Saturday, July 21, 2007
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Governor's Illinois Covered affordable health care plan gains Illinois congressional support           Send a link to a friend

Key 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.

"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.

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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]

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