Illinois State Capitol buillding in Springfield (AP Photo)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM/CBS) – A state lawmaker is again carrying the flag for universal health care in Illinois.
As WBBM Newsradio 780’s Dave Dahl reports, state Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) says times are good – if you’re an insurance company.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Dave Dahl reports
“No one has ever come to me and said, ‘Representative, I need access to an insurance company,’” Flowers said. “They say, ‘I need access to health care, health care, health care.’”
Flowers has pushed universal health care without success. So what’s different now?
“It is about education, education, education,” she said. “Twenty years ago, people did not have the problems that they’re having now with their health insurance, and everyone had it, or everyone thought they had access to it, but times have changed.”
Flowers stood with a room full of health advocates, including doctors and medical students.
State Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin) recently proposed a constitutional amendment that would have required the state to implement a plan for universal health care by May 31, 2014.
But along with several others, the amendment was sent to an empty the senate Executive Subcommittee on Constitutional Amendments, which doesn’t have any members or scheduled meetings, in what experts say is a common move to sweep away a piece of proposed legislation.
