Download Dr. Ken Thorpe's PowerPoint Presentation The release of economist Ken Thorpe's study projecting $15.6 billion in cost savings over 4 years from the Illinois Covered plan has provided real evidence that health care reform is not just a moral imperative, it's an economic necessity. You can listen to a podcast excerpt of Dr. Thorpe's presentation here.   Joint Letter to State Legislators: Vote for Illinois Covered a Defining Issue for National Unions America's Agenda Press Release, 5/24/07 More than a dozen prominent leaders of national labor unions have issued a joint letter to state legislators asserting that they consider enactment of real health care reform a defining issue for elected leaders in Illinois and across the country."In the coming 2008 elections and afterward, our unions will measure the candidates we support by their commitment and courage in standing with working families on issues that really matter. Nothing matters more than guaranteeing affordable, high quality health care for all Illinoisans," say the national presidents of unions that have been active in mobilizing support for candidates in state legislative elections..... see press release To read the joint letter to State Legislators, click on this link. lllinois Covered Wins Praise from Nationally Renowned Health Care Economist America's Agenda Press Release, 4/16/07 Dr. Ken Thorpe says proposed Illinois health care plan will save consumers and businesses $16.5 billion by 2011.... see article IL: Rally in Springfield Gives Illinois Businesspeople a Chance to Add their Voices to the Demand for Health Care Justice 4/18/07 Fifteen business owners from across the state came together at a press conference in the capitol to send the message that runaway health care costs are the single biggest threat to their livelihoods and those of their employees. Rona Spano from American Income Life insurance speaks about her support for Illinois Covered in this podcast. America's Agenda Board Member Richard Gephardt Meets with Illinois Lawmakers to Tout Illinois Covered Capitol Fax, 6/20/07 America's Agenda Board Member and former presidential candidate Richard Gephardt touted Governor Blagojevich's plan as part of a national movement toward expanding health care and shifting costs from employers to society. "Our goal is to get more health care reform in states, in the country," said Gephardt..... To Listen to his full remarks, click here.

Rising Health Costs Cut Into Wages
The Washington Post, 3/24/08
Recent history has not been kind to working-class Americans, who were down on the economy long before the word recession was uttered. The main reason: spiraling health-care costs have been whacking away at their wages. Even though workers are producing more, inflation-adjusted median family income has dipped 2.6 percent -- or nearly $1,000 annually since 2000..... See Article

Let's Try a Dose. We're Bound to Feel Better.
The Washington Post Opinion by Jacob Hacker, 3/23/08
"Socialized medicine" is the bogeyman that just won't die. The epithet has been hurled at every national health plan since the New Deal -- even Medicare, which critics warned would strip Americans of their freedom..... See Article

MA: In MA, Costs Rise Again for Universal Health Coverage
Wall Street Journal, 3/21/08
The cost of subsidizing health insurance keeps going up in Massachusetts....... See Article

NJ: New Jersey to Consider Health Plan to Cover All
New York Times, 3/18/08
Thrusting New Jersey again into the vanguard of social change, a bipartisan group of legislators unveiled a proposal that would require all residents to have health care coverage within three years...... See Article

Arguments Mount for a National Healthcare System
Christian Science Monitor, 3/3/08
US health costs doubled over the last decade to 16.1% of GNP. "Most other rich industrial nations, with universal care, spend only 11 to 12 percent of their gross domestic product on healthcare. Canada spends even less, a bit more than 9 percent of GDP..." to cover all its people...... See Article

'Going Digital' Going Slowly
Baltimore Sun, 3/2/08
“90 percent of U.S. doctors and more than two-thirds of U.S. hospitals still use paper for patient records” -- far more use of outmoded paper records systems than other developing economies, which have made substantial shifts to national electronic medical record systems. The slow transition in the US is despite the general consensus that the digital transition will reduce medical costs, improve quality, and reduce medical errors...... See Article

The Nation Coming Soon: Health Care Debate, Part 2
New York Times, 3/2/08
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are fighting over an issue of importance to a very narrow band of the Democratic base — the issue of individual mandates to buy health insurance. This debate focuses on coverage expansion, and issue that is important to core Democrats, but is much less important to the general electorate. Polls show that 90% of voters will already have insurance coverage and care more about containment of rising premiums costs. The current Clinton-Obama debate runs the risk of marginalizing Democrats from the core concern of general election voters, potentially ceding an advantage to John McCain...... See Article

