Sponsor
Aldermen Weidner and DeHahn
Title
City Clerk Place Referendum Question On Health Care on November Ballot
Whereas, escalating health insurance costs are a major hardship for City of Racine residents, businesses, and local units of government; and
Whereas, such high costs discourage business expansion and job creation in the City of Racine and burden individual citizens with high costs and the fear of losing health insurance coverage; and
Whereas, according to a recent study, Wisconsin health insurance costs are almost 1/3 higher than the rapidly rising national average; and
Whereas, by some measures the Racine area has among the highest health care costs in the nation, including the eighth highest physician costs in the United States according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report last year; and
Whereas, the GAO study demonstrates that these skyrocketing health care costs are a result of changes in the health insurance market which are beyond the control of local government; and
Whereas, despite the steep escalation in health insurance costs, the State Legislature (which does have the power to remedy this situation), has failed to seriously address comprehensive health care reform; and
Whereas, the following advisory referendum question is an effective way to determine whether the citizens believe that the next session of the State Legislature should take action:
"Should the Wisconsin Legislature establish a plan that will reduce health care costs by at least 15%, and guarantee access to universal, affordable health care coverage for all Wisconsin residents and families in 2008?"
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Common Council of the City of Racine hereby directs the Racine City Clerk to place the question set forth above on the November ballot as an advisory referendum question.
Be it further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the area legislators, Governor Jim Doyle, and the League of Wisconsin Munici...
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