#7 Support universal access to quality health care (File Res. #2009-629)
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE MEMORANDUM
September 14, 2009
TO: City Council
FROM:Rebecca Smith, Management Assistant
SUBJECT: Action on a proposed resolution supporting universal access to quality
health care (Revised File Resolution No. 2009-629)
Request
Councilmembers Yuri Rashkin and Thomas McDonald sponsored a resolution regarding
universal access to quality health care for the August 24 Council agenda. At the August
24 meeting, the Council chose to postpone this resolution to a future meeting.
Recommendation
Staff has no recommendation.
Suggested Motion
I move to approve revised file resolution 2009-629 supporting universal access to
quality health care.
Background
Universal access to health care has been a nationwide topic of discussion for many
th
years. Recently President Obama and the 111 Congress have begun seriously
examining this idea and many proposals have become available for consideration by
our federal legislators.
Millions of Americans are without health insurance in the United States. Unemployment
within Rock County is increasing; therefore, more local families may not have access to
employer-sponsored insurance and are finding it difficult to obtain affordable, private
insurance.
This resolution demonstrates the Council’s support for universal access to quality health
care for all legal American citizens and requests our Wisconsin Congressional
delegation to support the implementation of affordable, accessible and responsible
quality health care for all legal citizens.
CC:
Eric Levitt, City Manager
Jacob J. Winzenz, Assistant City Manager/Director of Administrative Services
REVISED FILE RESOLUTION NO. 2009-629
A Resolution supporting universal access to quality health care.
WHEREAS
, the Common Council of the City of Janesville supports the belief that all legal
residents of the United States should have accessible and affordable health care; and
WHEREAS
, quality health care should be accessible and affordable for all legal residents
regardless of age, gender, race, economic status or social status; and
WHEREAS,
the Janesville City Council recognizes that it is increasingly difficult for many
residents to obtain quality health care and we support the concerted efforts of local
jurisdictions to encourage the United States Congress and other decision makers to design a
rational health care system; and
WHEREAS
, millions of Americans in the United States lack health insurance; and
WHEREAS
, rising health care costs have affected employers’ ability to provide health care
benefits for their workers and retirees and have sharply increased the costs of doing
business; and
WHEREAS,
millions of Americans are in working families and may not have access to
employer-sponsored insurance and are unable to obtain it through another family member;
and
WHEREAS
, unemployment within Rock County is increasing; therefore, more local families
may not have access to employer-sponsored insurance and are finding it difficult to obtain
affordable, private insurance; and
WHREAS
, the uninsured suffer from negative health consequences due to their lack of
access to necessary medical care and are less likely to receive preventive care and services
1
for major health conditions; and
WHREAS
, thousands of Americans die every year of preventable and/or treatable diseases
because they are uninsured; and
WHEREAS
, the Janesville City Council desires a rational system for delivering quality health
care to ensure all Americans have access to these necessary services at a cost that is
reasonable to them and to their employers; and
WHEREAS
, the Janesville City Council encourages our Wisconsin Representatives and
Senators to diligently examine all options carefully to ensure they meet the needs of
Wisconsin residents and employers; and
WHEREAS
, the majority of the citizens of the United States have indicated satisfaction with
their health care provisions and efforts by the Congress of the United States should be to
strengthen the health care system and to provide health care for those who are under-
insured or uninsured and do not have accessible health care.
NOW, THEREFORE, LET BE IT RESOLVED By the Common Council of the City of
th
Janesville,
on the 12 day of October 2009 that all legal Americans in the United States
should have the right to health care of equal high quality. We request our Wisconsin
delegation of legislators to fully debate the issue of health care; and support the
implementation of affordable, accessible and responsible quality health care for all legal
citizens.
Sources
1
Kaiser Family Foundation, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured,
September 2008
Motion by:
ADOPTED:
Second by:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
APPROVED:
Brunner
McDonald
Perrotto
Eric Levitt, City Manager
Rashkin
Steeber
ATTEST:
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
Proposed by: Councilmembers Rashkin and
McDonald
Prepared by: Management Assistant