Chester County Democratic Committee

Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith — Remarks delivered August 21, 2009, at the HB1660 Rally, Court House steps, West Chester

There is a revolution brewing.

This grassroots uprising is over the fact that nearly 47 million in our Nation do not have healthcare and 25 million are under-insured. In PA alone, 1.2 million Pennsylvanians are uninsured — that’s a staggering fact. In addition, according to the World Health Organization, the United States ranks 24th in healthy life expectancy and 37th in the world for overall healthcare.

I believe that this revolutionary movement, which continues to build support for its message of “healthcare for all,” is finally moving to the front line. Those of us who are committed to the message are prepared to go into battle for the betterment of our community and our society at large.

As the State Representative for the 156th District, and as a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee, I stand with you in this battle. I am once again proud to be the number two co-sponsor of Representative Kathy Manderino’s House Bill 1660, which creates the Family and Business Health Security Act. This act will revolutionize the way healthcare is purchased by businesses and government and delivered to families, seniors and veterans.

When I was knocking on doors in 2006, I met a woman whose husband was self-employed. Because he was underinsured when he was diagnosed with a medical condition, he racked up medical bills in the tens of thousands of dollars.  His wife told me that they had to take out a second mortgage on their home in order to pay for his treatments. I stood in awe of their ability to cope and to adjust.

When a loved one gets cancer or requires life-saving surgery, we can easily go through our life savings, or have to sell our home and still not be able to pay off our medical bills. Bankruptcy may be the only way out.

We can change this.

HB1660 or The Family and Business Health Care Security Act sets out the steps necessary to provide 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 go into poverty first, and provides a $1,000 per year tax rebate for active volunteer firefighters and emergency responders.

To illustrate how HB1660 could benefit the greater good, a study is being released today which confirms that a billion dollars of taxpayers’ money may well be leveraged with the implementation of a single payer healthcare plan. The study specifically spells out how much money could be saved by a municipality, school district or county.  The numbers are jarring.

In the 156th legislative district, the West Chester Area School District in 2008 spent $15,755,609 on employee healthcare; under HB1660 they would spend $8,562,950, thereby saving $7,192,659.

As a former small business owner, I can attest to similar savings.  In 2007, we spent over $15,000 a year for IBC Personal Choice for the two of us. Under HB1660, our company would have spent exactly half that amount per year. Also, we personally would have contributed a total of $2,340 out-of-pocket, instead of co-pays and deductibles.

Smaller businesses traditionally pay more for their health insurance than larger companies. By passing this bill, our businesses will be on a more level playing field; they will be able to compete globally; and other companies will be encouraged to relocate to the Commonwealth in order to take advantage of the cost savings.

I look forward to the day when the battle is done and citizens have won. We can be the first state in the nation to lead the way to true healthcare reform. Therefore, I am asking you to contact my colleagues in the General Assembly and ask them to support this revolutionary idea by signing on to HB1660.

Remember, as Susan B. Anthony said:

“Organize, agitate, educate, must be our war cry.”