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Governor's Illinois Covered affordable health care plan gains
Illinois congressional support 
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Democratic members of Illinois' congressional delegation urge House
Speaker Madigan and Senate President Jones to pass Illinois Covered
[July 21, 2007]
CHICAGO -- Members of Illinois'
congressional delegation are garnering support for Gov. Rod R.
Blagojevich's Illinois Covered health care plan. In two letters sent
to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President Emil
Jones, leading Democratic members of Illinois' congressional
delegation, including U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin and U.S. Reps Rahm
Emanuel, Jesse Jackson Jr., Luis Gutierrez, Danny Davis, Phil Hare,
Janice Schakowsky and Bobby Rush, called on legislators to take
advantage of the historic position Democrats hold in Illinois and
pass Illinois Covered to ensure Illinois continues to lead the
nation in meeting the needs of working families.
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 "I'm proud that the distinguished men and women we've elected to
represent us in Congress recognize and support our efforts to make
Illinois the nation's health care leader," Blagojevich said. "They
understand how vital affordable health care is to families across
our state as well as to the long-term success of our economy. Right
now, during this extended session, we have the opportunity to pass
the most comprehensive health care plan in the country that would
give every family and small business in our state access to
affordable health coverage."
Both letters commended Illinois for being a longtime leader in
making health care affordable and accessible to all its citizens and
encouraged the Illinois General Assembly to use this overtime
session to pass legislation that reflects the core principles of the
Democratic Party, with guaranteed access to health care being one of
those principles. The letters also urged the state's top legislative
leaders to continue to demonstrate to other states and our country
that Illinois is a leader in providing for its citizens.
Other states have proposed and are implementing plans for
expanded access to health care, which the U.S. representatives noted
in the letter they sent Friday to the General Assembly reminding
them that they need to be at the forefront of this issue and help
establish Illinois as a model state when it comes to meeting the
health care needs of all its citizens.
In addition, results released Wednesday from a statewide poll
conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of America's Agenda
Health Care Fund, AARP, AFL-CIO and the Campaign for Better Health
Care show widespread support among Illinois voters for Blagojevich's
Illinois Covered health care plan to guarantee affordable health
coverage for every Illinoisan. The poll indicates that Illinois
voters across all political party lines, demographic groups and
regions of the state rate health care reform as the most important
issue facing the legislature during the extended session. In fact,
poll results show that 85 percent of likely voters support health
care reform this session, while 79 percent of those surveyed
supported Illinois Covered specifically.
The governor's Illinois Covered plan would provide affordable
coverage to the uninsured and would also help many middle-income
families and small businesses that are currently enrolled in health
insurance plans save thousands a year on health care costs. The plan
would also reform the existing health care system to improve
quality, reduce costs and require more accountability.
The letter to Speaker Madigan and Senate President Emil Jones
from U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin and U.S. Reps. Rahm Emanuel, Jesse
Jackson Jr., Danny Davis, Phil Hare, Janice Schakowsky and Bobby
Rush follows:
There is a great
debate going on across the country on health care. In Washington,
Congress will soon be reauthorizing the State Children's Health
Insurance Program (SCHIP), a vital federal-state partnership that
currently provides health care to six million children. The
reauthorization measure will extend health coverage to four million
more children who are currently uninsured. Several of the Democratic
presidential candidates have already or will soon be releasing their
plans to cover the 46 million Americans who are currently uninsured.
And across the nation, states from California to Pennsylvania to
Wisconsin are considering health care legislation to cover all of
its residents. Republican and Democratic Governors and legislators
are working together to expand access to health coverage. We are
proud that Illinois is among the states where legislative proposals
are pending on health care reform, and we thank Governor Blagojevich
for pushing for immediate action.
[to top of second column]
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 As you are aware,
there are 1.4 million Illinoisans who are currently uninsured.
Millions more are in working families whose coverage is inadequate,
either because of gaps in benefits or unaffordable premiums, co-pays
and deductibles. This means that people are foregoing preventative
medical care, thereby driving up the costs of care and diminishing
their quality of life. Many Illinoisans live in fear that an
accident or illness will wipe out their savings and destroy their
lives. Small businesses are being forced to reduce benefits, or drop
coverage all together, because of rising premiums.
Right now, the
Illinois General Assembly has the opportunity to take bold steps on
health care. Our state has a strong history of being a leader in
making health care affordable and accessible to its citizens. Before
your legislative session concludes it is important that the General
Assembly takes the necessary steps to reform the Illinois health
care system to address cost growth and provide coverage for the
working uninsured.
(See PDF copy of
letter.) [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for
the PDF file, click
here.]
In their letter to the state's two leading legislative leaders
Friday, U.S. Reps. Luis Gutierrez, Danny Davis, Phil Hare, Janice
Schakowsky and Bobby Rush wrote:
We are writing to
ask that you support Governor Rod Blagojevich's proposed health care
plan, Illinois Covered, during this overtime session of the Illinois
General Assembly. We share his concern for the millions of working
families and businesses in Illinois that are struggling with the
rising costs of health care. The number of uninsured is rising
sharply, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for businesses,
especially small businesses, to provide health coverage for their
employees and retirees.
Right now, as a
member of the Illinois General Assembly, you have the opportunity to
take action on an issue that affects all families and firmly
establish Illinois as model state when it comes to meeting the
health care of needs of all citizens. As I'm sure you are aware,
states from California to Pennsylvania are also considering health
care legislation, while Massachusetts is now in the process of
implementing a program to provide health care for all citizens. And,
just two weeks ago, the Wisconsin Senate voted strictly along party
lines to pass "Healthy Wisconsin," which will fund a universal
health care program through an employer assessment of up to 12
percent and an individual payroll tax.
In addition to the
1.4 million Illinoisans who are uninsured, there are millions of
working families whose premiums, co-pays and deductibles are
becoming unaffordable. This means that people are foregoing
preventative medical care, thereby driving up the costs of care and
diminishing their quality of life. Many Illinoisans live in fear
that an accident or illness will wipe out their savings and destroy
their lives. Small businesses are being forced to reduce benefits,
or drop coverage all together, because of rising premiums.
We believe Illinois
must continue to be a leader in making health care affordable and
accessible to its citizens by acting on this comprehensive plan to
expand access to existing programs and create an affordable, quality
option for all men and women, and small businesses. We believe
health care costs are a shared responsibility, and that government,
business and individuals are all responsible to pitch in and make it
work.
Illinois is in a
position of national envy with a Democratic majority in both houses
and a Democratic governor. We encourage you to use this opportunity
to pass legislation that reflects the core principles of our party.
Guaranteeing access to health care is one of those principles. We
are urging you to pass Illinois Covered, and to continue to
demonstrate to our State and our country that Illinois is a leader
in providing for its citizens.
(See PDF copy of
letter.) [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for
the PDF file, click
here.]
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