VT: Left Out
Editorial, Rutland Herald, 1/25/08
The lesson the absurd exclusions of patients with pre-existing conditions from Catamount eligibiity points to "the advantage of one, large, integrated system that includes everyone." ..... See Article

VT: Advocates Explain Gaps in Health Plan
Times Argus, 1/24/08
Eighteen organizations forming the Campaign held a press conference advocating expansion and filling the gaps in Catamount Health..... See Article

VT: Coalition Pushing for Expansion of Catamount Health
Vermont Public Radio, 1/23/08
Measured by the rate of enrollments, Catamount Health is a very successful reform. That’s why legislators and advocates are planning to expand it...... See Article

PA: Better Prescription: Rendell has Improved his Health Insurance Plan
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, 1/20/08
Governor Rendell proposes new funding formula to cover state’s uninsured residents..... See Article

WV: 7 steps: It’s Time to Solve the Health Problem in W.Va. -- Here are Some Ways to Do It
Opinion by Steve Roberts in Charleston Gazette, 12/23/07
President of West Virginia Chamber of Commerce says state cannot wait for Washington, DC to solve health care crisis. The state government must take action now to reform West Virginia health care..... See Article

VT: Vermont Health Care Reform Plan
Kaiser Family Foundation, 12/19/07
Word is spreading about the breakthrough health care legislation enacted by Vermont in May 2007! At last, more than one and a half years later, the Kaiser Family Foundation is circulating a new fact sheet outlining Vermont’s historic reform legislation...... See Article

CA: Scalpel Please: California Enters the Fight for Universal Health Care
The Economist, 12/19/07
After almost a year of difficult surgery, during which it occasionally seemed dead, California's health-care reform plan abruptly leapt out of bed on December 17th. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state's Republican governor, agreed a bill with the Democratic majority in the legislature that would dramatically widen health coverage. There were smiles of relief all round; but the bill's prognosis is bleak. ...... See Article

NJ: Corzine: Health Care for Everyone
Cherry Hill Courier Post, 10/9/07
New Jersey children will soon have access to low-cost health insurance, Gov. Jon S. Corzine formally announced Wednesday. But he has his eye on a broader goal: universal health coverage for the entire state..... See Article

MI: Petition to Ask Michigan Voters to Pass Universal Health Care
Detroit Free Press, 12/19/07
A campaign that claims support from key Michigan labor and religious groups, the AARP and Lt. Gov. John Cherry plans to launch a petition drive next month to ask Michigan voters to approve statewide, universal health care...... See Article

CA: California Moves Toward Passing Universal Health Care
Bloomberg.com, 12/17/07
California moved a step closer to passing a $14 billion plan supported by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to expand health care to the state's uninsured by charging employers a fee and raising taxes on cigarettes...... See Article

Doctors Endorse Single-Payer
American College of Physicians said it backed the system because access to health care had deteriorated.
Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/9/07
The Philadelphia-based American College of Physicians - the nation's second-largest physician group - endorsed a single-payer health-care system yesterday. But the organization stopped short of saying that a single-payer system like Medicare, in which the government would get and pay most bills, is the best way to achieve universal health coverage...... See Article

Health Care Tops Agenda
Hartford Courant, 10/9/07
Every Democratic and Republican presidential hopeful has come up with a health care plan for the nation. Some blueprints are more ambitious than others, but there is a collective acknowledgment that America's health care system is ailing..... See Article

VT: Catamount Health Enrollment Begins Oct. 1
Burlington Free Press, 9/20/07
Catamount Health, the state's new health insurance program, will begin accepting applications Oct. 1. The program takes effect Nov. 1. The program provides low-cost insurance for residents who are without health insurance or who need additional insurance for hospitalization or visits to a doctor's office. The program also covers visits to specialists and mental health and substance-abuse treatment....... See Article

VT: Vermont Expands Health Care Coverage
WCAX-TV, 9/19/07
Vermont's attempt to cover the uninsured with comprehensive health insurance is due to take effect Nov. 1. And state leaders are trying to get the message out that people who could not afford health insurance before may find it much more affordable, now that the state will have a program that subsidizes the cost of health insurance premiums...... See Article

CA: California Health Plan in Peril
Hospitals Boost Stalled Proposal; Voters May Decide
Wall Street Journal, 9/11/07
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious proposal for universal statewide health-care coverage, announced in January, is hanging by a thread as the regular legislative session ends this week. The plan's fate could rest with California voters in a ballot initiative next year...... See Article

