Members of Hamden’s Legislative Council went on record as supporting universal national health insurance — with lowered municipal healthcare costs.
That happened Tuesday night, when the Human Services Committee of Hamden’s Legislative Council unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution drafted by Medicare For All Connecticut and sponsored by council representative Ted Stevens.
The resolution voices Hamden’s “enthusiastic” backing of single-payer, universal health care. Read through the resolution here, which calls on Connecticut’s federal legislators to work towards the enactment of single payer health insurance bills like those put forward by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell.
It will require a vote from the full Legislative Council later this month to take effect.
Currently, Rep. Jahana Hayes and Sen. Richard Blumenthal are the only members of Connecticut’s congressional delegation who support Medicare for All. Hamdenites are hoping that a push from local leaders could change that.
“This is the only way any kind of broad healthcare reform is gonna happen — from a groundswell of support from ordinary people and local leaders like yourself,” Peter Cunningham, an activist with the Democratic Socialists of America and Medicare for All CT, told the Legislative Council. Passing the resolution, he said, “would be a powerful statement from this body and the town of Hamden that we support health justice.”
Other town residents argued that they’d like to see Hamden’s budget burdens related to medical costs cut through federal legislation.
“Our town in this past budget ended up incurring an additional $3 million in unexpected healthcare costs,” Hamden Democratic Town Committee member Chris Atchley said. “An additional $6 million in expected increases are included in the next budget.”
“Everyone deserves the very best care possible without having to worry about how it is paid for,” resident Patricia Vener-Saavedra added.
“I know none of you are going to have a major impact on whether this country has any universal healthcare,” she conceded. “But you show your willingness to stand with the people when you stand for this resolution.”
“I’m really honored to have this in our committee today,” Councilmember Sarah Gallagher said.
“A bill like this on the federal level,” she said of Medicare for All, “will not just open up going to the doctor, but also open up more home and community based services.”