Oakland, CA In Support of Universal Health Care

Oakland, CA, US

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Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 7/18/06 Unanimous

Source File: http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/14267.pdf

Text:

Resolution No. 80055
A RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA BY ENACTING SENATE BILL 840, "THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH INSURANCE RELIABILITY ACT."

WHEREAS, people have a fundamental right to good health; and

WHEREAS, the current system for delivering health care in the United States is too expensive for millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS, the White House and the United States Congress have failed repeatedly to enact laws to provide universal health coverage and show no signs of accomplishing this important goal; and

WHEREAS, it is impractical for every city government, with their limited tax base and relatively large number of uninsured citizens, to subsidize health insurance in order to cover 100% of their residents; and

WHEREAS, the California State Legislature is now considering whether to enact Senate Bill (SB) 840, entitled "The California Health Insurance Reliability Act" to amend California's Health and Safety Code to provide comprehensive universal health coverage for the people of California; and

WHEREAS, SB 840 is authored by Senator Sheila Kuehl of Los Angeles and co-sponsored by Oakland's state legislators Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, and Senate Pro Tern Don Perata; and

WHEREAS, SB 840 is supported by the League of Women Voters of Oakland, the Alameda County Medical Center, the California Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association of California, and hundreds of other California organizations; and

WHEREAS, SB 840 would create a "single-payer" health care system whereby a new California Health Insurance Agency and a newly elected Health Insurance Commissioner would reduce costs by streamlining the multiple administrative layers burdening the current system and by leveraging the economies of scale and purchasing power enjoyed by California as the 6th largest economy in the world; and

WHEREAS, providing universal health care coverage in California will further reduce costs by eliminating the incentive for uninsured patients to visit emergency rooms for routine care and by increasing the ability of Californians to pursue preventative medical care;

WHEREAS, all Californians would be consistently covered by this health care insurance system because it is not subject to a person's changing income or employment status; and

WHEREAS, SB 840 will provide high-quality medical care, as consumers will have total .freedom to choose their persona! primary caregiver; now, therefore,

"be it RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Oakland urges the State Legislature and the Governor of California to provide comprehensive universal health care for the people of California by enacting Senate Bill 840, "The California Health Insurance Reliability Act,"

RESOLVED, the City Clerk of the City of Oakland will fax this Resolution as soon as possible to the heads of the State Assembly and the State Senate as well as to the Governor of California.