CA: Despite High Cost, Small Business Says It Supports Universal Health Care
San Diego Business Journal, 9/10/07
In a recent poll, more than half of small-business owners in California said they are in favor of contributing to a statewide pool that would offer affordable health care insurance for their employees..... See Article

VT: Are You Covered?
Times Argus, 9/10/07
Catamount is state government’s response to a costly problem: Almost 11 percent of Vermonters don’t have health insurance..... See Article

VT: Spending Money to Save Money
Times Argus, 9/9/07
If you don't have health care coverage, Vermont state government wants you to know that help is on the way.... See Article

AFL-CIO Starts Push for Universal Health Coverage
Courier Journal, 8/30/07
Saying that "in America, no one should go without health care," the AFL-CIO yesterday mounted a drive to bring about universal health coverage by the end of 2009..... See Article

New Kaiser Tracking Poll Finds Health Care Follows Only Iraq Among Issues The Public Wants Presidential Candidates to Talk About In the Campaign
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, 8/30/07
Health care remains the top domestic issue that the public wants presidential candidates to address in the campaign, trailing only Iraq on the public's overall priority list. Both Republicans and Independents rank health care second to Iraq, while Democrats for the first time rank the two issues as equally important for the candidates to discuss..... See Article

CA: Record Numbers of Californians Living Without Health Insurance
San Francisco Chronicle, 8/29/07
A record 6.8 million Californians, nearly 1 in 5 of the state's residents, went without health insurance at some time during 2006, according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau..... See Article

Poverty Down but More Without Health Insurance
Chicago Sun Times, 8/29/07
Paychecks grew a bit and poverty flattened last year, but the number of Americans without health insurance continued to increase, the Census reported Tuesday. Nationally, 47 million people -- or 15.8 percent of the country -- were without health insurance in 2006. That marked a 5 percent increase over 2005, the largest increase in four years..... See Article

Eyes on California as Lawmakers Pursue a Health-Care Deal
Washington Post, 8/27/07
California did not start the current wave of efforts to overhaul the American health-care system, but what happens in Sacramento over the next few weeks could have a big impact on whether the drive gains momentum or peters out..... See Article

CA: Small-Business Owners Favor Health Care Plan, Survey Says
San Diego Tribune, 8/24/07
More small-business owners in California back proposals being considered in Sacramento to revise the state's health insurance system than oppose them, according to a survey commissioned by a coalition of small-business organizations. .... See Article

CA: Small-Business Coalition Would Pay to Ease Health Care Costs
San Francisco Chronicle, 8/24/07
Many California small-business owners would be willing to dip into their own pockets to help solve the state's health insurance problems, according to a new coalition of business owners in favor of health care reform..... See Article

IL: Senate Panel OKs Health Plan:
Businesses with No Coverage would be Taxed
State Capitol Bureau, 7/27/07
A legislative committee lent a hand Wednesday to Gov. Rod Blagojevich's push to offer health insurance for all Illinoisans, recommending that the full Senate pass a revised version of his proposal.
The latest Illinois Covered program would be financed solely through an assessment on businesses that do not offer health insurance to their workers. That assessment would raise about $1.2 billion in the first year, Michael McRaith, director of the state Division of Insurance, testified before the committee..... See Article

IL: Gov Needs Compromise or New Plan
Chicago Sun Times by Rich Miller, 7/27/07
What's more evil: The absence of universal health insurance in Illinois or a modest state income tax increase?
I asked Gov. Blagojevich that question the other day.
Blagojevich has been pushing a universal health insurance bill all year. He's claimed it's the greatest moral issue of our times and even said it's "God's will" that all people should have access to health care. So far, however, he hasn't had a lot of luck, or demonstrated much skill in making his dream a reality.... See Article

IL: Insurance Plan Not Dead Yet
Northwestern Herald, 7/27/07
Within an hour of a Springfield public hearing about a bill to extend health insurance to all adults, the state health director told care providers here that Illinois was on the cutting edge of public insurance provision. "We were a leading state in trying to cover all kids with health insurance," said Dr. Eric Whitaker, chief of the Illinois Department of Public Health. "Often times, states are a laboratory for new health policy. We as a state want to push the envelope.". .. See Article

