall where Congressman Jim Himes -- faced with a group using fear, prejudice and ignorance -- spoke with courage, conviction and intelligence about the need for a public insurance option as part of real health care reform in America.

The full text of the Resolution follows:

Health Care Reform and Public Option Resolution

WHEREAS the health care system of the United States is in crisis, with almost fifty million Americans lacking any health insurance, tens of millions more lacking adequate coverage, and millions more who do have private coverage paying increasingly unaffordable premiums, resulting in inadequate access to care and premature death, illness or financial ruin for millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS public polls show than an overwhelming majority of Americans want health care reform to offer the choice of a robust public option similar to Medicare in order to, in the words of President Obama, "keep the insurance companies honest," while co-ops or so-called "triggers" are inadequate in and of themselves to address the health care crisis by creating significant competition for the medical insurance industry; and

WHEREAS well-funded groups of extremists are attempting to disrupt efforts on the part of the American majority and the Administration to reasonably discuss the issue with the American people, and have demonstrated an utter unwillingness to compromise in any way to pass meaningful health care reform;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Wilton Democratic Town Committee urges members of Congress to vote for only such healthcare reform proposals as contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourages legislators to use any available parliamentary means to pass such reform;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Wilton Democratic Town Committee shall send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent any of our members.

The text of the Resolution originated from the broad grassroots coalition -- including Health Care for America Now, Democracy for America, MoveOn, AFL-CIO, SEIU, Firedoglake and others -- to enact real health care reform with a public insurance option in 2009.

I would urge Democratic Town Committees throughout Connecticut to adopt this Resolution, and communicate it to their Senators and Representatives as well as their local press.