Title
Supporting the Minnesota Health Plan, a single payer health care plan.
Body
WHEREAS, it is estimated that in 2009, approximately 14 percent of Saint Paul residents were without health care insurance; and
WHEREAS, approximately 71 percent of those people who are without health insurance statewide are employed; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Health Plan would lower the cost of health care through a single payer system for all Minnesota residents; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Health Plan would lower costs to Saint Paul businesses that provide health care insurance to their employees; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Health Plan would encourage independent entrepreneurs to start businesses because they would not have to worry about health care coverage for themselves or their families; and
WHEREAS, lower premiums as a result of the Minnesota Health Plan would have a positive effect on the city's budget; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Health Plan would reduce the need for unnecessary emergency room visits thus reducing the related costs and relieving area hospitals of a burden that threatens their solvency; and
WHEREAS, 74 legislators have been co-authors of the Minnesota Health Plan in the past; and
WHEREAS, HF51/SF8, described as creating and funding a health plan to make "health care quaranteed available and affordable for every Minnesotan," was introduced into the 87th Session (2011-2012) of the Minnesota legislature; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby endorses the Minnesota Health Plan; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the council hereby directs the council president to inform area legislators of the council's support to universal health care coverage and urges them to vote in the affirmative for the Minnesota Health Plan.