Health Law
ABA Supports Universal Access to Health Care #ABAChicago
Posted Aug 4, 2009 8:28 AM CST
By Edward A. Adams
The ABA’s policy-making House of Delegates today approved a resolution calling for access to quality health care for all Americans, regardless of income. It passed on an overwhelming voice vote, and no one spoke in opposition to the measure.
The ABA has been on record since 1972 as being in favor of universal health care coverage. The measure, Resolution 10A (image), passed today removes from ABA policy a call for a single-payer system, which was passed by the House in 1990.
The measure does not specify what mechanism should be used to provide universal access.
The ABA Journal will be posting updates throughout this final day of business for the ABA policy-making House of Delegates at ABAJournal.com and our Twitter feed. The House session will also be webcast at www.totalwebcasting.com/live/aba.
More on the Annual Meeting '09 here:
Why is #ABAChicago in our Annual Meeting headlines? Check out our hashtags post: "ABA Annual Meeting 2009 on Twitter"
ABA Journal's Annual Meeting coverage at this link.
Flickr Slideshow: ABA Journal snapshots from Annual Meeting.
Interactive updates on the Annual Meeting from ABA Media Relations at ABANow.org.
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Comments
B. McLeod
Aug 4, 2009 8:34 AM CST
Yet another resolution having nothing to do with issues facing the legal profession. I guess the profession must not have any problems right now
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J.D.
Aug 4, 2009 9:29 AM CST
The short resolution says that every “American” should be entitled to health care.
I guess that means “U.S. citizen” which means, in turn, that the ABA opposes any legislation which would grant “free” health care to illegal aliens?
It’s nice to see that the ABA opposes a system that benefits illegal aliens. Unfortunately, the democrats have TWICE defeated an amendment which would keep foreign trespassers from taking advantage of taxpayer-subsidized benefits.
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RHL
Aug 4, 2009 9:56 AM CST
Who cares what the ABA thinks about political issues like healthcare? We are lawyers, not political hacks. At least that’s what I thought. But the ABA proves me wrong every day, it seems.
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B. McLeod
Aug 4, 2009 10:29 AM CST
“American” actually and quite literally would extend to everyone on the North American and South American continents. Very possibly, this could be the Delegates’ intent. I am not sure why they do not think people on the other continents should have health care. They are still in session, so maybe they will amend to extend the position to the rest of the world. Or maybe they will debate the pros and cons of leaving some areas out (since there is apparently not sufficient business before them actually relating to law practice).
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associate
Aug 4, 2009 12:01 PM CST
Supporting the status quo is news now? We already have “universal access” to healthcare. Just visit your local ER or have the ambulance come, and they’ll take care of you.
I understand the meaning here too though, and the ABA should understand that this leftist garbage alienates half or more of the potential ABA membership. I wonder how long the ABA is going to last as merely a far left lobbying group.
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ABA doubter
Aug 17, 2009 2:16 AM CST
DOESNT THE ABA KNOW THAT UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE WILL MEAN THE END TO PI LAW JOBS FOR THOUSANDS OF LAWYERS. SHAME ON YOU ABA I AM RESIGNING RIGHT NOW!!
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