***For Immediate Release***
March 29, 2016
Contact, Jeff Sheldon
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853
Mobile: (402) 840-7289
jsheldon@neappleseed.org
Appleseed Statement on LB 1032 Debate
Legislature again fails 97,000 uninsured Nebraskans who need path to affordable health coverage
Today, Nebraska Appleseed Executive Director Rebecca Gould issued the following statement on the Legislature’s vote not to advance LB 1032 – the Transitional Health Insurance Program Act.
“Once again, the Legislature has failed to solve one of our state’s biggest problems, leaving 97,000 of our hard-working family members, friends and neighbors unable to afford health coverage,” Gould said. “Senators chose not to advance a bill that was both time-limited and fully paid for as a three-year pilot that would have provided immediate relief to long-suffering Nebraskans who need health coverage.
“Today’s vote is not the end of this conversation. Thanks to the leadership of Senator John McCollister, Senator Kathy Campbell, and Senator Heath Mello, and the courageous Nebraskans who have shared their stories, a groundswell of support for ensuring all Nebraskans have access to health coverage has emerged from every corner of the state. We, along with the very long list of supporters from the medical, business, and faith communities will continue to press forward until this problem is solved. Continuing to ignore this dire situation will only cost more Nebraska dollars and more Nebraska lives.”
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Thank you to the senators who supported this bill and to Appleseed Nebraska for the continued efforts on behalf of those in need. We appreciate all your good work and will continue to strive to rid the legislature of those who do not see the needs of their constituents as a priority.