Rep. Meehan Co-Sponsors “Medicare for All” Bill
For immediate release: May 25, 2006
For more information contact: Rand Wilson (617) 697-0380
Push for comprehensive reform builds as…
Rep. Meehan Co-Sponsors “Medicare for All” Bill
Rep. Martin Meehan is the eighth member of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation to co-sponsor H.R. 676, the “Medicare for All” approach to health care reform written by Rep. John Conyers.
“With over 45 million uninsured Americans, and another 50 million who are under-insured, it’s time to change our inefficient and costly health care system. H.R. 676 represents a common-sense solution by creating a publicly financed, but privately delivered health care program that expands Medicare to cover all Americans,” said Meehan. “It is unconscionable that high-quality, affordable health-insurance is out of reach for millions of hardworking Americans, and this bill will take a giant step toward combating this problem.”
Rep. Meehan joins seven other Massachusetts Representatives, (Michael Capuano, William Delahunt, Barney Frank, Stephen Lynch, James McGovern, John Olver and John Tierney) and 61 other members of Congress as a co-sponsor of H.R. 676.
“From our experience in the phone company, I know we can’t solve the problems in health care through collective bargaining or by just tinkering with incremental reforms,” said John Horgan, a telephone linesman and member of IBEW Local 2222 who is helping to lead the reform effort in Massachusetts. “With Rep. Meehan’s support for Medicare for All, everyone can see the momentum for comprehensive reform is growing in Massachusetts — and across the nation.”
Horgan and others recently traveled to Washington to meet with Rep. Meehan’s office staff to gain support for the Medicare for All approach. He is a member of Jobs with Justice’s Health Care Action Committee. Committee members are planning to participate in a national day of action on June 7 to step up the pressure on the two remaining Members of Congress from Massachusetts (Reps. Markey and Neal) who have not yet become co-sponsors.
U.S. Census Bureau data for 2004 shows that in Massachusetts the share of uninsured among people under 65 was the highest it has been in seven years (13.2 percent). A recent Institute of Medicine report states that 18,000 people a year die prematurely in the U.S. due to not having health insurance.
American workers and voters are growing increasingly impatient for action. A poll by Peter Hart Research showed that health care is a major concern of workers.
· Seven in ten (72 percent) workers indicated they would like to see the federal government guarantee health care coverage for all Americans.
· Workers clearly want Congress and the president to take action and establish a national health care plan that guarantees health care coverage for all Americans. More than seven in ten (73 percent) workers highlighted this as their top or high priority for Capitol Hill and the White House to address.
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