The Road To American Health Care" Bus Tour Stop in Las Vegas

Health care costs are spiraling out of control. More than 47 million Americans have no coverage at all. But instead of offering a plan to make sure everyone can get good health care, presidential candidate John McCain's proposals would actually make it harder to get affordable coverage -- and Las Vegas nurses, voters, and state legislators are speaking out.

"More and more working families can't afford the rising cost of health care -- and they don't qualify for state programs because they make too much money," said Sharon Kisling a supervisor with the Clark County Department of Family Services. "The middle class is getting squeezed."

Sharon was among the speakers at a press conference in Las Vegas. In her work with Child Protective Services, she sees the effects on children who don't have health insurance. "No child should have to go without health insurance," she continued.

"Nurses like SEIU Nevada president Shauna Hamel work so hard every day to deliver the best care they can," said State Senator Dina Titus. "But the system is broken. We need a reform plan that cuts costs for families and businesses, and helps ensure that every American can access high quality, affordable care."

Yet, Sen. John McCain's health care proposals would make it harder for Americans to get coverage, would do nothing to control costs and would erode consumer protections already in place. Speakers distributed a report detailing the shortcomings of McCain's plan, and called for a health system that works for everyone.

"Nevada has seen what happens when unscrupulous clinics and hospitals put profits above patients," said Shauna Hamel, RN and SEIU Nevada president. "SEIU Nevada members are committed to continuing to raise health care standards here in our hospitals, through our local Southern Nevada Health District, and in the election in November."

The event was part of "The Road to American Health Care," a national bus tour aimed at mobilizing voters around comprehensive health care reform. The bus tour is being organized by SEIU, the largest union of health care workers in North America, as part of a sweeping campaign to elect a new President and Congress committed to fixing health care -- and then make sure those newly elected leaders immediately pass legislation that makes quality health care affordable for everyone.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• SEIU
• Nevada
• NV
• Local
• 1107
• Heatlhcare
• Barak
• Obama
• John
• McCain
• presidential
• election
• voting
• nevada