Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) is a statewide membership organization dedicated to working with people to bring about social, economic and environmental justice.

Pain at the Pump: The War is a Cause of Seven-fold Increase in Oil Prices Since 2002

Gas prices are at record highs, and Americans are getting hit hard as we head toward Independence Day celebrations with our friends and loved ones. There doesn't appear to be any relief on the horizon, either.

2008 Legislative Roundup

The 2008 Legislative Session is officially behind us, and so it is time to publish our annual Legislative Roundup. The four page report covers the progress made in the Connecticut General Assembly on legislation related to our key issues of Health Care, Democracy, the Environment, and Economic Justice.

You can download the full report here (144 kb .pdf), or continue reading for a brief summary of the items.

Health Care
A major victory on health care is still forthcoming, but progress was made and groundwork was laid to that end. The Healthcare Partnership Bill (HB 5536), which would have opened up the state employee health insurance pool to municipalities, non-profits, and small businesses passed by significant majorities in both the House and Senate but was vetoed by Governor Rell on advice of insurance industry lobbyists. In other health care news, a "Commission on Health Equity" was established to address racial and ethnic disparities in the health care system.

Friends, Food and Fun at the CCAG BBQ in New Britain

More than 100 gathered at the home of Michael and Elena Trueworthy in New Britain on Saturday to show their support for the Connecticut Citizen Action Group.

Several attendees took a moment to talk about why they feel that it was so important for them to come out and support CCAG on a hot Saturday afternoon:

Alderwoman Eva Magnuszewski says that she supports CCAG because "it is very important that every citizen in Connecticut has access to health care [because] health care is a right not a privilege."

"CCAG is the state's primary vehicle for getting power to people" says Congressman Chris Murphy. "I don't think I'd be the progressive legislator that I am if I didn't have CCAG standing by my side."

House Majority Leader, Representative Chris Donovan said of CCAG that "As a state representative working on issues that the people in the community care about, CCAG has always been there making sure that the public is represented."

If you missed the BBQ but were with us in spirit on Saturday, you can show your support for CCAG at this link.

Governor Rell to Insurance Industry: YOU WIN!

Date: 
June 13, 2008
Contact: 
Phil Sherwood
Telephone: 
(860) 796-2398

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Local property taxpayers and small business to see no savings

CT – Governor Rell Vetoed the state's most important health care reform bill this session, known as the Healthcare Partnership Bill. The bill, opposed primarily by the health insurance industry, would have increased competition in the marketplace by opening up the state employee health insurance pool to municipalities, non-profits and small businesses. Contrary to claims by Gov. Rell and the insurance industry lobbyists, this plan would have allowed cash-strapped cities and businesses to benefit from the savings derived from economies of scale and increased purchasing power.

"Experience shows that the larger the insurance pool, the more purchasing power there is. The larger pool is more efficient, saves money and improves quality," stated Deputy Director Phil Sherwood of the CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG).

"Governor Rell had a choice to stand with the big insurance companies or to stand with citizens and taxpayers who are struggling with skyrocketing health care costs. She chose to stand with the insurance industry," Sherwood said. Governor Rell and the insurance industry collectively asserted that this bill was risky despite the fact that 24 other states have opted towards similar concepts to save money.

Sherwood noted that towns have been leaning hard on local tax payers to deal with skyrocketing health care costs. "It boggles the mind that she would oppose a voluntary system designed to increase choice and give cities and towns more leverage in the marketplace." For municipalities, the bill would have saved tax dollars on expensive health plans and alleviated pressure to cut back on community services. Furthermore, because health care costs would be cheaper, small businesses and non-profits would have been able to retain and hire more employees; something sorely needed in the current economy.

"Gov. Rell has demonstrated that protecting insurance companies huge profits are more important than providing more affordable, quality health care and job growth"

Health care advocates such as CCAG have expressed outrage over the arguments that the insurance industry and Gov. Rell have floated, against common understanding, that creating more choice in the marketplace will increase health costs, Sherwood said. "Settling for the status quo and siding with insurance companies that are profiting from our broken system is what wastes money."

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Citizens' Election Program Launched

Tuesday was the official launch of a system to publicly finance elections in Connecticut called the "Citizens' Election Program" which was passed in 2005 and was first utilized in special elections held last year. Connecticut Citizen Action Group, Common Cause, and the League of Women Voters were among the organizations thanked for their efforts in pushing for this landmark campaign finance reform.

Click on "Read More" to continue reading this article

80 Joined CCAG and David Sirota for "Uprising" Event Wednesday May 28

CCAG co-sponsored a discussion with progressive author David Sirota followed by a signing of his new book, The Uprising, at RJ Julia Bookseller last week. Sirota, who was joined and introduced by Ned Lamont, spoke to the standing-room only crowd about his travels in researching The Uprising--travels that took him from the U.S./Mexico border with the minutemen to the set of Lou Dobbs' CNN show to an Exxon Mobil shareholders meeting, and many places in between. Sirota worked for Lamont in 2006, so it is no surprise that he also devotes a chapter to the Senate race in Connecticut that year. One consistent thread tying all of these places, people, and events together says Sirota, is that the people are unhappy with the status quo and are standing up to do something--anything--about it.

Of course, one of the best ways for you to do something about the issues you care about--like ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, ending the war in Iraq, or preserving the environment--is to join the Connecticut Citizen Action Group.

If you would like to see video highlights of the event, be sure to click the "read more" link immediately below. If you would like to view video of the full discussion (approximately 61 minutes) with author David Sirota and special guest Ned Lamont, click here.

HB 5536 Delivered to Rell, Call Today!

House Bill 5536 (CT Partnership Bill) Being Threatened:

Our state legislators recently passed landmark health care legislation known as the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership, HB 5536, by strong margins in both the House and Senate. This legislation would allow municipalities, nonprofit groups and small businesses to voluntarily join the state's health care pool, using the principle of bulk purchasing to reduce the skyrocketing costs for health care.

The insurance industry is opposed to the concept because they fear increased competition and have pressured Governor Rell to threaten a veto of the bill thereby blocking consumers from benefiting from more choices, healthy competition, and cost savings.

The CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG) has been hosting press conferences, calling our members, and writing letters to the editor in an effort to get Governor Rell to sign this bill, but we need you to call Governor Rell Now and tell her that the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership is good for the state, good for our communities, and good for us as taxpayers. Ask her to stand up for us and sign the bill.

Brief Summary of 5526
By opening the State employee pool and allowing Municipal employees to join voluntarily, we will be able to reduce costs to municipalities and increase benefits for employees.

Municipal employees will be able to take advantage of the increased bargaining power and reduced administrative costs associated with a larger pool. Municipalities will see savings that can be used locally and may offset property tax increases.

Key Points

  • Participation Will Be Voluntary
    - In similar legislation last year, mandatory participation was considered as an option to guard against adverse selection and to ensure that an adequate number of municipalities would join. In the current proposal, these concerns will now be addressed by establishing a committee that will monitor and have authority over participation in the pool.

CALL GOVERNOR RELL TODAY:
Ask Governor Rell to Office of Governor M. Jodi Rell --- office closes at 5pm (860) 566-4840 or (800) 406-1527

Tell them , That you support HB 5536, AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE CONNECTICUT HEALTHCARE PARTNERSHIP, and that Connecticut needs Governor Rell to sign this bill into law to open up more health care choices to businesses, municipalities, and nonprofits.