WI: Poll says Wisconsin Wants Universal Care
The Capital Times, 7/25/07
As they head into negotiations today over the shape of a final state budget bill, Senate Democrats are touting a new poll that they say shows overwhelming public support across Wisconsin for their $15.2 billion universal health care plan.... See Article

The Waiting Game
Times Argus by Paul Krugman, 7/24/07
The bottom line is that the opponents of universal health care appear to have run out of honest arguments. All they have left are fantasies: horror fiction about health care in other countries, and fairytales about health care here in America.... See Article

IL: Health Care #1 Issue in the State
WJBD, 7/18/07
A new survey released Wednesday shows the most pressing issue among Illinoisans is state health care reform. With legislative leaders in special session in Springfield, 85-percent of state residents say that it is the most important issue facing lawmakers. Polled voters even listed Health Care reform as a bigger concern ahead of both heightened gas prices and taxes. ..... See Article

IL: State Can't Write off Health Care
Cindy Richards for the Chicago Sun Times, 7/17/07
Illinois legislators like to say they aren't jumping on the governor's health care bandwagon because their constituents haven't demanded they get on board. Perhaps few of us are calling our legislators. But that doesn't mean we aren't worried about ever-rising health care premiums and co-pays. Or concerned the insurance we get from our employers today might be gone tomorrow. Or afraid a major medical expense will leave us bankrupt.

At least that's what a poll of likely Illinois voters suggests. The poll, to be released today, says the rising cost of health care is the No. 1 concern of Illinois voters.

Democratic pollster Celinda Lake was hired by a cadre of pro-health-care-reform groups, including AARP, AFL-CIO, America's Agenda Health Care Fund and the Campaign for Better Health Care, to find out what folks think of Gov. Blagojevich's proposed Illinois Covered plan. That's the universal health coverage proposal that has been demagogued in Springfield throughout this otherwise lackluster, however long-lasting, session...... See Article

IL: Religious Leaders Threaten to Shut Down Illinois House
ABC 7 Chicago, 7/16/07
More than 100 religious leaders from the Chicago area are threatening to take over the Illinois legislature if lawmakers fail to pass a state budget in the next week. The potential protestors say they will storm the capitol and occupy every seat in the Illinois House...... See Article

PA: A State Finds No Easy Fixes on Health Care
New York Times, 7/10/07
Gov. Edward G. Rendell, an unapologetic big-city liberal who campaigned as a health care reformer, might have been expected to propose a plan to cover the 900,000 Pennsylvanians who are uninsured. And he did so, after winning reelection last year in a landslide. But like other governors in the vanguard of health policy, Mr. Rendell also concluded that such a move would be unaffordable, and perhaps politically unattainable, without serious efforts to control costs...... See Article

For Democrats, Pragmatism On Universal Health Care
Washington Post, 7/10/07
Two Democratic candidates, Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), have endorsed the idea of universal coverage and suggested ways to achieve it, and the third, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), is expected to outline her ideas in the next few months. Obama's plan does not require adults to obtain health insurance, a distinction that Edwards has tried to exploit because his aides say that without such a requirement, Obama's plan would not ensure coverage for everyone..... See Article

Solving the Health-Care Crisis
Pittsburgh Tribune Review Op-Ed, 7/5/07
Supporters of health-care reform have mostly steered a wide berth around the insurance industry. But that truce is breaking down as politicians, in Washington and in state capitals, begin wrestling again with the intertwined challenges of how to control costs, improve quality of care and provide health insurance to the nearly 45 million Americans without it...... See Article

Health Care Looms as Major Campaign Issue
New York Times, 7/5/07
There is no better measure of the power of the health care issue than this: Eighteen months before Election Day, presidential candidates in both parties are promising to overhaul the system and cover more — if not all — of the 44.8 million people without insurance..... See Article

Numerous Factors Affecting Universal Health Care Reform
The News Journal, 7/2/07
Presently, some 46 million Americans either have no health coverage or inadequate coverage. Even for those who do have coverage, the news is not so great. The U.S. spends roughly 15 percent of its GDP on health care, whereas the world average is 7 percent to 8 percent. According to the journal, "Health Affairs," the U.S. figure will rise to 19.6 percent by 2016. For every dollar spent on private health insurance, 30 percent to 40 percent goes toward administration costs and investment return to shareholders...... See Article

