We need the HC Amendment in our State Constitution. Call Moore, Travaglini and DiMasi along with your own legislators and tell them that, switchboard# 617-722-200, if you agree.
Here are 3 Legislators’ testimony from the ConCon transcript that speak to this issue:
Rep. Wolf said, This constitutional amendment in no way undermines the work we have done. It enforces it. It says the bill that we have passed is going in the right direction. As it goes in the right direction, we must maintain that direction. There was a previous vote in 1988 and the people who voted on it meant it very seriously, but over a time when the economy tanks and the funds werenât so available, the support for that legislation eroded, and eventually it disappeared. We could not afford for this to happen. We know that health care even more than in 1988 has become a very major issue. More people are uninsured. Health care is very expensive and increasingly expensive. The cost of prescription drugs rise every year and many members of our community will have to make a decision whether they will eat or take their medicine. At least, I think the people of the Commonwealth will be happy to debate that. There has been strong public support for this amendment. Over 75 percent of Massachusetts residents favor a health care amendment to the Constitution that is general and says that all of us in this Commonwealth have a right to the health care we need. It is not only humane but is necessary.
Rep. Smizik said, Both houses have achieved a remarkable feat this year of bold, innovative plans of providing thousands with needed health care. The work was unbelievably difficult and the Legislature passed the very best bill that was possible. The only problem is that was not enough. Certain parts of the bill still need to be implemented. First we have to make sure the bill is being implemented. This amendment would be both the impetus and the model for future health care plans that will evolve. This merely reiterates what our legislative responsibilities are and requires us to keep working on those responsibilities. Citizens shall have affordable care and the necessary preventive care for chronic health care needs, mental health care and prescription drugs. This amendment gives us the impetus to do that. It has been said many times that we have the most expensive health system in the world. I personally have someone in my family who had a stroke. She was hospitalized and needed rehabilitation services. She will spend the rest of her life in a nursing home because she didnât receive the medical care that she needed at the right time. This should not happen in any society. We know that many who need prescription drugs do not receive them. We as legislators must work for a solution. We have the framework and we must go forward.
Rep. Eldridge said, I was very pleased with the health care bill we passed. I also feel the health care bill didnât go far enough and it didnât establish health care as a right. We need the Massachusetts Constitution behind us, perhaps pushing us a bit. Providing health care as a right is necessary and itâs time.
