Greens welcome Michael Moore, and film 'Sicko,' but wonder why Dems are not 'universally' behind
Sen. Sheila Kuehl's universal health care legislation
Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org
June 12, 2007
Contacts: Susan King, spokesperson, 415.823-5524,
funking@mindspring.com
Dr. Bob Vizzard, spokesperson, 916.206 8953, thevizz@earthlink.com
Sara Amir, spokesperson, 310.270-7106, saraamir@earthlink.net
Cres Vellucci, press secretary, 916.996-9170, civillib@comcast.com
Greens welcome Michael Moore, and film
'Sicko,' but wonder why Dems are not 'universally' behind Sen. Sheila Kuehl's universal health care
legislation
SACRAMENTO -- Filmmaker Michael Moore's presence today at the State Capitol to
support universal health care legislation overshadows the fact that Democratic Party
leaders apparently are not as universally behind it, and are poised to back measures that would
leave millions of Californians out without the health care Moore is in town to promote,
charged the Green Party of California.
"The Green Party has never waivered in its
support for what Michael Moore talks about in his new film 'Sicko' - a health
care plan that would bring real reform via a single-payer system, and protect all Californians," said Dr. Robert
Vizzard, an emergency room doctor and GPCA spokesperson.
"We are glad Michael made the visit to our state,
and supports the one measure in the Legislature that would make a real
difference, Sen. Sheila Kuehl's SB 840," added Vizzard.
However, the Greens point out that although
Kuehl's bill has made it through the Senate and is awaiting a full Assembly
vote, the Democratic Party leadership is promoting other legislation that helps some, but not all, Californians in
need of medical help.
"Sheila Kuehl's bill is a lifesaver. But, many
lawmakers on both sides of the aisle play political games by introducing other
health care bills designed to please the Governor, or special interests like the insurance industry, but fail
all Californians," said Vizzard.
In fact, in an analysis by the California
Universal Health Care Organizing Project, the plan by Senate President Pro Tem Don
Perata leaves millions of Californians "out-in-the-cold."
Kuehl's SB 840 is a mirror of the Greens' health
care plank in California. It provides care for everyone, and pays for itself by
eliminating the huge profits of health care insurers. It would take advantage of economies or scale and new
technologies to pay for itself, while providing care to everyone.
Green Party of California
www.cagreens.org