Don't Count On Universal Health Care
Hartford Courant Editorial, 7/2/07
The urgency for adopting universal health care seems obvious. At least 45 million, perhaps as many as 47 million Americans are uninsured. The United States is behind most industrial nations in such measures of health as life expectancy and infant mortality rate, in part due to the unavailability of health insurance to such a large number of people...... See Article

WI: Wis. Moves Toward a Universal Health Care Plan Similar to Canada
WKBT La Crosse, WI, 6/27/07
An outside observer says the universal health care plan approved by the Wisconsin Senate when it passed the state budget bill looks more like Canada's program than anything in the US. As approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate last night, the plan would be funded by a $15 billion-a-year payroll tax. But it's not given much of a chance of surviving when the Republican-controlled Assembly works on the budget...... See Article

WI: State Lawmakers Offering New Universal Health Care Plan
Wisconsin AG Connection, 6/27/07
Every resident in the state of Wisconsin, except those covered by public programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Badgercare, will be guaranteed access to affordable, high-quality health care coverage through a new program being proposed by Democrats in the Legislature. It's called Healthy Wisconsin: Your Choice, Your Plan...... See Article

WI: Dems Pass State Budget Filled with Tax Hikes and Universal Health Care
Hudson Star Observer, 6/27/07
Democrats used their new-found majority in the Wisconsin Senate to pass a state budget with universal health care and a host of tax hikes. They added 150 items to what Gov. Jim Doyle proposed for the next two years..... See Article

IL: America's Agenda Board Member Gephardt Lobbies for Health Care Plan in Illinois
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/20/07
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, locked in a protracted battle over universal health care for Illinois, brought in retired St. Louis congressman and former presidential candidate Richard Gephardt to help make his case Tuesday. Gephardt, who has been traveling the country lobbying for universal health care, emerged from a closed-door meeting with fellow Democrat Blagojevich and Illinois legislative leaders after less than an hour. He touted the governor's plan as part of a national movement toward expanding health care and shifting costs from employers to society...... See Article

IL: Gephardt Makes Pitch for Health Plan
Pantagraph.com, 6/20/07
Gov. Rod Blagojevich is leaning on a high-powered Washington D.C. lobbyist to push his plans to boost spending on health care and to sell the state lottery. With budget talks mired in gridlock, former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, a two-time Democratic candidate for president, and an America's Agenda Board Member, was brought into a meeting of state legislative leaders Tuesday to try to convince them to support the governor’s health-care expansion plan..... See Article

IL: Capitol Meeting Avoids Budget, Focus was on Governor's Health-Care Plan Instead
Peoria Journal Star, 6/20/07
With Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes warning of financial upheaval if the state's budget impasse continues much longer, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the four legislative leaders resumed their talks. They did not talk about the budget. Instead, Tuesday's 2 1/2-hour meeting was devoted to a review of health-care issues facing the state and how Blagojevich's proposed universal health insurance plan would help alleviate them. Guest speakers included America's Agenda Board Member and former U.S. House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt of Missouri and a health policy professor from Emory University in Atlanta.... See Article

IL: State Senate Surrenders to Cheap Trick Guitarist
Still No Budget, but Rockford's Nielsen Rocks 'em
Chicago Tribune, 6/20/07
State government still doesn't have a new budget, but now it's about to honor a rock band famous for the song "Surrender." In the legislature's third week of overtime, Gov. Rod Blagojevich brought in America's Agenda Board Member and former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt on Tuesday in hopes of getting legislative leaders excited about the governor's health-care plan... See Article

CA: SB 840 Passes Senate Floor, heads to Assembly
California Nurses Association Press Release, 6/7/07
The California Universal Health Care Act, SB 840, which establishes a single payer universal health care system in California, passed the Senate Floor by a vote of 22-14 (final vote of 24-16 expected) and now heads to the California State Assembly.... See Press Release

A Route to Better Health Care
David Broder for the Washington Post, 6/3/07
As an adviser to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Ken Thorpe, who is also chief health policy consultant to America's Agenda, had a close-up view of the fiasco that was health care reform in 1993-94. Since that effort crashed, he, like many others, has watched in frustration as costs have soared and health insurance has moved beyond the reach of millions more Americans -- 46 million in all. But unlike others, the Emory University professor of health policy has a clear strategy for attacking the problem, and he is beginning to enlist influential allies in his cause..... See Article

