This morning, I issued this statement following the Governor's health care vetoes. I'd like to share it with you here:
In the wake of Gov. Rell's vetoing of the Standard Wage and rescission bills, with two other important health care bills awaiting her signature or veto, and with her silence on Anthem BCBS's proposed rate increases of as much as 32 percent, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who is exploring a run for Governor, today questioned who is advising Gov. Rell on health care policy. Likening it to the way the Bush Administration dealt with energy legislation, Malloy said the Governor should "come clean and tell the people of Connecticut who's advising her on health care policy."
"The Governor's veto of the Standard Wage bill left a lot of people without health care, and it will end up costing taxpayers a lot of money," said Malloy. "And the Governor's veto of the rescission bill will not prevent health insurers from rescinding individual policies in Connecticut. Both of these decisions were wrong.
"In addition, her silence on the outrageous proposed rate increases by Anthem BCBS - as much as 32% - is deafening.
"With a growing sense that she may well veto two other important pieces of health care legislation - the SustiNet bill, and the pooling bill - it's time for the Governor to come clean and tell the people of Connecticut who's advising her on health care - and if it's her staff, then who's advising them? God knows it's not Connecticut's working families.
"Many people couldn't understand why the Bush Administration consistently came down on the side of energy companies at the expense of the environment and consumers... until the American people later found out that the energy companies were secretly meeting with Administration officials to exert their influence. Is something similar going on here? When it comes to health care, exactly whose side is the Governor on?
"The Governor owes the State of Connecticut an explanation."
I encourage you to stay posted for updates and go to danmalloy.com to join our team in calling for better health care for all of Connecticut's citizens.