Ohio Working Families Applaud Ohio Representatives for Supporting Historic Health Care Reform

Columbus, Ohio – Working family activists in Ohio hailed the “courageous” votes cast to pass landmark health care legislation this weekend.

“Facing down an onslaught of lies and cynical moves to derail this landmark legislation,  Representatives Boccieri, Driehaus, Fudge, Kaptor, Kilroy, Kucinich, Ryan, Sutton and Wilson stood with Ohio working families, not greedy insurance companies, and we applaud their courageous action,” said Joe Rugola, President, Ohio AFL-CIO.   “This vote is a momentous step toward comprehensive health care reform; Ohio small businesses, employees and seniors can take comfort that we are on the path to long-term health security.”

The legislation stops insurance companies from denying health care due to consumers’ pre-existing health conditions and dropping coverage for people who get sick.  It stops the relentless rise in health care costs and expands coverage for 32 million Americans.  The legislation also makes prescription drugs more affordable for seniors and helps small businesses struggling with skyrocketing costs.  It is projected to reduce the federal budget deficit by $1.3 trillion over the next two decades.

A determined effort by working people in Ohio to pass the bill was mirrored by working families across the country. Over the past year, union members nationwide made over 4 million phone calls.  In addition, Working America, the AFL-CIO community affiliate, talked to more than 210,000 people at their front doors, generating 30,000 health care petitions, 31,000 phone calls, 40,000 e-mails and 75,000 letters urging lawmakers to pass reform.

The final improvements in the legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives must still be approved by the U.S. Senate.  ”We urge Senator Voinovich to join Senator Brown in supporting this historic reform and quickly pass this legislation and get it to the President’s desk to be signed.”

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