Hartford, CT -- Today, Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) and other allies, under the banner of the Health Care for America Now campaign, staged a march and demonstration that started at Union Train Station, proceeded to the CT Business and Industry Association, and ended at the State Capitol with a visit to Governor Jodi Rell. The roving rally was part of the Health Care for America Now (HCAN) Campaign which is holding similar events in 45 states in the next few months to highlight the need for quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

“In 2009, we will either have a guarantee of quality, affordable health care we all can count on or we will continue to be at the mercy of the private health insurance industry that is charging us more, giving us less and putting company profits before our health,” said Phil Sherwood, Deputy Director, CCAG. “Here in Connecticut and in communities all across the country, we’re asking one question, ‘Which side are you on?’ Are you on the side of quality, affordable health care for all? Or are you on the side of being left alone to fend for yourself in a complicated, bureaucratic insurance market? It is time that Governor Rell decides which side she is on.”

The demonstrators targeted CBIA because they are seen as the state’s most powerful opponents to quality affordable health care. CBIA sells health insurance and actively lobbies against citizen efforts aimed at improving quality and protecting consumer rights. “It’s high-time that we give the power of health care decisions back to the patients and doctors and take it away from CBIA,” Sherwood added.

Some facts about the insurance industry in Connecticut:

• The annual profits of Anthem Health Plans (the state’s Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee and a WellPoint subsidiary), Health Net of Connecticut, and Oxford Health Plans of Connecticut (a member of UnitedHealth Group) rose between 2004 and 2007.
• In 2004, Health Net lost $1.15 million, but it brought in profits of over $52.4 million in 2005, approximately $293,000 in 2006, and $10.2 million in 2007. Meanwhile, its membership fell steadily, with a 24.6 percent decline from 2004 to 2007.
• Anthem’s profits increased by 33.3 percent, and its membership dropped by 8.9 percent. More dramatically, Oxford’s profits grew by 59.4 percent, while its membership declined by 38.6 percent. With net income of $225.8 million (and the highest membership), Anthem led the three in profits in 2007. That year, the three insurers posted combined profits of $251.1 million.¹

“It’s time to shine a spotlight on the fact that the health insurance industry continues to put profits over people,” said Sherwood. “Here in Hartford, we are in the belly of the beast and we know that the last people we can trust to fix the health care mess are insurance companies. The people of Connecticut need real solutions that bring quality, affordable health care for all, not more rhetoric from the health insurance industry who claims to be part of the solution, but whom we all know is really the problem.”

Two weeks ago, Health Care for America Now launched with events in Ohio and 52 cities (including 38 state capitals) across the country. Between now and election day, the group plans to spend $25 million in paid media and have 100 organizers in 45 states.

The campaign’s steering committee includes ACORN, AFSCME, Americans United for Change, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Center for Community Change, MoveOn.org, NEA, National Council of La Raza, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood, SEIU, UFCW, and USAction.

Download the Report (2.7mb .PDF)

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The current board endorsed slate is:

Nancy Benedict Coventry

Bill Bloss New Haven

Lynn Dallas Old Saybrook

Steve Derby West Hartford

Ted Feng New Fairfield

Susan Goldman Norwich

John Harmon West Hartford

Steve Karp Newington

Max Medina Bridgeport

Bernie McKinnon Southington

Darryl McMiller Vernon

Lisa Reynolds

The current board list can be viewed here.

CT – Governor Rell Vetoed the state's most important health care reform bill this session, known as the Healthcare Partnership Bill. The bill, opposed primarily by the health insurance industry, would have increased competition in the marketplace by opening up the state employee health insurance pool to municipalities, non-profits and small businesses. Contrary to claims by Gov. Rell and the insurance industry lobbyists, this plan would have allowed cash-strapped cities and businesses to benefit from the savings derived from economies of scale and increased purchasing power.

"Experience shows that the larger the insurance pool, the more purchasing power there is. The larger pool is more efficient, saves money and improves quality," stated Deputy Director Phil Sherwood of the CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG).

