At midnight on Wednesday the legislative session comes to a close. With less than two days till adjournment the legislature has failed to address the current health care crisis (PDF) in Connecticut. Our political leaders’ rhetoric would lead us to believe they understand the need for action, but we have yet to see anything real (may have link of these and other quotes up at www.ccag.net)
“Providing coverage to the uninsured is an urgent need that demands action now.”
“We are all deeply aware of the problem. Now it is time to move the solution forward -- because in a very real sense coverage delayed is coverage denied.”
Senate President Don Williams (The Courant, February 6, 2007):
Our existing health care system is on life support. We must tell the truth about health care, and have the courage to do what is necessary to improve quality, accessibility and affordability.
We should create a Medicare-for-all program in Connecticut to provide a single, statewide insurance program for everyone in our state.
Speaker of the House Jim Amann (The News-Times, July 17, 2006):
In 2007, this [health care] is going to be the biggest issue facing the Democratic caucus and facing the legislature.
Unfortunately it is beginning to look like these may become empty promises instead of real health security for Connecticut’s families. The greedy insurance companies and their front group (which in many ways is just an insurance scam) the Connecticut Business and Industries Association (CBIA) are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and forcing their employees to contact leaders in order to stop real reforms and protect their profits. The insurance companies have banded together to form a corporate shell that his week released a questionable on-line poll that tried to misrepresent what the fight is about.
It is clear that the Legislature and the Governor are underestimating the public’s desire for real reform. Advocates are demanding the enactment of a public purchasing pool that will significantly limit HMO’s ability to profiteer, expansion of the safety net, and the creation of an authority that will present a plan for universal coverage for next year’s session.
It is time for our leaders to act. If not, next year is the first time legislators will run under a system of public financing and not on the tit of HMOs and lobbyists. Contact Governor Rell (800) 406-1527 and your legislators and let them know Connecticut wants real change. Find your legislators:
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