Senator, help on health care

On behalf of our respective organizations, Dientes Community Dental Care and Salud Para La Gente, Santa Cruz area heath care providers which support vulnerable and underserved populations, we call upon state Sen. Abel Maldonado to break rank with the Republican Party and vote to increase taxes and to support funding for health care.

Sen. Maldonado has previously demonstrated courage and leadership in rejecting Republican party-line positions, and we call upon him again to do just that. This state cannot sustain valuable health care programs without additional revenue. The Republican position -- supported by the Governor and party leadership -- eviscerates the safety net system of health care for the most vulnerable Californians, the poor, the elderly and the disabled. California should govern with compassion and allow the health and safety of Californians to be its moral compass in these challenging times.

Will Hahn, Executive Director, Dientes Community Dental Care

Sara Clarenbach, J.D., Director of Advocacy, Community Engagement and Media Relations, Salud Para La Gente

 

This open letter was printed on 06/27/2009 in both the Santa Cruz Sentinel Letters to the Editor and in the Register Pajaronian Letters to the Editor under the title "Taxes should be raised to pay for health programs"