Health Care
Mark DeSaulnier: Local Champion for Health Care
Dear Friend,
As thousands of working families continue to struggle to find high quality, affordable health care, we know the time for reform is now. We can no longer afford to maintain the status quo of rising costs, limited access, and inefficient delivery of care. The urgency of the situation is clear -- everyone has a significant stake in making sure we enact real health care reform.
Throughout my career serving this community, fighting for health care reforms has been a top priority. I have fought to advance healthcare access and quality of treatment. I authored local measures to fight childhood obesity and to expand second-hand smoke regulations. Recognizing the great need for women’s health services, I introduced a comprehensive Women’s Health Program to serve the health care needs of all women in Contra Costa County. The plan included construction of five new Women’s Health Centers.
As a county supervisor, I spent surplus office funding for suicide prevention, alcohol and drug abuse counseling, preventative dental care for disadvantaged youth, and school breakfast programs.
In the State Legislature, while sitting on the Assembly Healthcare Reform Working Group, I introduced 10 bills related to the challenges of drug abuse, disease and smoking prevention. I was honored to be recognized by the American Cancer Society for these efforts.
Please take a moment to get informed and learn more about proposed health care reforms. It has been a privlege to work for this community for over 25 years as a Mayor, County Supervisor, and State Legislator. I would be honored to have the opportunity to continue to improve health services for the people of this district in Congress.
Always Proud to Serve You,
Mark DeSaulnier
Senator Edward Kennedy: The Dream Will Live On
We must commit to providing high quality, affordable health care for all
I am saddended by the passing of Edward M. Kennedy, a champion for social justice and reforming America's health care system.
Senator Kennedy's dedication to health care reform demonstrated a commitment to honoring human rights and a dedication to enriching the common wealth before personal wealth.
Today, we must pay tribute to this great American; tomorrow we must pick up the mantle and achieve his goal. Senator Kennedy's memory demands nothing less than the passage of comprehensive health care for all.
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The Public Option vs. Health Care Co-Op’s
The public option is essential to health care reform
The introduction of health care cooperatives into the reform debate is a dangerous distraction. Health care co-ops will not increase competition in a business dominated by giant insurance companies, but rather fail in the most critical need of health care reform: cost control.
Co-ops have been around for a long time in the United States and have been successful in some industries—grocery stores, community credit unions and electricity. However health care co-ops have a very different record.
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Heath Care Reform Means a Stronger Health System for Seniors
A Better Health System for Older Americans -- and that's the truth
Older Americans have an especially important stake in the health care reform debate, yet opponents of reform have resorted to telling bold-faced lies to protect their economic interests.
Republican scare tactics—tying health care reform to fictional death panels and a raid on Medicare—are shameful and neglect to recognize the current precarious state of health for many seniors.
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Health Care Reform: It’s Time
Real Health Care Reform is Essential for Economic Recovery
We stand on the cusp of a transformative moment in our country’s history: making quality, affordable health care a right for all Americans.
Make no mistake. Real health care reform is central not only to our personal health, but to the health of our economy and our recovery from the most desperate financial crisis since the Great Depression. Real health care reform will free small businesses and families from a burden that has crushed the spirit of innovation driving America’s strength and prosperity.
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Small Businesses Benefit Big from Health Care Reform
Health care reform is a matter of national economic urgency for small businesses
To say that the current health care system puts small businesses at a disadvantage is a huge understatement. Small businesses pay up to 18 percent more per worker than large firms for the same health insurance policy. That means higher operational costs, lower wages, fewer profits, and, ultimately, less coverage. More than half of the Americans who are uninsured, 27 million, own or are employed by a small company.
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