CAG Press Release
Contact: Gary Zuckett
304-346-5891

WV Groups: Nothing Has Changed, WE STILL NEED Health Care Reform!

Sen. Rockefeller also comments on need to pass comprehensive Reform

Charleston, WV:  Yesterday at the state capitol, Legislators, Labor, Faith, and Social Justice groups made statements on the need to move forward with Health Care reform. info: www.healthcareforamericanow.org

“Tuesday’s vote in Massachusetts was not a referendum on health care reform. It was a referendum on one candidate in one state in which voters, hard pressed and frustrated by the economic recession, are impatient for change, commented Kenny Perdue, President of the WV AFL-CIO.

“When it comes to the need to make good health care affordable, nothing is different today than it was on Monday,” commented Rick Wilson, of the Economic Justice Project of American Friends Service Committee. “46 million were uninsured on Monday, and today 46 million Americans are still uninsured.” 

“Congress must keep going and finish reform right. They must complete the mandate they received from the 2008 election, offered Gary Zuckett, Executive Director of WV Citizen Action. “Let’s get profits and politics out of the way and put patients first,” Zuckett added.

“Four West Virginians will continue to die every week from lack of insurance until we pass comprehensive reform that makes health coverage affordable,” said Senator Dan Foster, MD.

“We must fix health care now to keep improving our economy. We cannot continue to allow medical expenses to bankrupt our nation’s families and businesses. Until we fix spiraling health costs we can’t fix the economy since one of every six dollars is spent on health care,” commented Sam Hickman CEO of the WV Chapter of National Association of Social Workers.

A special message faxed from Senator Rockefeller was also read at the event, “There is not a question in my mind that the House and Senate bills would make a big difference in the lives of West Virginians and all Americans.  While politicians and politics come and go, the need for real health reform remains – and I will keep fighting the good fight to pass health care legislation this year.”