Broad Coalition Supports Measure 50 on November Ballot; Calls on Oregonians to Submit Photos Of Their Children to Show Support For Covering All Kids.

(PORTLAND) – Saying that Oregon should be the nation’s leader in children’s health coverage, a broad coalition of community leaders today launched Healthy Kids Oregon, a statewide campaign with the goal of passing Measure 50 on this November’s ballot.

Measure 50 will provide more than 100,000 uninsured children with the health coverage they urgently need, strengthen proven anti-smoking programs, and save taxpayers millions in reduced insurance rates and fewer medical costs for secondhand smoke-related illnesses.

“This vote isn’t about politics — it’s about the health of our children and the future health of our state,” said Dana Kaye, Oregon director of the American Lung Association and a member of the coalition. “That’s something every Oregonian can support, and it’s why our coalition is made up of so many partners, from so many different sectors.”

The Healthy Kids Oregon coalition includes a long list of doctors, nurses, health care and child advocates, hospitals, tobacco prevention experts, parents, and taxpayers. It’s also well funded, with already well over half a million dollars in contributions and pledges. Kaye called on Oregonians to show their support for the campaign by submitting photos of their children to be posted on the group’s website.

“Oregon’s kids can’t wait any longer,” Kaye said. “We encourage everyone to send us their photos today, so they can serve as a reminder of what this campaign is really about.”

The Healthy Kids Oregon website is www.healthykids-oregon.org.

The American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and the American Lung Association are playing key roles. Along with the Oregon PTA, the Oregon Medical Association, the Oregon Nurses Association, Children First for Oregon, Stand For Children, Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems and organized labor including the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Kaye said more than 100,000 Oregon children lack health insurance of any kind, which means they don’t get the health care they need when they need it. Instead they may wait for hours in local emergency rooms for routine medical check-ups while taxpayers foot the bill, she said.

In addition, Kaye said, Measure 50 will help strengthen proven tobacco-prevention programs to help Oregon smokers quit the habit and counter the cigarette industry’s multi-million-dollar campaigns to attract the next generation of customers for its deadly products — our kids.

The ballot initiative will also save taxpayers millions of dollars by reducing medical costs for secondhand smoke-related illnesses and help to hold the line on rising insurance rates fro small businesses.

Measure 50 will be on the November 6, 2007, statewide ballot.

Posted on August 9, 2007 | Return to the NEWS Archive