IL: Unions see Health Care as a Key Issue
Edwardsville Intelligencer, 5/31/07
The enactment of real health care reform could be the defining issue that determines who will get union support in the 2008 elections. More than a dozen prominent leaders of national labor unions issued a joint letter to the Illinois General Assembly last week stating that they consider real health care reform a defining issue for leaders who will be candidates, not only in Illinois, but across the nation as well..... See Article

IL: Governor Battling Lawmakers' Lack of Enthusiasm for Health Care
Chicago Tribune, 5/28/07
An ambitious plan to guarantee health care for everyone in Illinois faces serious trouble because of differences between Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the General Assembly. Blagojevich considers the plan his top priority -- a must-have. But he has failed to convince lawmakers. They remain more interested in providing money for other needs, such as schools, roads and pensions.... See Article

IL: Budget Meeting Finally Happens - Leaders Appear No Closer to Deal
Journal Register, 5/25/07
The meeting among the three Chicago Democrats apparently did little to resolve the gaping differences between what the governor wants and what legislators appear willing to approve..... See Article

IL: AARP Lobbies with Apples for Health Bill
Rockford Register, 5/25/07
A small contingent of AARP members hit town Thursday to tout health-care legislation. They also brought bushels of apples. In their quest to lobby support for Senate Bill 5, the group delivered the fruit to the local offices of Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, and Rep. Chuck Jefferson, D-Rockford. The message? “It takes more than an apple a day to create a healthy Illinois.�... See Article

IL: Illinois Pharmacists Endorse Illinois Covered Health Insurance Plan
eMaxHealth.com, 5/23/07
The Illinois Pharmacists Association endorsed Governor Rod R. Blagojevich's historic Illinois Covered plan that will provide affordable healthcare coverage to the 1.4 million uninsured adults in Illinois.... See Article

IL: Governor Says Madigan Should 'Get Moving' on Budget Plan
Crain's, 5/22/07
After seeing his budget plan hammered by the Illinois House, Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday pressed the powerful House speaker to produce a spending proposal of his own. The Democratic governor said work on a new state budget is stuck in "a waiting game" until Speaker Michael Madigan, a fellow Democrat, spells out what he and his members could support.... See Article

IL: Campaign for Better Health Care Launches “Our Fight� Television Ads
The People of Illinois Tell Legislators: You Must Pass Illinois Covered for Us
CBHC Press Release, 5/17/07
On Thursday, the Campaign for Better Health Care (CBHC) unveiled the “Our Fight� television ad campaign, calling on legislators to pass comprehensive health care reform this year. “It’s more about us. It’s not about the Governor. It’s not about politicians,� states Shuntai Sykes, Communications Director of the Healthcare Consortium of Illinois..... See Press Release

IL: Blagojevich Plan is Backed by Church, Health and Union Leaders, Say it Would Cut Health Care Costs
Belleville News Democrat, 5/16/07
Church, health and union leaders rallied Tuesday morning to make their case for expanding the state's health care coverage. Representatives of the Campaign for Better Health Care, the United Congregations of Metro East and a union leader said Gov. Rod Blagojevich's effort to ensure all Illinois residents have health insurance coverage has been wrongly attacked and tied too closely to the gross receipts tax issue. They said the proposal, called Illinois Covered, could save the state $8.4 billion..... See Article

IL: Woes of Governor's Tax Plan in Illinois Could Doom Universal Health Care Plan
St. Louis Post Dispatch, 5/16/07
With the governor's $7.6 billion tax plan falling on skeptical
ears in the Illinois Legislature, health care activists are worried that their decades-old dream of universal health care in Illinois - a vision that seemed on the cusp of reality - may be evaporating..... See Article

IL: Advocates Tout Governor's Health Plan
Alton Telegraph, 5/16/07
Proponents of universal health care made rounds Tuesday in editorial meetings to tout Gov. Rod Blagojevich's Illinois Covered plan. "We don't look at this as the governor's plan. This is bigger than the governor," said Jim Duffett, executive director of the Campaign for Better Health Care, about Blagojevich's plan to cover all Illinoisans.... See Article

Obama Promises Universal Health Care in First Term
Asbury Park Press, 5/16/07
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said he would deliver universal health coverage in his first term as president.. Obama's pledge to ensure universal health coverage by the end of his first term in office, if elected, won some of the most enthusiastic applause from roughly 400 union members gathered at the Trenton War Memorial for an event hosted by the AFL-CIO..... See Article