"Governor Rell had a choice to stand with the big insurance companies or to stand with citizens and taxpayers who are struggling with skyrocketing health care costs. She chose to stand with the insurance industry," Sherwood said. Governor Rell and the insurance industry collectively asserted that this bill was risky despite the fact that 24 other states have opted towards similar concepts to save money.

Sherwood noted that towns have been leaning hard on local tax payers to deal with skyrocketing health care costs. "It boggles the mind that she would oppose a voluntary system designed to increase choice and give cities and towns more leverage in the marketplace." For municipalities, the bill would have saved tax dollars on expensive health plans and alleviated pressure to cut back on community services. Furthermore, because health care costs would be cheaper, small businesses and non-profits would have been able to retain and hire more employees; something sorely needed in the current economy.

"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."

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Berlin, CT – TODAY, Thursday, May22, 3PM, local leaders will urge Governor Jodi Rell to sign HB 5536, Connecticut Health Care Partnership Bill arguing that it makes good economic sense.

The Healthcare Partnership Bill would open up the state employee health insurance pool to municipalities, non-profits and small businesses. Connecticut would be the first to open it up to the private sector.

Because health care costs would be cheaper, small businesses and non-profits would be able to retain and hire more employees. For municipalities, the bill has the potential to save tax dollars on expensive health plans and alleviate pressure to cut back on community services.

“Experience shows that the larger the insurance pool – the more purchasing power there is. The larger pool is more efficient, saves money and improves quality,” stated Legislative Director of the CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG). “Settling for the status quo is what wastes money.”

Who: Local Leaders

What: Press Conference to Urge Governor's Signature on Health Care Partnership Bill

When: TODAY - Thursday, May 22nd

Where: Berlin City Hall

"With all the corruption in CT over the last decade, we believe the state must act this session to limit taxpayer's exposure to potentially corrupt acts," stated Phil Sherwood, Legislative Director of CCAG.

"Therefore we will be introducing legislation that will forbid individuals who have been banned from serving on boards of publicly traded corporations from serving on public and quasi-public boards, such as the MDC," said Sherwood. "We're optimistic the legislature and Gov. Rell will support such a proposal."

CCAG is the states oldest and largest public interest, consumer watchdog group comprised of approximately 30,000 member families.
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The problem of toxic chemicals was highlighted yet again yesterday when the CT Dept. of Consumer Protection stopped the sale of the asbestos-containing CSI Fingerprint Examination Kit across the state.

According to Phil Sherwood, Legislative Director for the CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG), the DCP's recent findings simply ad to the preponderance of evidence that toxic chemicals are being used routinely in the manufacturing of children's toys. “The recent finding by the CT Dept. of Consumer Protection is not an isolated incidence,” said Sherwood. "The bad news is that evidence shows that nearly 75% toys tested by healthytoys.org (a website launched by groups throughout the nation) have some toxic substances in them. The good news is that there are safer alternatives to these toxic chemicals and they’re already being used as much as 25% of the time."

The Group says safer alternatives are commonly used by some companies, and for more selective markets in California and Europe, and that Connecticut should move toward a proactive strategy for dealing with this problem. "There is no reason for why CT can’t take the lead in protecting children from toxic chemicals in toys that are known to be serious to the child’s health", stated Sherwood.

CCAG is a member of The Coalition for a Safe & Healthy Connecticut which is calling for comprehensive action at the state level to fill the gaps in state and federal law that are allowing toxic toys to be sold.

For parents and consumers, HealthyToys.org provides specific guidelines for how to petition state and federal government agencies and toy manufacturers to urge them to phase out toxic chemicals from toys immediately. HealthyToys.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual toy or children's product, or any individual element or related chemical. For a full list of toy test results, visit www.HealthyToys.org.

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(Hartford-- December 5, 2007) - The Coalition for a Safe & Healthy CT, along with the CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG) today released the results of testing of 1,200 popular children's toys for toxic chemicals at www.HealthyToys.org. Along with the Washington Toxics Coalition, CT Citizen Action Group, and other leading environmental health groups across the country, the Ecology Center developed this site to better inform consumers about the products they will be purchasing this holiday season.

