The Gottfried-Perkins Bill got a shot in the arm on February 17 when two large statewide unions-1199 SEIU and CWA District 1–and the Working Families Party announced their support on February 17. “The passage of Obamacare represented a huge advance in this country,” said CWA District 1 Political Director Bob Master, “but it is not enough.”
The Gottfried-Perkins Bill would establish New York Health: a publicly funded universal healthcare plan for all New Yorkers with no premiums, deductibles or co-pays. 73 out of 150 state assembly members have endorsed it. The Bill faces a more difficult path in the state senate where a small group of renegade Democrats have joined with the Republican minority to block progressive initiatives.
The new union endorsers join long-time single-payer supporting unions in New York State including the New York State Nurses Association, the Public Employees Federation and Local One IATSE. “As tireless advocates of patient care, registered nurses of New York state are proud to stand with Assembly Health Committee Chair, Richard Gottfried, state Senator Bill Perkins, and countless other patient advocates in support of the New York health bill,” said Lisa Blodgett, a registered nurse and member of the New York Nurse’s Association.”There’s a health care crisis throughout our state and the only solution is a single payer system that guarantees quality health care to all.”
