Dear Friend,
Last night, a courageous Colorado dad -- Nathan Wilkes of Englewood -- sat two rows behind First Lady Michelle Obama as the President delivered an historic address to Congress, urging the passage of a comprehensive health care reform package this year.
Nathan's six-year old son, Thomas, suffers from a rare blood disorder which can only be treated by a daily dose of life-saving medicine.
But when the insurance company deemed Thomas' treatment too costly, they decided they weren't going to pay. Instead, they saddled Nathan's family with $25,000 a year in medical expenses, and said they would only cover Thomas' treatment for another year or so.
That was devastating news for the Wilkes family, and a heartbreaking reminder that America's broken health care system is failing us all. As President Obama noted last night, 14,000 Americans lose their coverage every day. It could happen to anyone.
Watch the Wilkes family's touching video, and urge your community to support President Obama's unambiguous message to Congress: "Now is the time to deliver on health care."
America's health care system has reached a breaking point.
It isn't just failing working families like the Wilkeses. It's breaking the budgets of small businesses and states, too. As President Obama put it, "[O]ur health care problem is our deficit problem."
Colorado has made more progress on health care reform in the last three years than in the three decades prior. Together we have worked to control costs, expand coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Coloradans, reduce "cost-shifting," encourage medical providers to work in under-served areas, and more.
But we also need our federal partners to do their part by passing legislation that provides security and stability for those who have health care and access to affordable insurance for those who do not.
Thousands of RitterforGovernor.com activists have already emailed their Members of Congress, urging them to rally behind President Obama. But with all the misinformation circulating out there, we must do more to confront the cynics and make our voices heard throughout Colorado.
Voice your support for health care reform in your community by submitting a letter to the editor of your local paper today!
President Obama's speech last night marked a turning point in our fight to finally fix health care, lighting a fire under those who'd rather stall and "kick the can further down the road."
But it's up to us to keep the momentum going here in Colorado.
It's up to us to do right by Thomas, his family, and the millions of Americans who deserve far better than the status quo.
Please, write a letter to the editor of your local paper today.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
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