VT: State Seeks Those who Qualify for Catamount Health
Burlington Free Press, 5/16/07
Those with a stake in the health plan's success are revving up to find the other 30,000 Vermonters who could be helped by the plan. Catamount, which kicks off in October, is designed to offer health-care coverage to some 30,000 uninsured Vermonters who don't qualify for other state health programs..... See Article

VT: Vermont Set to Promote Catamount Health
Rutland Herald, 5/16/07
Information on the state's health insurance plans may be landing at Vermonters' doorsteps later this year. State health officials and advocacy groups are set to begin an outreach campaign to the estimated 61,000 Vermonters who lack health insurance. On the top of the list of options that will be pitched to residents is Catamount Health, the state's new program..... See Article

VT: Outreach Workers to Raise Health Insurance Awareness
Vermont Public Radio, 5/15/07
A public-private partnership has been created to encourage Vermonters who don't have health insurance to sign up for one of the state's subsidized programs. As part of the plan, outreach workers will be sent to communities throughout the state to help uninsured Vermonters better understand how the state programs work..... See Article

VT: Knock, Knock: Catamount Health Reps Hitting Streets
AP, 5/15/07
The state of Vermont will launch its new Catamount Health plan Oct. 1, hoping to reach nearly half of the estimated 61,000 Vermonters lacking health insurance. Catamount is promising comprehensive health coverage, with very low out-of-pocket copays and other expenses. Full price will be about $360 to $370 per month, with people whose incomes qualify getting discounted premiums..... See Article

IL: The GRT Debate Isn't About Taxes. It's About Health Care.
CBHC Press Release, 5/8/07
On Wednesday the Illinois AFL-CIO, Illinois Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Illinois Maternal & Child Health Coalition, American Medical Women's Association and the Campaign for Better Health Care unite to deliver a message to the House of Representatives: The Gross Receipts Tax debate is really about health care..... See Article

IL: Groups Eager for Money, Less so about Tax
State Journal Register, 5/7/07
Groups are lining up to embrace Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s plan to spend billions of dollars on family-friendly programs. They want the new schools, higher teacher salaries, better health care and expanded child-care services. They aren’t nearly so enthusiastic, however, about the tax increases that would be necessary to pay for it all.... See Article

IL: Tax to Pay for Health Care in Illinois Faces Resistance
New York Times, 5/5/07
Gov. Blagojevich decided months ago to push a new health care initiative that would be among the most comprehaenxive int eh country. Unlilke efforts in other states, the plan would not simply shift or borrow money from existing programs but would be financed largely by a new tax on gross business receipts.... See Article

IL: Residents Want Affordable Health Care
Commercial News, 5/4/07
Despite the debate that continues to rage over the proposed gross receipts tax, access to affordable health care remains very much on the minds of local officials and citizens.... See Article

SD: State Task Force Explores Health Care for All
Argus Leader, 5/1/07
A survey is under way to find out how many South Dakotans lack health care coverage, who they are and why they don't have insurance..... See Article

IL: Governor Promises $5.67 Million More to Area Hospitals with Illinois Covered
Mt. Vernon Register News, 5/1/07
If Gov. Rod Blagojevich convinces the legislature to pass his Illinois Covered plan as-is, Jefferson and Hamilton county hospitals would see as much as $5.67 million in additional funding, the governor’s office said..... See Article

 

 

SUBSCRIBE TO AMERICA'S AGENDA-ACTION EMAIL LIST

 

Items in red are required.

Email:

Your email address will not be given out.
Privacy Policy

Zip Code:

   

The organization neither supports nor opposes any candidate for public office or political party.

Copyright © 2004 America's Agenda: Health Care For All, Inc. All rights reserved.

Joint Letter to State Legislators: Vote for Illinois Covered, A Defining Issue for National Unions Press Release: "Support Continues to Build for Governo’s Illinois Covered Affordable Health Care Plan" "Letters: Illinois Congressional Delegates to State Legislators"" Join America's Conversation on Health Care: CITIZENS HEALTH CARE WORKING GROUP

America's Agenda opens at Health Care Unions Conference The Moral-Hazard Myth

Insurers Take a Bigger Cut Private health insurance corporations are gorging themselves with record profits at the expense of American workers and businesses. Insurance profits are up. Premiums are up. But payouts for medical care lag behind. read more Click here and find out how the largest US health insurance carriers are making out in America's current health cost crisis? Click on thumbnail for a larger image.