Health Care Priority for Pro-Worker Legislature
From the first day of session, legislative leadership set the tone for health care and related issues. In an unprecedented move, six committees were established to focus on various aspects of health care. Two health care discussions rose to the top.
Affordable Accessible Health Care
The Oregon Health Fund (SB 329), coordinated by Senators Ben Westlund (D-Redmond) and Alan Bates (D-Ashland) is viewed as the vehicle to pass comprehensive health care reform.
The Senate Special Committee on Health Care Reform dealt with SB 329 and the extensive list of health care issues within
the bill. Legislators and advocates realized that to achieve statewide health care reform, more time and collaboration is needed.
In the end, the passage of SB 329 will result in the outline for developing statewide health care reform in the 2009 legislative session. SEIU will play a major role in the process.
Insuring All Oregon Children
Governor Kulongoski stepped forward early in 2007 with his plan to insure Oregon’s uninsured children. The plan consisted of an 84.5¢ increase in cigarette taxes to bring an additional 100,000 children into the Oregon Health Plan. The
plan was contentious from the beginning and in spite of multiple votes, we could not garner the 3/5th’s majority in the house or senate necessary for passage. The Governor and Legislative Leadership made the decision to refer “Healthy Kids” to the ballot rather than let the policy die.
The tobacco industry broke all spending records killing the ballot measure.