Number
090408
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsors
ALD. DAVIS AND KOVAC
Title
Substitute resolution joining with the National League of Cities in support of national health care reform.
Analysis
The Board of Directors of the National League of Cities adopted a resolution on July 10, 2009, supporting national health care reform and urging the federal government to enact a series of legislative reforms designed to contain the growth of health care costs and to improve access to appropriate health care that includes wellness and preventive services.
This resolution declares that the City of Milwaukee joins with the National League of Cities in support of national health care reform.
Body
Whereas, The National League of Cities, by action of its Board of Directors on July 10, 2009, adopted a resolution supporting health care reform; and
Whereas, The Federal Administration and Congress are presently developing and deliberating upon a series of legislative reforms designed to contain the growth of health care costs and to assure access to appropriate health care services for all Americans; and
Whereas, 46 million Americans are uninsured and millions more are underinsured; and
Whereas, The rising costs of health care are unsustainable for families, companies, governmental entities, and the nation, and these costs are overburdening taxpayers who fund the cost of local, state and federal health care plans; and
Whereas, The total costs of health care coverage paid by the City of Milwaukee rose 20.7% from $86.6 million in 2006 to $104.5 million in 2008: and
Whereas, America’s cities and towns are the nation’s fourth largest employer and, as such, are providing health care coverage to millions of employees and their families and to retirees and their families; and
Whereas, Nearly 86% of cities and towns provide their employees with health care insurance, and a majority provide their employees’ dependents with health care insurance: and
Whereas, Cities and towns providing health care insurance pay a substantial portion of the costs of the insurance; and
Whereas, Local governments spend approximately $87 billion annually or nearly 17% of their budgets to provide health insurance benefits to their employees, retirees and their families; and
Whereas, Health care costs nationally rose nearly 120 percent over the last 10 years which is more than triple the rate of inflation; and
Whereas, The current health care system is a crisis for the uninsured and underinsured, and is also a fiscal crisis consuming increasing portions of local government budgets and threatening the ability of governments to provide essential government services, including public safety, transportation and sanitation; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City of Milwaukee join with the National League of Cities in urging the federal government to address the current health care crisis through a series of legislative reforms designed to contain the growth of health care costs and to improve access to adequate and appropriate health care, including wellness and preventive services, for all Americans, regardless of income or employment or family status; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City join with the National League of Cities in applauding the Administration and the Congress for recognizing the need for health care reform as one of the most important domestic issues facing the nation especially in light of its impact on families, companies and governments; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration take all appropriate action in advocating for national health reforms that are consistent with the principles and in accord with the concerns expressed in this resolution; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City join with the National League of Cities in applauding the Administration and the Congress for making as its priorities for comprehensive health care reform reducing the rate of growth in health care costs and improving access to health care for all Americans; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City join with the National League of Cities in urging the Administration and the Congress to address issues related to the currently unsustainable cost of health care by adopting marketplace reforms, creating and implementing information technology structures., establishing quality standards, and ensuring better alignment of needs and resources to help reduce the growth in health care costs; and, be it
Further Resolved; That the City join with the National League of Cities in urging the Administration and the Congress to achieve the goal of health care reform for all Americans by expanding existing public sector health care programs, such as Medicare, State Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid, including a public health plan option, maintaining cost-effective and efficient private sector health insurance options, and addressing access and disparities issues in health care experienced by many Americans; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City join the National League of Cities in urging the Administration and the Congress to be respectful of the partnership between and among levels of government and to therefore resist interfering with the powers of state and local governments, especially as the federal government seeks to identify mechanisms to finance health care reform; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City join with the National League of Cities in urging the Administration and the Congress in recognizing that America’s cities and towns are the nation’s fourth largest employer, and, as such, should have access to all of the health insurance options so that cities and towns may make available appropriate and affordable health care for their employees and families; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk provide copies of this resolution to the United States Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Wisconsin, to Wisconsin’s United States Senators, and to the President of the United States.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB09313-2
RLW
7/23/2009