Governor Rell announced late Friday, June 13th that she had vetoed HB 5536, An Act Establishing the Connecticut Healthcare Partnership. In her statement, Rell emphasizes her agreement with the spirit of the bill:
“Not only do I believe the measure is well-intentioned, I also believe the concept has real potential to help at least some cities, towns, nonprofits and small businesses reduce their health care costs,” Governor Rell said.
As nice as it is that Governor Rell agrees with the intention of the bill, Representative Chris Donovan says that the basis of her veto is flawed, as reported by Christine Stuart at CT News Junkie:
Majority Leader Chris Donovan, D-Meriden, said, “The information the governor used to reach her decision is wrong - she was swayed by threats and numbers from the insurance companies and not the comprehensive analysis that we provided.”
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said, “This veto will be a lasting legacy — an unnecessary, unfair setback to public health. This tragic missed opportunity blocks good insurance for hundreds of thousands of Connecticut citizens.”
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Christopher Keating provides more insight from Rep. Donovan at Capitol Watch:
But union officials and Rep. Christopher Donovan - the presumptive House Speaker and the bill's chief proponent - say the measure would definitely help save money by taking advantage of economies of scale from the gigantic pool that is now filled with state employees and their families. Some of the state's top union officials, including state AFL-CIO president John Olsen, rallied in front of the state Capitol recently in an effort to get Rell to sign the bill.
"House and Senate Democrats voted to let others share in the same health care plan that the legislature and governor enjoy,'' Donovan said. "Sadly, Governor Rell has decided to block small businesses, municipalities, and non-profits from saving money while receiving good health care.''
CCAG issued a statement following Governor Rell's veto of the pooling bill:
"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."
Universal Health Care Foundation President Juan Figueroa denounces the veto:
The plan presented an innovative opportunity to improve health care options for more residents. I am sorry that the governor caved in under the pressure of the Connecticut Business and Insurance Association (CBIA). CBIA, a major health insurance broker in our state, waged a self-serving attack campaign against the plan.
The governor’s decision to give the benefit of the doubt to CBIA rather than to the concerns of a broad coalition of residents is regrettable.
Her veto underscores the urgent need for universal health care in our state.
Media Reports on Rell's Veto
- Paul Bass at New Haven Independent - Outrage!
- Genghis Conn at CT Local Politics - Gov. Rell Vetoes Health Care Pooling Bill
- Christine Stuart at CT News Junkie - Governor Vetoes Health Care Pooling
- Jon Kantrowitz at My Left Nutmeg - Governor Rell to Insurance Industry: YOU WIN
- Christopher Keating at Capitol Watch - Gov. Rell Vetoes Health Pooling Bill
- Christopher Keating at the Hartford Courant - Rell Vetoes Health Care Bill
