By Jim Tankersley
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Gov. Rod Blagojevich found a warm reception for his plan to provide health care coverage to all Illinois residents this afternoon – not in Springfield, but in Washington.
The Democratic governor’s plan, which failed to pass the Democrat-controlled state Legislature this year, won raves from national labor leaders and a former presidential candidate at the National Press Club this afternoon. “Illinois Covered,” as the proposal is called, would extend coverage to the 1.4 million uninsured Illinois adults — and reduce premiums for middle-income families and small businesses — by assessing a payroll surcharge on businesses that don’t offer health benefits to their employees.
Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), a former House minority leader and presidential candidate, hailed the plan as a model for national universal health care – and the sort of plan that must start in the states, not Congress. The president of the international Laborer’s union, Terry O’Sullivan, called it “a blueprint for all other states to follow.” John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, said Blagojevich “has really taken a great stand here.”
Blagojevich thanked them all, along with the parade of other labor leaders who followed, many of them proclaiming universal government health care key to keeping American businesses competitive globally and jobs from fleeing overseas.
The former congressman, looking sharp in a blue tie and at ease before the national cameras, proclaimed that “if we’re going to get health care access for all Americans, it most likely will start at the state level.”
“We have a golden opportunity in Illinois,” he added later. “If we can pass it in Illinois, that would send a strong statement across the country.”
During a question and answer session, Blagojevich was less inclined to talk about his home state – or more specifically, the most recent ethical questions to dog his administration there.
Asked whether he was aware of a condominium deal involving his wife, a lobbyist and a state contractor – and whether questions around it could hurt his health care agenda – the governor gave a short reply.
“Boy, I though I was out of Illinois,” he said. “It’s got nothing to do with anything. Next question.”