Thanks to Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts the issue of providing affordable universal health care to all residents has been kept alive and flourishes in the United States. While many of us have lived lives working for social and economic justice, he stands alone as the person who has to be credited with continuing to pass legislation that has improved the lives and particularly the health care access of our members and people throughout the USA.
Ted Kennedy carries with him the institutional memory of a U.S. Senator who voted for Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for lower income residents and the historical accomplishments that were made in 1964 and 1965.
It is no accident that Massachusetts is the leading state in the country when it comes to health care reform. For twelve years no one has been turned down for health insurance because they are sick. People in most other states find this remarkable.
It is a prerequisite to running for national political leadership positions that office holders demonstrate a passionate interest in health care and there are many pretenders to the role of national health care leader.
Of the three candidates still running for President in 2008, none have a record at the federal level that is memorable. Small businesses of two or more employees know what a difference it made in 1996 when the Kennedy -Katsumbaum Law went into effect and health insurance companies across the nation could no longer turn down or cancel health insurance coverage because of a medical condition of one of the employees or their dependents.
The Children's Health Care Law was passed in the late 1990's and it was called the Kennedy - Hatch Law. We know this because NASRO was there working for the passage of these laws.
In particular, we found the Clinton administration after 1994 to be all about triangleulation of Progressive Democrats versus Conservative Republicans with them in the middle, and not a force for progressive change.
They went along with the final Children's Health Plan Bill, but after the defeat of the Clinton administration's universal health care bill in 1994, they stayed away from leading on the issue and in the end were consumed by the major sex scandal involving President Clinton. If you want to know what is going on with federal health care reform today and what can pass in a new Congress in 2009 follow what Ted Kennedy is doing to find the truth.
Robert Gaw, NASRO President and Executive Director
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Socially Responsible Businesses & Self Employed People Working For a New America
The
National Association of Socially Responsible Organizations (NASRO)
is a 15 year old non-profit association of businesses and self employed people. NASRO is providing critically needed service programs and advocacy for our members. People join NASRO to find more affordable health plans, to make sure that they are buying benefits though an organization that provides effective friendly service and to be part of an organization clearly placed on the side of justice. NASRO represents the interests of businesses who want to thrive in a country that once again takes care of its people and industries. We need your participation.
Legislative Update
NASRO Opposed Casino Gambling Bill Voted Down By a Landslide in Massachusetts Legislature!
Our Agenda for 2008
Reverse Human Impact Causing Climate Change by Rolling Back Carbon Emissions in the U.S. Back to 1990 Levels by 2018
Affordable Universal Health Care For All Will Happen When A New Consensus Is Built at the State and National Level to Change the Health Care and Health Insurance Industry and Win Victories. The place to start in most states is too pass legislation outlawing individual medical underwriting, as Massachusetts, New York and Vermont have done for a decade.
End the Disgraceful Fiasco of a War in Iraq, Support Long Term U.S. Security, Not Short Term Oil Interests, Withdraw All Our Troops from Iraq, Cut Off Funding for the War Now
Build a New Green Transportation System Establishing an Adequate Supply of Rapid Rail, Light Rail and Long Haul Freight Rail to Service Every Major Metropolitan Area in the U.S. by 2014
Develop Solar, Wind, Geothermal and Nuclear Power to Replace Fossil Fuel Burning Electric Power Plants By 2016
Plan Now to Buy a Car with High Fuel Efficiency Standards and Low Emission Levels When You Are in the Market for a New Car. While ethanol helps with the supply of gas it has never been seen as being carbon neutral.
Be Aware of Socially Responsible Industry Standards
California Senate Bill 180 Brings up to Date Farm Workers Right to Form a Union
Green
Products and Services Networking
Quality
of Life Issues - Stop Mistreating Immigrants, Where does this come from? It has always been with us, for example - Ask your grandparents about the NINA signs at workplaces, No Irish Need Apply. The same treatment was provided to all ethnic groups that immigrated to the U.S. and fought their way into the mainstream of society/ Know Your Rights , We Are Ellis Island
Sustainable Economic Development - Investments in Education and Jobs, Not Gambling Casinos and Slot Machines; We want our children to grow up to be Knowledge Workers or Skilled Trades Building Workers, Not Keno and Blackjack Dealers
Universal Health Care Is Moving Forward Primarily at the State Level, Not Though the Federal Government
We wish we could report that one of the major candidates for President has a health care plan that will provide access to affordable health care for the uninsured and protect the insured people from going bankrupt paying for the ever rising health insurance premiums. But, we can't because in the absence of a realigning election giving a filibuster proof super majority to the Democrats, policy changes will be driven by state government where the political majorities exist to enact legislation. A new administration can immediately play a major role in freeing the states from federal rules that make successful universal health care reform difficult to achieve and assistance helping to fund state universal health care plans.
We must also report on NASRO's one year experience with the Massachusetts individual mandate provision in the states new health care reform law. The individual mandate is not a panacea to solving our health care crisis. Forcing individuals to buy health insurance when they can't afford to results in frustration and resentment of the government and the health insurance companies. Providing individuals with subsidized health plans produces appreciation and support of universal health care. Any presidential candidate claiming that a national individual mandate is a problem solving mechanism to covering everyone is not being realistic and practical.
NASRO Congratulates Writers Guild Members for Winning Their Hard Fought 14 Week Strike and Helping the Cause of Independent Writers and Artists Throughout the USA Who Deserve to be Paid for Their Work
We Provide Services People and Organizations Really Need, Such as Affordable Health Insurance
Group Health Plans Where Self Employed People Have Access to Affordable Health Plans Where They Can Not Be Turned Down For Coverage Because of a Pre-existing Medical Condition.
Third Party Administration of Company and Trusted Health Plans
Dental, Vision and Pharmacy Plans in All States
NASRO is about the values of our heritage; about
having the freedom to work for oneself to build up a business and provide workers with good paying jobs.
NASRO is about banning together so
our companies and quality products have a better chance of being developed. NASRO
is about companies and people making purchasing decisions that support
the environment and reduce the carbon footprint. NASRO is about being able to decide
to spend time with our families and about fighting for the best future
for our children. NASRO is about not forgetting our responsibilities to advocate for the military families and the wounded veterans being asked to absorb the full impact of the Iraq war, while most of us sacrifice very little.
- NASRO is making a difference - For the past six years we have concentrated our energies on supporting health care reform in Massachusetts. That is, the state that has the best chance of opening the door to universal health care. While we wait to measure the real impact of recent reforms we are also concentrating on the state of California. If we can help win coverage for the millions of Californians who have been turned down for health insurance coverage, improve the terms of coverage and lower the costs for our members and others in California, there is a good chance a number of states will follow.
National Association of Socially Responsible Organizations
643 Moody St., Suite 201
Waltham, Massachusetts
02453
800-638-8113
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Contact Us:
Phone: 800-638-8113
Fax: 800-562-8588
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