Press Releases

Democrats endorse “yes” vote on Ballot Measure 101

Oct 16, 2017

 
 
For Immediate Release
Contact: Molly Woon
(503) 367-4327
press [at] dpo [dot] org
 
Democrats endorse “yes” vote on Ballot Measure 101 
 
October 16th, 2017
 
PORTLAND–Using an emergency process to approve party resolutions, the Democratic Party of Oregon State Central Committee unanimously endorsed a resolution in support of Measure 101, Yes for Healthcare, late last week. 
 
“Trump played politics with our healthcare and people’s lives last week when he announced he was rolling back the part of the Affordable Care Act that makes healthcare affordable for Oregonians,” said Jeanne Atkins, chair of the Democratic Party of Oregon. “Here at home, not a single Republican called on him to reverse course. In fact, local leaders like Reps. Knute Buehler and Julie Parrish are calling for even more healthcare rollbacks, driving up the cost of insurance for hundreds of thousands. Oregonians need better than political grandstanding that threatens families.” 
 
Ballot Measure 101 will ask voters to support the healthcare plan developed by healthcare experts and advocates throughout Oregon, businesses and unions, hospitals, the AARP, and patient advocates. The plan ensures that 95 percent of Oregonians maintain access to healthcare and reduces premiums for those who buy their own coverage. 
 
“With all indications that Measure 101 will qualify for the ballot, Democrats have resoundingly endorsed the Yes for Healthcare campaign,” said Atkins. “If this measure fails, cuts to health care and critical services will be devastating. Rather than wait until our next official gathering of party officials in November, we called for this emergency vote so we could throw our support behind this campaign to keep affordable health care for 95 percent of Oregonians — including all kids in our state.”
 
The complete Democratic Party of Oregon resolution reads as below (Note: Referendum 301 is expected to be listed as Ballot Measure 101 on the January ballot): 
 
 
Resolution 2017-015: In Support of Oregon’s Healthcare Protections Bill
 
Whereas the 2017 Oregon Legislature passed the bipartisan Healthcare Protections Bill (HB 2391); and
 
Whereas the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) Platform supports basic healthcare as a human right; and
 
Whereas 95% of Oregonians and 100% of children currently have access to healthcare in large part because of Medicaid Expansion; and
 
Whereas the bipartisan Healthcare Protections Bill provides funding to maintain healthcare expansion and obtain matching federal funds; and
 
Whereas provider assessments are used by 49 states to fund Medicaid, and have the support of healthcare providers and insurers throughout Oregon; and
 
Whereas without the Healthcare Protections Bill, Oregon could lose up to $320 million in state revenue, and more than $1.3 billion in federal revenue for providing healthcare, resulting in upwards of 350,000 low-income and working Oregonians losing their healthcare; and
 
Whereas Republican- and extremist-backed efforts have succeeded in qualifying a Referendum vote on major parts of the Healthcare Protections Bill for a January 2018 Special Election; and
 
Whereas a YES vote on the Referendum will affirm support for the Healthcare Protections Bill; be it therefore
 
Resolved that the Democratic Party of Oregon strongly endorses a YES vote on Referendum 301 on January 23, 2018.
 
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