NDP State Central Committee passes two important resolutions

Nebraska Democratic Party State Central Committee
Supports a Public Option

Lincoln, NE--- The Nebraska Democratic Party’s Central Committee weighed into the Health Care Reform debate with a nearly unanimous vote to support a Public Option.
The action took place Saturday at the Central Committee Meeting in Fort Omaha Metro Community College.

The Nebraska Democrats' resolution is set forth below.

Public Option Resolution

WHEREAS, the heath care system of the United States is in crisis, with almost fifty million Americans lacking any health insurance, tens of millions more lacking adequate coverage, and millions more who do have private coverage paying increasingly unaffordable premiums, resulting in inadequate access to care and premature death, illness, or financial ruin for millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS, public polls show that a majority of Americans want health care reform to offer the choice of a robust public option in order to inject real competition into the marketplace and, in the words of President Obama, “keep the insurance companies honest:” and

WHEREAS, some in the healthcare insurance industry and their allies have organized and funded groups of extremists to disrupt efforts on the part of the majority and administration to discuss the issue with the American people reasonably, and have demonstrated an unwillingness to compromise in any way to pass meaningful health care reform;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Nebraska Democratic Party urge our members of Congress to vote for such health care reform proposals that contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourage legislators to pass such reform;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Nebraska Democratic Party shall send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent any of our members.


Nebrask Democratic Party State Central Committee Unanimously
Condemns Status at Beatrice State Developmental Center

Lincoln, NE--- The Nebraska Democratic Party’s Central Committee unanimously adopted a strongly worded resolution condemning the situation at the Beatrice State Developmental Center. The action took place Saturday at the Central Committee in Fort Omaha Metro Community College.

The Nebraska Democrats called for the Beatrice State Developmental Center to become re-certified for Federal Medicaid funds and to comply with the July 2008 Settlement Agreement with the Department of Justice.

The Resolution emphasized that the neglect and miss-management will cost Nebraska taxpayers $56 million dollars. Last month, the State lost its appeal. It will take at least two years to get re-certified

“Heineman is personally and directly responsible for the gross mismanagement of the BSDC,” said State Chair Vic Covalt. “He signed the Settlement Agreement to protect the patients down there, yet more deaths have occurred. Heineman is a bad governor who continues to fail our most needy citizens and all Nebraska taxpayers.”

The resolution also called for criminal investigations of significant incidences of neglect and abuse of the Developmentally Disabled.

The State entered the settlement agreement after a Department of Justice Lawsuit was filed alleging the conditions at BSDC unconstitutionally violated the Individual rights of patients.

The latest Expert Report filed last week in Court states that there is still much to be done to restore BSDC to the fine institution it was before Johanns and Heineman became governors.