Simone Mason Holds Press Conference to Announce Endorsement by Former New Haven Mayor John Daniels

10.22.02 -- Simone Mason, 91st district Green Party candidate for State Representative, held a press conference today at 1 p.m. in front of Davenport-Dunbar Residence at 125 Putnam Avenue in Hamden to announce the endorsement of former New Haven Mayor John Daniels.

Mr. Daniels' endorsement highlighted the crisis in healthcare and the need for a single payer universal healthcare system. Mr. Daniels, a former Connecticut State Senator stated, "Simone Mason has taken it upon herself to champion an issue that is very dear to my heart: single payer universal health care and controlling the cost of prescription drugs. The people of Hamden and the 91st District will be greatly served to have Simone Mason representing them in Hartford." 

Ms. Mason pointed out, "The situation today is so urgent for senior citizens, that they have to go by bus to Canada to get the drugs they need from doctors they don't even know!"

According to Ms. Mason, "Even though polls have shown that people support a single payer universal healthcare system, extremely few state or federal legislators will publicly support this issue, largely due to pressure from the private insurance industry. I will be willing to take a strong leadership role in advancing a single payer healthcare system for Connecticut."

Single payer healthcare would provide coverage for prescription drugs, eyecare, dental care, long term care and mental health. It would eliminate insurance co-payments and deductibles. 

A single payer system would cover all Connecticut residents including senior citizens as well as the many Connecticut residents who currently have no insurance coverage at all.

A single payer system would add no additional cost to our current healthcare system. The reason for this is that a single payer system saves significant amounts of money in two ways:

• Bypassing insurance companies and HMO's and the excessive marketing, administration, executive salaries and reimbursement controversies that they entail. 
• Employing the purchasing power of the entire State of Connecticut to negotiate steep discounts from pharmaceutical companies. 

This system is being used effectively by each of the 10 provinces of Canada.

Stated Simone Mason, "I know personally about the healthcare system or the lack thereof because in 1997 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was in the probationary period of a new job and had no insurance coverage. It caused me to go into personal bankruptcy and lose my home that I worked very hard to get."