[WestMALocals] Press Release| Broadhurst Urges Single-Payer Plan

[Owen Broadhurst]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Owen R. Broadhurst
96 Elbert Road
Agawam, MA  01001-3202
413.786.1508
owen.broadhurst at gmail.com
http://www.owenbroadhurst.org


AGAWAM- The Green-Rainbow Party candidate for state representative in the
Third Hamden District, Owen R. Broadhurst of Agawam, reiterated his
condemnation of the Commonwealth's new mandatory health insurance law within
a recent statement urging a single-payer health care plan as "the sole and
only true solution to healthcare woes".



Declaring the new mandatory health insurance legislation an "historic fraud"
and "the greatest wealth transfer recorded throughout the Commonwealth's
history", Broadhurst observed that the new law serves as a new tax that is
regressive in its impact and as a financial dividend to lobbyists who
"purchase politicians as if they were socks or candy".


Broadhurst noted that over $1 billion per week is being spent on health
care, with much of this money being invested in lobbyists, multi-million
dollar salaries, duplicative paperwork, and administrative costs that could
be cut dramatically with the passage of a single-payer health plan. Small
and local enterprise would finally gain a competitive advantage in no longer
being required to provide private health care plans, he said, and cities and
towns
would finally see room within their budget to fully fund public education
and yet offer genuine property tax relief as well.


"Unfortunately, the Democratic legislature refuses to reign in spiraling
health care costs," Broadhurst argued, "and now proposes to have the public
pay through the nose to subsidize the lavish lifestyles of Democratic Party
campaign contributors". Rather than cut costs via single-payer plans, the
legislature shall now compel the purchase of private insurance plans "with
more holes than Swiss cheese", Broadhurst observed, and pretend that this is
a universal coverage plan. "To call this a universal coverage plan", argued
Broadhurst, "is like declaring an end to homelessness by requiring rental
payments."

"The scheduled $295 fine employers would pay for failing to provide health
care should be viewed as a $295 fee they will pay for the privilege of
avoiding thousands of dollars in costs", Broadhurst noted, "and those who
would avoid having to pay that fee will still save thousands by providing a
small percentage with health plans that have gaps to rival the Marianas
Trench in size. Working families and the middle class will be paying through
the nose for continued health care woes. Only the single-payer plan has the
promise of saving many thousands for both."



Broadhurst urges the public to visit his website to learn more regarding his
views on healthcare, the single payer plan, and various issues affecting the
district. His website is http://www.owenbroadhurst.org










-- 
Owen R. Broadhurst
Candidate for State Representative
Third Hampden District
http://www.owenbroadhurst.org