Wisconsin Green Party Endorses Senate Bill 51, Single Payer Universal Health Care for WisconsinWisconsin Green Party April 18, 2007 Contacts: Wisconsin Green Party Endorses Senate Bill 51, Single Payer Universal Health Care for Wisconsin (Madison, WI) At its Spring Gathering and Membership Meeting on Saturday, April 14th, held in the state capitol building, the Wisconsin Green Party endorsed Senate Bill 51, a single payer universal health care bill. It was re-introduced on February 20th by Senators Miller, Risser and Carpenter. It is cosponsored by Representatives Benedict, Berceau, Black, Boyle, A. Williams, Hebl, Parisi, Pocan, Pope-Roberts, Zepnick, Sinicki, Hilgenberg, Fields, Kessler and Grigsby. Hearings on the bill are being held around the state. "We see health care as a basic right for all people," said Ruth Weill, Co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party. "The Wisconsin Green Party has consistently advocated for a universal single-payer health care system as the best way to ensure that all Wisconsin residents have adequate health care. Of all the Wisconsin bills that attempt to remedy our failing health situation, SB 51 is the best." Senate Bill 51 is a comprehensive plan to provide quality health care to all Wisconsin residents regardless of health condition, medical history or employment status. By replacing more than 700 different health insurers with a single publicly financed plan, it would eliminate waste, runaway costs, and red tape. It would be administered at the state and local level, accountable to the residents of Wisconsin. "The price we are paying for health care is already taxing," said Ron Hardy, Co-chair of the Wisconsin Green Party. "Our health care system is inadequate and expensive. High health care costs are putting pressure on our businesses, our schools, our families, and our taxpayers. It is much more prudent to implement a system that is efficient and effective, and will provide health care for all of us." Senate Bill 51 creates a system that would eliminate the unnecessary administrative expenses of multiple insurance plans, physician overcharges, and provider and insurance industry advertising costs and profits. It would set a single statewide price for each medicinal substance, after negotiations to obtain lowest possible cost. All providers would be paid from a statewide budget funded by: public funds already spent for health care, fair share taxes on employers and individuals, savings from reduction of paperwork, streamlined administration, and cost controls. For more information about the Wisconsin Green Party, visit http://www.wisconsingreenparty.org For more information about Senate Bill 51, visit
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