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The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
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Harrisburg PA 17101 • 800-242-3770

PA AFL-CIO PRESS RELEASE

Friday, October 8, 2004

Leaders, Veterans and Uninsured Workers Discuss Crisis in Health Care At Working Families Issues Forum 

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President William George, Secretary-Treasurer Richard Bloomingdale and Allegheny County Central Labor Council President Jack Shea today led a roundtable discussion by workers, veterans and labor leaders about the personal impact of the Health Care Crisis on the lives of working families. Held within hours of the second Presidential debate, the discussions helped put a human face and working people’s perspective on the Health Care Crisis.

“When it comes to health care, George Bush has committed medical malpractice. He did nothing as health care costs exploded, America’s workers lost coverage or paid more for it, and the health system got sicker and sicker,” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President William George said.

“John Kerry has a real plan to lower health care costs for companies and workers and ensure that virtually all Americans have access to good quality health care they can afford,” said George. 

“The Presidential election is the most important election in decades for working families. It [the election] will decide if children, parents and seniors have health care and whether or not costs continue to escalate out of control,” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Bloomingdale said. “With George Bush we will get “more of the same”, higher health care costs, fewer jobs and millions more workers without health care,” he said. 

“John Kerry will fight for health care for every child and extend affordable health care coverage to all Americans so they get the same coverage as members of Congress,” Bloomingdale said.

“George Bush’s record on health care has been consistent; his administration has sided with the powerful insurance and drug companies in defending the status quo and opposing every attempt to make quality health care, affordable and available to Americans,” Allegheny County Central Labor Council President Jack Shea said.

“John Kerry’s health care plan extends coverage to 96 percent of all
Americans and lowers costs for working families and small business. George Bush doesn’t have a health care plan. His plan is to allow the Health Care Crisis to continue until the system collapses and only the very rich can afford to pay for health care for themselves,” Shea said.

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