"As parents, we should be able to have complete confidence that all of the toys we buy our children are completely safe for them. Recent information such as lead found in paint and toys containing asbestos reveal that our current manufacturing or import standards do not protect our most vulnerable citizens, our children," said Kathy Murphy, an Environmental Health Nurse who resides in Wolcott, CT with her husband, 2 sons and daughter.

"The government is not testing for toxic chemicals in toys, and too many manufacturers are not self-regulating, so several nonprofit organizations created the nation's first toy database to help inform and empower consumers," said Tracey Easthope, MPH, Director of the Ecology Center's Environmental Health Project. "Ultimately consumers need to take action to compel the federal government and toy manufacturers to eliminate dangerous chemicals from toys."

According to Phil Sherwood, Legislative Director to CCAG, "Toxics in toys is a perfect example of how our regulatory system is broken. We need to know how toxics are being used, and which products contain them, and we need to require that safer alternatives be used whenever feasible."

While some toys had high levels of chemicals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, others were free of these harmful additives. Parents and other holiday shoppers can now easily search by product name, brand, or toy type (i.e. dolls, teethers, jewelry, bibs, etc.) to learn how the products rate in terms of harmful chemical content. Babies and young children are the most vulnerable since their brains and bodies are still developing and because they frequently put toys into their mouths.

Researchers chose to test these particular chemicals because they have been identified by many regulatory agencies as problematic, and because of their association with reproductive problems, developmental and learning disabilities, hormone problems and cancer and because they are found in children's products. The testing was conducted with a screening technology -- the portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer -- which identifies the elemental composition of materials on the surface of products.

"Toxic chemicals have no place in children's toys, period," said Ted Schettler, MD, Science Director at the Science and Environmental Health Network. "Even low-level toxic chemical exposures can have lifelong impacts. Getting toxic chemicals out of children's toys is a moral and medical imperative."

HealthyToys.org tested 1,200 children's products and more than 3,000 components of those products. Following are highlights of the HealthyToys.org findings:

• Lead -- When children are exposed to lead the developmental and nervous system consequences are irreversible. Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended a level of 40 parts per million (ppm) of lead as the maximum that should be allowed in children's products. Nevertheless, there are no federal regulations for lead in vinyl or plastic toys or children's jewelry. The only existing standard is for lead in paint. HealthyToys.org found lead in 35% of all the products tested. Seventeen percent (17%) of the products had levels above the 600 ppm federal recall standard used for lead paint! The testing detected more than 6,700 ppm in Dollar Store animal figurines; 3,056 ppm in a Hannah Montana Pop Star Card Pack; and 1,700 ppm lead in a pair of Circo baby shoes.
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC / Vinyl) -- HealthyToys.org determined products were made with PVC plastic by measuring their chlorine content. PVC is a problematic plastic from an environmental health perspective because it creates major hazards throughout its life cycle and contains additives that can be dangerous to human health. Phthalates are chemicals that are very commonly added to PVC to make it soft and flexible; however, they can leach out of the plastic. Exposure to phthalates is linked to birth defects of the genitals and altered levels of reproductive hormones in baby boys. There are currently no federal regulations limiting phthalates in children's products. California recently passed a ban of several phthalates in children's products, and Europe has restricted the use of phthalates in children's toys and child care items. 47% percent of toys (excluding jewelry) tested by HealthyToys.org were PVC.
• Cadmium - Cadmium is a heavy metal that is used in coatings and pigments in plastic and paint. It is a known human carcinogen and exposure can cause adverse effects on the kidneys, lungs, liver, and testes. Currently there are no mandatory restrictions on cadmium in children's products in the U.S. HealthyToys.org found cadmium at levels greater than 100 ppm in 2.9% of products -- 22 of the 764 products tested for cadmium-- including painted toys, PVC toys, backpacks, lunch boxes and bibs.

HealthyToys.org also tested toys for arsenic, mercury, bromine, chromium, tin and antimony -- chemicals that have all been linked to health problems and have been subject to either regulatory restrictions or voluntary limits set by industry associations or third party environmental organizations.

