OntheWilderSide

Greens welcome film ‘Sicko,’ but wonder why Dems & Reps are not ‘universally’ behind state universal health care measure

SACRAMENTO (June 12, 2007) – Filmmaker Michael Moore’s presence today at the State Capitol to support universal health care legislation overshadows the fact that Democratic and Republican Party leaders apparently are not as universally behind
it, and are poised to back measures that would leave millions of Californians out without the health care Moore is in town to promote, charged the Green Party of California.

“The Green Party has never wavered in its support for what Michael Moore talks about in his new film ‘Sicko’ – a health care plan that would bring real reform via a single-payer system, and protect all Californians,” said Dr. Robert Vizzard, an emergency room doctor and GPCA spokesperson.

“We are glad Michael made the visit to our state, and supports the one measure in the Legislature that would make a real difference, Sen. Sheila Kuehl’s SB 840,” added Vizzard. However, the Greens point out that although Kuehl’s bill has made it through the Senate and is awaiting a full Assembly vote, the Democratic Party leadership is promoting other legislation that helps some, but not all, Californians in
need of medical help.

“Sheila Kuehl’s bill is a lifesaver. But, many lawmakers on both sides of the aisle play
political games by introducing other health care bills designed to please the Governor, or special interests like the insurance industry, but fail all Californians,” said Vizzard.

In fact, in an analysis by the California Universal Health Care Organizing Project, the
plan by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata leaves millions of Californians
“out-in-the-cold.”

Kuehl’s SB 840 is a mirror of the Greens’ health care plank in California. It provides care for everyone, and pays for itself by eliminating the huge profits of health care insurers. It would take advantage of economies or scale and new technologies to pay for itself, while providing care to everyone.

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