ORDERS

(4-1) On motion of Representative MAZUREK of Rockland, the following Joint Resolution: (H.P. 1004) (Cosponsored by Representatives: BEAUDOIN of Biddeford, BERRY of Bowdoinham, BRIGGS of Mexico, BRYANT of Windham, CAIN of Orono, CLARK of Millinocket, DRISCOLL of Westbrook, EVES of North Berwick, FLEMINGS of Bar Harbor, GILBERT of Jay, GOODE of Bangor, HARLOW of Portland, HASKELL of Portland, HINCK of Portland, HOGAN of Old Orchard Beach, HUNT of Buxton, WALSH INNES of Yarmouth, KENT of Woolwich, KRUGER of Thomaston, LEGG of Kennebunk, LOVEJOY of Portland, MacDONALD of Boothbay, MAGNAN of Stockton Springs, McCABE of Skowhegan, MORRISON of South Portland, O’BRIEN of Lincolnville, PERRY of Calais, PILON of Saco, Speaker PINGREE of North Haven, PRATT of Eddington, RUSSELL of Portland, SANBORN of Gorham, SCHATZ of Blue Hill, STEVENS of Bangor, STUCKEY of Portland, THERIAULT of Madawaska, TRINWARD of Waterville, VAN WIE of New Gloucester, Senator: DAMON of Hancock) (Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 214)

JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO SIGN LEGISLATION THAT ESTABLISHES A NATIONAL, UNIVERSAL, SINGLE-PAYOR NONPROFIT HEALTH CARE PLAN

WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States and the United States Congress as follows:

WHEREAS, administrative costs and profits inherent in our current private insurance-based system consume 31% of health care spending, nearly twice that spent by other national health care systems; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that the cost for the United States National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676 would only be 5% of income for a vast majority of employers and employees; and

WHEREAS, today medical bills contribute to 1/2 of all personal bankruptcies, the majority of which happen to people who have insurance when illness occurs; and

WHEREAS, proposed mandatory private for-profit health insurance plans will be affordable only for those people who choose high deductibles and minimal coverage, discouraging preventive care and saddling many families with huge medical bills; and

WHEREAS, over the last 35 years managed care, health maintenance organizations and private for-profit health reforms have failed to contain health care costs, which now threaten the international competitiveness of United States manufacturers; and

WHEREAS, researchers at Harvard University have estimated that more than $300,000,000,000 per year could be recovered by replacing private insurance companies with a public single-payor plan, enough to cover the uninsured and to improve coverage for all those who now have only partial coverage; and

WHEREAS, the United States National Health Insurance Act would ensure universal coverage for all medically necessary services, contain costs by slashing bureaucracy, protect the doctor-patient relationship, ensure that patients have a completely free choice of doctors and hospitals and allow independent private physicians to make decisions about needed care rather than the profit-oriented corporations; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that the United States Congress enact and the President of the United States sign legislation that is substantially similar to the United States National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676, which was introduced in the 110th United States Congress; and be it further

RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Barack H. Obama, President of the United States and the United States Congress and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.