Contact: Sandra Jackson at 916-325-1550 or Mike Myslinski at 650-552-5324
Governor Urged to Sign Universal Healthcare Bill
More families would gain coverage under SB840
BURLINGAME – David A. Sanchez, president of the 340,000-member California Teachers Association, issued this statement today urging the governor to sign universal health care legislation, SB 840 by Senator Sheila Kuehl, that is co-sponsored by CTA and approved by the Legislature:
“With 6.5 million Californians, including many of our students, living without health care, the governor must sign SB 840 to provide affordable coverage for all residents. The California Teachers Association has been advocating for health care reform that controls excessive costs and ensures patient choice for the past several years as the health crisis has reached epidemic proportions. In our classrooms, children are absent or coming to school sick because their parents can’t afford the health care that they need. Education suffers because teachers can’t teach to an empty desk.
“SB 840 would reallocate the $186 billion spent each year on health care in California to reduce overhead and ensure that more of those funds are used to provide direct health care to all Californians. It gives universal access to quality, affordable health care with cost containment.
“SB 840 would stop the wasting of billions of dollars paid to health plans for administrative and other costs. It would stabilize the growing cost of health insurance premiums and guarantee everyone’s right to choose their own doctor. Teachers, parents, their children and all working families in California deserve to have a reliable health care system with fair premiums and peace of mind for all.
“The governor vetoed an earlier version of SB 840 in 2006. If he vetoes this version, CTA will continue to fight for comprehensive, affordable health care for all Californians and we will support any future legislation that would establish a single-payer system of health care.”
For more information about SB 840, visit the website of a CTA-supported statewide coalition promoting the legislation at www.onecarenow.org.
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The 340,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3.2 million-member National
Education Association.