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One Small Step Toward Better Health for Many…

Post on April 17, 2007 by 3 Comments »

Today, the lawmakers of our state took a step closer to protecting and saving more North Carolinians.  The House Appropriations Committee members voted favorably for House Bill 265, a bill that establishes the North Carolina Health Insurance Risk Pool.  The Pool will provide insurance to those unable to obtain coverage due to health conditions, or those who are paying extremely high premiums.   Those eligible will receive insurance coverage for no more than 175% of the standard risk premiums.  At a cost of up to $2.00 per year added to some 4.5 million North Carolinians’ premium, thousands will be provided with affordable health care, all of whom earn a living yet remain unable to pay for insurance, most of which are the most dependent on health care to survive.

 
The House Judiciary II Committee members also took a step in assuring the health of many North Carolinians is protected.  The committee voted favorably for House Bill 259, a bill that essentially prohibits smoking in State government buildings, businesses where food is served, lodging establishments and bars that cater to people 21 years of age and older.  The Bill also gives local governments the authority to pass ordinances prohibiting smoking in different capacities.  The bill discussed today is a watered down version of the original bill, which posed to ban smoking for all public and work places in the state, but it is a defiant step in moving our state policies in the right direction to protecting the health of many people.

 
The lawmakers of our state are charged with protecting the public, and today, through support for these bills, they provide us with some comfort in the fact that now many sick people will be able to obtain insurance, and that those “secondhand” smokers will not have to suffer anymore.  Although the future of these bills is yet to be determined, and the debate surrounding these “controversial” topics has not ended, it is encouraging to see lawmakers making some initial steps in the right direction. 

Possibly related posts:

  1. Status quo at NC Health Exchange meeting so far
  2. NCIOM: NC ignores respected business consultants in setting up health exchange
  3. House continues pattern of putting special interests in charge
  4. Smoke free law nets dramatic results

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Comments (Closed):3

  1. gregflynn
    April 17, 2007 at 11:34 am

    We’ve had a high risk pool for Worker’s Comp Insurance for employers for years through the Rate Bureau. Why has it taken this long for a Health Insurance Risk Pool?

  2. Dallas Woodhouse
    April 17, 2007 at 1:53 pm

    AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY-NEWS RELEASE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Tuesday, April 17, 2007
    Media Contact: Dallas Woodhouse, (919) 839-1011, ext.15

    Poll Indicates Most North Carolinians Support Private Property Owners Right to Decide Smoking Policy
    Americans for Prosperity – North Carolina Says “Local Control” Starts with Business Owners

    RALEIGH, N.C. – Today in a Legislative House Committee, supporters of a private property-public access smoking ban passed a reconfigured bill that would allow local governments to ban smoking in all workplaces, restaurants and bars. Speaking in support of the bill, advocates stated the importance of “local control” on the issue.

    “True local control starts with the person that owns the property,” said AFP-NC Communications Director Dallas Woodhouse. “ The rights of property owners should not vary from town to town, and city to city. Currently, any restaurant owner in North Carolina is free to operate a smoke-free establishment and many have elected to do so, based on feedback from their patrons and employees, and this is how it should be.”

    Support for property owners deciding what smoking policy their establishment is going to have is high according to a new poll by the John William Pope Civitas Institute. The poll shows that 70% of North Carolinians support the rights of restaurant, bar and tavern owners to set their own smoking policy as long as a sign is posted out front.

    “Our poll shows clear support for property owners in North Carolina,” said Jack Hawke with the John William Pope Civitas Institute. “A clear majority of people are willing to accept the decision of the person that owns the property, whether to allow smoking or not.”

    Americans for Prosperity-North Carolina (AFP-NC) is the North Carolina Chapter of the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit http://www.americansforprosperity.org

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  3. gregflynn
    April 17, 2007 at 7:55 pm

    I had two uncles who died prematurely from smoking related illnesses. I carried one woman to her grave in her coffin when she finally died. She spent her twilight years numbing her throat cancer with whiskey and more cigarettes while making raspy guttural noises to communicate. I smoked myself in high school and college before an illness helped me quit. Smoking is an insidious form of self mutilation that does not need to be visited upon others.