Resolution in Support of SB 840

(approved by the California Democratic Council Statewide Convention in San Bernardino on June 19th, 2005)

Whereas SB 840 (Kuehl), the California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA), is a universal, comprehensive health plan that will cover all California residents while allowing them full freedom in choosing providers and, according to an impartial study, will save the state $8 billion in health care costs the first year of operation and more in subsequent years; and

Whereas over 6.5 million Californians, one in every five, had no medical insurance in 2003; the World Health Organization ranks our health care system at the bottom of industrialized nations even though we spend twice as much per person on health care as the other countries; and half of all bankruptcies in the United States are now related to medical costs; and

Whereas employers are reducing health care coverage and sometimes dropping benefits altogether because of the skyrocketing cost of health insurance, severe health access disparities exist by region ethnicity, income and gender; and rural communities do not have reliable access to affordable health insurance plans; and

Therefore Be It Resolved that the California Democratic Council, meeting in annual convention on June 17-19, 2005, endorse SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act, plan to participate in a state-wide educational and advocacy effort on its behalf, and urge all CDC-affiliated organizations to join that effort; and

Be It Further Resolved that copies of this resolution be promptly transmitted to all CDC-affiliated organizations and to all Democratic members of the California Legislature.