Nurses & Voters, State Senator Dina Titus Say America Needs Real Solutions to Growing Health Care Crisis
Source: Service Employees International Union
Aug 29, 2008 - 4:50:51 PM
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Las Vegas, NV – Health care costs are spiraling out of control. More than 47
million Americans have no coverage at all. But instead of offering a plan to
make sure everyone can get good health care, presidential candidate John
McCain’s proposals would actually make it harder to get affordable coverage –
and Las Vegas nurses, voters, and state legislators are speaking out.
“More and more working families can’t afford the rising cost of health
care – and they don’t qualify for state programs because they make too much
money,” said Sharon Kisling a supervisor with the Clark County Department of
Family Services. “The middle class is getting squeezed.”
Sharon was
among the speakers at a press conference today in Las Vegas. In her work with
Child Protective Services, she sees the effects on children who don’t have
health insurance. “No child should have to go without health insurance,” she
continued.
“Nurses like SEIU Nevada president Shauna Hamel work so hard
every day to deliver the best care they can,” said State Senator Dina Titus.
“But the system is broken. We need a reform plan that cuts costs for families
and businesses, and helps ensure that every American can access high quality,
affordable care.”
Yet, Sen. John McCain’s health care proposals would
make it harder for Americans to get coverage, would do nothing to control costs
and would erode consumer protections already in place. Speakers distributed a
report detailing the shortcomings of McCain’s plan, and called for a health
system that works for everyone.
“Nevada has seen what happens when
unscrupulous clinics and hospitals put profits above patients,” said Shauna
Hamel, RN and SEIU Nevada president. “SEIU Nevada members are committed to
continuing to raise health care standards here in our hospitals, through our
local Southern Nevada Health District, and in the election in November.”
Today’s event is part of “The Road to American Health Care,” a national
bus tour aimed at mobilizing voters around comprehensive health care reform. The
bus tour is being organized by SEIU, the largest union of health care workers in
North America, as part of a sweeping campaign to elect a new President and
Congress committed to fixing health care -- and then make sure those newly
elected leaders immediately pass legislation that makes quality health care
affordable for
everyone.
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