Fiscal Note
No expenditure required.
Title
Calling upon the Wisconsin Legislature and the U.S. Congress to establish a plan that will reduce health care costs by at least 15% and guarantee access to universal, affordable, quality health care coverage for all Wisconsin residents and families and all American residents and families, respectively, by 2008.
Body
WHEREAS, escalating health insurance costs pose tremendous hardships for Wisconsin residents, businesses, and local units of government; and
WHEREAS, the skyrocketing costs of health insurance have created a health care crisis in Wisconsin where nearly 500,000 state residents (including more than 90,000 children) are uninsured; and
WHEREAS, the soaring costs of health insurance stifle business expansion and job creation throughout the state and heavily burden individual citizens with high costs and the overwhelming fear of the consequences of losing health insurance coverage; and
WHEREAS, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) study, Wisconsin health insurance costs are a staggering 1/3 higher than even the rapidly rising national average; and
WHEREAS, the GAO study demonstrates clearly that these skyrocketing health care costs are a result of changes in the health insurance market which are beyond the control of local government; and
WHEREAS, despite the steep escalation in health insurance costs and the devastating negative consequences faced by Wisconsin residents lacking health insurance, the State Legislature, which does have the power to remedy this situation, has instead completely abdicated its responsibility and has failed to seriously consider comprehensive health care reform or take immediate and bold action to ensure that all Wisconsin residents have access to quality, affordable health care; and
WHEREAS, Congress has similarly abdicated its responsibility to address the health care crisis and has failed to take action to enact comprehensive, meaningful health care reform and has repeatedly placed politics above the urgent need of millions of American residents facing daily the consequences of a lack of health insurance;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council hereby decries the unconscionable and deplorable lack of action on the part of the Wisconsin Legislature and hereby calls upon that body to immediately rectify this situation by swiftly taking action to establish a plan that will reduce health care costs by at least 15% and guarantee access to universal, affordable, quality health care coverage for all Wisconsin residents and families by 2008; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Madison Common Council also hereby decries the deplorable lack of leadership and action on the part of Congress, and calls upon that body to also swiftly take steps to enact legislation reducing health care costs by at least 15% and guaranteeing access to universal, affordable, quality health care coverage for all American residents and families by 2008; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Madison-area state legislative delegation, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, and all members of the Wisconsin Congressional delegation.