RESOLUTION NO: 10678-091906

BY:  ________________________________

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING REFERENDUM QUESTION

REQUESTING STATE LEGISLATIVE ACTION ON HEALTHCARE ON THE NOVEMBER 2006 BALLOT

WHEREAS, escalating health insurance costs are a major hardship for the City of Oak Creek residents, businesses and local units of government; and

WHEREAS, such high costs discourage business expansion and job creation in the City of Oak Creek and burden individual citizens with high costs and the fear of losing health insurance coverage; and

WHEREAS, in Wisconsin an estimated 10% or approximately 565,000 people are without health insurance; and

WHEREAS, local governments, such as the City of Oak Creek, have a difficult time controlling their budgets due to runaway healthcare costs; and

WHEREAS, skyrocketing healthcare costs in the City of Oak Creek and surrounding areas are a result of changes in the healthcare and insurance markets which are beyond the control of the City of Oak Creek; and

WHEREAS, despite the steep escalation in health insurance costs, the State Legislature who has the power to remedy the situation, has failed to seriously consider comprehensive healthcare reform; and

WHEREAS, in the opinion of Manitowoc Mayor Kevin Crawford, who is sponsoring this effort, the following advisory referendum question is an effective way to determine whether the citizens of the City of Oak Creek believe that the next session of the State Legislature should take action:

Should the Wisconsin Legislature pass a bill by 2008 that will assure access to quality and affordable healthcare coverage for all Wisconsin individuals and families?

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Oak Creek hereby directs the City Clerk to take the necessary steps to place the question set forth above on the November 7, 2006 Fall General Election ballot as an advisory referendum question.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be sent to Senator Jeff Plale, Assembly Representative Mark Honadel, Governor Jim Doyle, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Alliance of Cities.

Introduced this 19^th day of September, 2006.

Passed and adopted this ____ day of ____________________, 2006.

                                                                              __________________________

                                                                              President, Common Council

Approved this ____ day of ______________________, 2006.

                                                                                    __________________________

                                                                              Mayor

ATTEST:

______________________________

City Clerk