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Oklahoma
State Senate
Democratic Communications
State Capitol Building, Office 421
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
For Immediate
Release: April 23, 2008
Health Care Debate: More
than Words
Senate Democrats Run to Lend a Voice for Affordable Health Care
In late January, just before session began, members
of the Senate Democratic caucus announced their intentions to elevate
the debate over health care to a new level this legislative session. With
several of their health care measures winning approval in the Senate and
awaiting action by the House of Representatives, they have made good on
that promise, and seem more determined than ever to keep the fight alive.
“We’ve started a conversation about the importance of a healthy
Oklahoma and how it makes our entire state a better place to live, work
and raise a family,” Senator Charlie
Laster, Democratic Floor Leader said. “We intend to keep the
conversation going, and hopefully bring forth a responsible public policy
that tackles the health care crisis head on.”
Senate Democrats filed several legislative measures that would help Oklahomans
have greater access to affordable health care. Included among those measures:
• A bill to require insurance companies to cover the treatment and
therapy of children with autism spectrum disorders, known as Nick’s
Law. That bill is named for 10-year old Nick Rhode who lives with autism.
• A bill that would require insurance companies to cover the treatment
of Oklahomans who choose to participate in clinical trials to battle cancer
and other chronic diseases. That bill is known simply as “Steffanie’s
Law” after a Noble teenager who recently passed away after a long
battle with brain cancer;
• And a bill that would require insurance companies to cover the
treatment that medical professionals deem medically necessary, known as
the “Oklahoma Patient’s Bill of Rights.”
Laster (D-Shawnee) said Senate Democrats aren’t simply talking about
the health care debate at the state Capitol, they are taking steps in
their own lives to set examples for other Oklahomans to display the importance
of leading a healthy life.
“You can’t very well talk about the importance of affordable
health care, and helping Oklahomans lead healthier lives without implementing
those conversations into your everyday life,” Laster said. “Mayor
Cornett has done an excellent job leading the way in Oklahoma City to
help citizens in their personal health journey and the Senate Democrats
are taking personal steps to lead healthier lives too.”
Laster pointed to the formation of a relay team, consisting of three Senators
and two staffers, who will run in the upcoming Oklahoma City Memorial
Marathon slated for April 27th to help other Oklahomans celebrate life,
and raise awareness about the health care debate to help all Oklahomans
lead happier, healthier lives. He also explained about the success one
democratic staffer has had in shedding close to 100 pounds in the past
10 months, and the inspiration she has been to members of the democratic
caucus to make small changes to lead healthier lives.
“Amber England, our Communications Director, has worked hard on
her weight loss goals, and in the past few months she came to the realization
her journey was more than simple numbers on a scale, but could be used
to help us keep this important conversation about health care going.”
Laster said. “She organized the relay team, participated in early
morning training runs, conducted weekly breakfasts with members of the
Senate, is helping Senate Democrats to participate in a clothing drive
and is attempting to make us incorporate healthier food choices into our
weekly caucus lunches.”
Laster explained she won an online essay contest through her participation
in a weight loss challenge on the website JillianMichaels.com
and through that, she traveled to Los Angeles, California to work out
with trainer and life coach, Jillian Michaels, of NBC’s hit reality
weight loss show “The Biggest Loser.”
“Over the past several months and certainly while I was in LA, I
realized this weight loss journey could be about so much more than me,”
England said. “All Oklahomans deserve the opportunity to live healthy
lives like the one I am now living, and that includes having access to
affordable health care, and that is how this relay team idea all started.”
Senator Sean
Burrage, whose fight for affordable health care is a personal one
said he is thrilled to be involved in the Marathon that is designed to
celebrate life, and he believes there is no better way to celebrate life
than to help all Oklahomans lead healthier lives through access to affordable
health care.
“Because the entire purpose of the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon
is to celebrate life, we wanted this relay team to lend a voice to the
thousands of Oklahoma who go without health care,” Burrage said.
“Their lives matters. And they can’t lead healthy lives, without
access to affordable health care.”
Also included in the relay team is State Senator Kenneth
Corn (D-Poteau), a member who represents one of the poorest parts
of Oklahoma, and coincidentally, a part of the state that has a great
number of citizens who live without health care coverage.
“Every day in my district someone dies because they couldn’t
get health insurance,” Corn said. “I run this marathon to
celebrate their life and give those people a voice.”
Senator Tom Ivester,
a Democrat from Sayre and a Veteran of the War in Afghanistan, will also
participate in the Marathon Relay. Ivester has an extensive background
in health and fitness, serving as a paratrooper during his time in combat.
“Two things in life sustained me while I was fighting for my country:
My faith in Jesus and my family,” Ivester said. “Now that
I serve as the voice of thousands of Oklahomans who go without health
care, I believe it is my moral obligation to give Oklahomans faith to
know we are doing our part to bring them a health care system that works,
allows them to lead healthy happy lives.”
All of the Senators concluded by saying, “Giving Oklahomans the
tools they need to lead healthier lives is something we can work together
to accomplish,” they said. ‘We invite everyone to join us
on Sunday as we celebrate life and lend a voice to those Oklahomans who
go without health care so we can make Oklahoma a better place to live,
work and raise a family.”
For more information
contact:
Amber England, Democratic Communications Director
State Capitol: (405) 521-5695
Cell: (580) 220-9583
Email: england@oksenate.gov
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