RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SINGLE-PAYER, UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE ACT
(HR 676)
WHEREAS everyone deserves access to affordable quality health care; and
WHEREAS the number of Americans without health insurance now exceeds 47 million; and
WHEREAS millions with insurance have coverage so skimpy that a major illness would lead to financial ruin, and medical illness and bills contribute to one-half of all bankruptcies; and
WHEREAS proposals for “consumer directed health care” would worsen this situation by penalizing the sick, discouraging prevention and saddling many working families with huge medical bills; and
WHEREAS managed care and other market-based reforms have failed to contain health care costs, which now threaten the international competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers; and
WHEREAS administrative waste stemming from our reliance on private insurers consumes one-third of health spending; and
WHEREAS U.S. hospitals spend 24.3% of their budgets on billing and administration while hospitals under Canada’s single payer system spend only 12.9%; and
WHEREAS American physicians are inundated with bureaucratic tasks and costs that Canadian physicians avoid; and
WHEREAS Harvard researchers estimated that more than $300 billion could be recovered by replacing private insurance companies with a single public payer, enough to cover the uninsured and to improve coverage for all those who now have only partial coverage; and
WHEREAS “consumer directed health care” adds yet another expensive layer of bureaucrats — the financial firms that manage health savings accounts; and
WHEREAS entrusting care to profit-oriented firms diverts billions of dollars to outrageous incomes for CEOs and threatens the quality of care; and
WHEREAS The US National Health Insurance Act which would assure universal coverage of all medically necessary services, contain costs by slashing bureaucracy, protect the doctor patient relationship, assure patients a completely free choice of doctors, and allow physicians a free choice of practice settings;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of the 10th District expresses its support for The US National Health Insurance Act (HR 676), and calls upon federal legislators to work towards its enactment within the current Congress.
Thanks for a great 2009 County Convention.
Welcome to our new county officers and new precinct officers.
Catawba County Democrats Hold Annual Convention
Catawba County’s Democratic Party held their annual convention on Saturday April 25th at the old Newton County Courthouse, electing new leadership during a meeting that featured a keynote address from NC Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton.
New officers elected for two-year terms include Elizabeth Glynn, Chairperson; Danny Baker, First Vice Chair; Kisha Clemons, Second Vice Chair; Jeff Neuville, Third Vice Chair; Erin Montgomery, Secretary; and Brenda Craig, Treasurer.
Newly elected Chairperson Glynn addressed the convention, challenging attendees to continue the momentum built in the 2008 elections and become more involved in party activities. “I agreed to take the position of chair of the party because I have a vision for the party,” Glynn told the attendees. “If the last four years were about building, I want the next two years to be about building bridges to broad segments of our county. What unites us is greater than what divides us,” Glynn stated. (Click here to read Glynn's entire speech.)
Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton addressed the convention, thanking Catawba County Democrats and congratulating them for helping turn North Carolina into a blue state which voted for a Democratic President and elected Democrats to the Senate, the Governor’s office, the Lieutenant Governor’s office, as well as to numerous local and state offices during the most recent elections. Before being elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2008, Mr. Dalton served for 12 years in the N.C. Senate, where he was consistently ranked as one of the body’s most effective members focusing on the importance of education to build a foundation for the 21st century economy.
Ray Warren, NC House member from the 88th District also addressed the convention and thanked attendees for their support during the most recent election. Representative Warren was elected to his second house term in 2008.
The convention was attended by approximately 120 Democrats, with outgoing Chairperson Dan Green calling the meeting to order and conducting the election of new officers. In other business, the party also elected county members to their State Executive Committee and elected delegates to attend the District Convention which will be held May 16th in Valdese.