"With all of the toy recalls it is becoming increasingly difficult to shop for children," said Alexandra Zissu, co-author of The Complete Organic Pregnancy and mother of a 22-month-old girl. "HealthyToys.org eliminates fear of the unknown and allows parents to make better decisions about the products we're buying."

The good news is that safe toys are possible. 28% of the products tested did not contain any lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or PVC, including many made in China. Examples of healthier toys include: Amazing Animals Hippo by Fisher-Price (made in China); Caterpillar Grasping Toy, Melissa and Doug (made in Vietnam); and B.R. Bruin Stacking Cups (made in China).

These results show that manufacturers can make toys free of unnecessary toxic chemicals. HealthyToys.org provides specific guidelines for how to petition federal and state government agencies and toy manufacturers to urge them to phase out toxic chemicals from toys immediately.

With millions of toys on the market it was impossible to test them all, but visitors to HealthyToys.org can nominate other products to be tested. The most commonly requested items will be tested each week leading up to the Holidays.

Hartford, CT – The cost of the Iraq war to CT taxpayers is significantly greater than the funding needed to provide coverage to every uninsured child in CT, according to a USAction Education Fund report recently released by [USAction affiliate, Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG)]. CT’s share of the $456 billion in Iraq war funding through 2007 – $11 billion – could provide health care to 4,399,425 uninsured children, 17 times more than the 71,123 uninsured children in CT.

This morning, dozens of Anti-War protesters and Health Care Advocates gathered outside a health care forum hosted by Senator Lieberman at the Legislative Office Building. The group called on Lieberman to invest in health care for children not on war. The group led by CT Opposes the War (COW) and the CT Citizen Action Group (CCAG) linked the rising cost of the war in Iraq and the relatively smaller investment of providing kids health care.

The CT cost of war data underscores the misplaced priorities of the Bush administration. President Bush is asking Congress for $50 billion in additional funding to continue his endless war in Iraq while threatening to veto $50 billion passed by the House to fully fund the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) for the next five years.

“CT is telling our Members of Congress and Senator Lieberman, “enough is enough” – it’s time to reverse the upside-down priorities that have squandered $11 billion of CT taxpayers’ money while neglecting over 70,000 uninsured children in CT, said John Murphy, Stirring Committee member of COW.

The White House has threatened to veto any funding over the president’s suggested levels, calling needed funding for children’s health care “excessive.” The president’s proposal, however, was woefully inadequate and wouldn’t even cover the children currently receiving health coverage through SCHIP. The need to expand SCHIP was underscored by recent census data that indicated 700,000 more children were uninsured in 2006 than in 2005.

CT Members of Congress have a simple choice: will they vote to spend even more of CT taxpayers money in Iraq while opposing funding to cover more than 70,000 children in CT? # # #

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Read the report: Getting US Back on Track... (pdf)

Listen: CCAG's Tom Swan and WTIC's Colin McEnroe discuss the Cost of War (mp3)

Hartford, CT – The Connecticut Citizen Action Group (CCAG) today commended Senate President Pro Tem Donald Williams for proceeding with the formation of a bipartisan committee that will investigate and possibly discipline State Senator Louis Deluca.

“We are confident that this committee will professionally get to the bottom of the events involving Senator Deluca and a reputed mobster and his offering to use his elected position to further this individuals agenda,” said Phil Sherwood, Legislative Director of the CCAG.

In a letter recently released publicly, CCAG, on behalf of their 30,000 member families, called for the Senate to convene a bipartisan committee of inquiry to investigate Senator Deluca. CCAG urged the Senate to act by forming a committee similar to the one assembled to investigate Gov. John G. Rowland. CCAG noted that the potential scope and cost of an investigation of Senator Deluca would likely be much smaller than that of Gov. Rowland, but that the committee served as a good example as to how to proceed.

“While it would be inappropriate for us or anyone else to prejudge Senator Deluca, the disclosures of events surrounding Senator Deluca are quite unsettling and we are optimistic that the bi-partisan committee will make appropriate recommendations and that the Senate will act on them,” stated Sherwood.

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