Oakland, CA In Support of Universal Health Care

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 7/18/06 Unanimous
Source File: http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/14267.pdf
Text:
Resolution No. 80055
A RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA BY ENACTING SENATE BILL 840, "THE CALIFORNIA
HEALTH INSURANCE RELIABILITY ACT."
WHEREAS, people have a fundamental right to good health; and
WHEREAS, the current system for delivering health care in the United States is too expensive for
millions of Americans; and
WHEREAS, the White House and the United States Congress have failed repeatedly to enact laws to
provide universal health coverage and show no signs of accomplishing this important goal; and
WHEREAS, it is impractical for every city government, with their limited tax base and relatively large number of uninsured citizens, to subsidize health insurance in order to cover 100% of their residents; and
WHEREAS, the California State Legislature is now considering whether to enact Senate Bill (SB) 840, entitled "The California Health Insurance Reliability Act" to amend California's Health and Safety Code to provide comprehensive universal health coverage for the people of California; and
WHEREAS, SB 840 is authored by Senator Sheila Kuehl of Los Angeles and co-sponsored by
Oakland's state legislators Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, and Senate
Pro Tern Don Perata; and
WHEREAS, SB 840 is supported by the League of Women Voters of Oakland, the Alameda County
Medical Center, the California Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association of California, and
hundreds of other California organizations; and
WHEREAS, SB 840 would create a "single-payer" health care system whereby a new California Health
Insurance Agency and a newly elected Health Insurance Commissioner would reduce costs by streamlining the multiple administrative layers burdening the current system and by leveraging the economies of scale and purchasing power enjoyed by California as the 6th largest economy in the world; and
WHEREAS, providing universal health care coverage in California will further reduce costs by
eliminating the incentive for uninsured patients to visit emergency rooms for routine care and by
increasing the ability of Californians to pursue preventative medical care;
WHEREAS, all Californians would be consistently covered by this health care insurance system
because it is not subject to a person's changing income or employment status; and
WHEREAS, SB 840 will provide high-quality medical care, as consumers will have total .freedom to
choose their persona! primary caregiver; now, therefore, 
"be it RESOLVED, the City Council of the City of Oakland urges the State Legislature and the Governor of California to provide comprehensive universal health care for the people of California by enacting Senate Bill 840, "The California Health Insurance Reliability Act,"
RESOLVED, the City Clerk of the City of Oakland will fax this Resolution as soon as possible to the heads of the State Assembly and the State Senate as well as to the Governor of California.
Category:California
Category:City Governments
Category:Health
Category:Oakland
Category:Resolutions