PRESS RELEASE, KORTZ FOR U.S. SENATE

By BILL KORTZ FOR U.S. SENATE

Thursday, June 11, 2009-State Representative Bill Kortz (D) 38th, candidate for the U.S. Senate, spoke today at a rally for Single Payer Health Care held at the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The Representative received resounding applause from a crowd of over 200 supporters of the Health Care Plan as he spoke in support of it.

After careful review of the Obama-Biden plan, and a number of other proposals, Bill Kortz has come to the conclusion that Single Payer is the only viable plan that can reduce healthcare costs and provide everyone with proper affordable healthcare. The candidate wants to reiterate that after reviewing the Single Payer Plan, all the myths of waiting for operations and treatment are nothing more than scare tactics by the right wing and those with monetary interests in the status quo. The Representative also is a co-sponsor of legislation proposed by State Representative Kathy Manderino for a Single Payer plan in Pennsylvania. It reads in part:

The Family and Business Health Care Security Act sets out a blueprint of bold steps necessary to provide quality, comprehensive medical, dental, and prescription drug coverage to every Pennsylvanian. It preserves the private practice of medicine and the right of patients to choose their health care providers while establishing a health care trust owned and controlled by the citizens of Pennsylvania as the single payer for the health care services.

Under the Trust, all traditional health care insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles to the health care consumer are eliminated, and employers are relieved of the responsibility of selecting, pricing, and administering company sponsored health care insurance. The plan continues coverage for Pennsylvania seniors through Medicare, and covers all other Pennsylvanians through the trust which will be funded by a 10% employer tax paid on payrolls and a 3% personal income tax. These revenues, combined with current Medicaid, tobacco settlement funds, cigarette taxes, and lottery funds already spent on health care in Pennsylvania, will create a $46 billion dollar trust to provide universal health care to every citizen of our state.

The bill also assures that every Pennsylvanian in need of long-term care can qualify for assistance without having to spend themselves into poverty and provides a $1,000 per year tax rebate for active volunteer firefighters and emergency responders.

As Bill Kortz continues to criss-cross the state speaking to voters he often finds support for better and more affordable health care for everyone.
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