2004 Convention Resolutions

Resolution No. 32

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

WHEREAS, The major issue facing seniors today is the high cost of health care and prescription drugs and the President has signed a bill that will only help drug companies, HMO’s and other medical providers, and this bill was created to help in this re-election bid; and

This bill will cost in excess of 500 billion dollars, which will increase drug company profits by 130 billion dollars and another 14.2 billion dollars to the insurance industry to get them to participate in the program, and this being an obvious move to eliminate traditional Medicare; and

The drug industry has 675 lobbyists in Washington, D.C. to seek the influence of 535 Senators and Congress persons to whom this industry has donated 21.7 million dollars to Republicans and 7.6 million dollars to Democrats to achieve their goals and the average elderly American spends $2,400.00 per year on drugs, and the President’s plan only covers 45% of that cost; and

The drug industry enjoys a 45% mark-up on their products and has a 17% profit margin, while the Fortune 500 companies earn a 3.1% profit; and

Before Medicare was enacted, 50% of our seniors had health insurance and now 96% are covered, and the administrative costs of Medicare is only 2% and private insurance costs are 15%; and

The private insurance companies dropped 2.4 million of our elderly and left them with no coverage.  But fortunately Medicare was there to take them back and the alleged benefits of this bill do not take effect until 2006.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That this 36th Constitutional Convention of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO notifies our Congressional Delegation of our opposition to this bill and supports the campaign of the AFL-CIO, and the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans, in it’s effort to inform the voters of Pennsylvania on the unfairness of this legislation.

Submitted by:

PHILADELPHIA JOINT BOARD, UNITE PENNSYLVANIA, OHIO & S. JERSEY JOINT BOARD, UNITE MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL JOINT BOARD, UNITE

Referred to:               Health and Safety Committee

Committee Action:           

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The 2006 Convention

Planning is now underway for the 2006 Convention