Score (150)

It seems to me that there would be no faster way to stimulate economic development in upstate New York, as well as Long Island and New York City than to ensure universal health care for all New York State residents. Just think how many businesses would be attracted to New York State knowing the savings those businesses would have in one of their most expensive costs of doing business: health care for their employees. Just think how many businesses already here would have an instant infusion of capital to reinvest their employee health care costs into their own companies' expansion, research and development efforts. Universal Health Care for all New Yorkers would stop the exodus of people and businesses from the state and begin attracting people and businesses here again. This could be the model for a nationwide universal health care program. Those costs would be paid, in large part, by existing costs by businesses for employee health care benefits (which would be picked up by New York State over time on a phased-in basis (i.e. 25% year one, etc.), the existing excess costs for emergency room and other inefficent ways indigents in our state currently receive care and an influs of new revenue from businesses reloating here.  - Submitted by Walter Rath on 11.11.06