March 1, 2007

The Seattle PI recently had a column on how highly unionized companies have higher health care costs because of mega-corporations that don’t provide their employees with coverage (Legislature lets taxpayers pay for workers' health care costs). 

This reminded me of a meeting right before session started in which Boeing brought up the issue that their health care costs are skyrocketing. When asked if they would support a universal health care plan -- which would reduce their costs considerably-- they abruptly said it was out of the question.  

We need to stop beating around the bush and start exploring options to fix our broken health care system once and for all. I will continue working to get Washington State what we desperately need: health care solutions to provide people real coverage.  

I cosponsored several health care bills this session that begin to level the playing field so that more uninsured people can get access to health care. One of those bills is a proposal for universal coverage (HB1886).  And I'm also fighting hard—and am very optimistic— that we can cover ALL children with healthcare in this biennium. 

This session we’re on the right track.  But there’s still much to do; and the way I see it, we can’t talk about equality and justice until absolutely everybody in our state gets coverage.

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Contact: 

Rep. Bob Hasegawa, (360) 786-7862

Downloadable photo: http://www1.leg.wa.gov/documents/house/members/photos/Hasegawa.jpg

Staff: Lilia P. Nieto, (360) 786-7375, nieto-torres.lilia@leg.wa.gov

Radio and TV News Directors:  To obtain broadcast-quality audio on these issues, or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact House Democratic Caucus Broadcast Coordinator Dan Frizzell at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov  or (360) 786-7208.