Massachusetts AFL-CIO commends Massachusetts delegation for unanimous “yes” vote on health care reform

MALDEN, MA, ISSUED NOVEMBER 9, 2009…Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Robert J. Haynes said today that the voters of this state can be extremely proud of their U.S. Representatives, all of whom voted in support of the House of Representatives Affordable Health Care for America Act on Saturday.

“When the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act, working families across the country found out who their real friends are, and Massachusetts has a health care record working families can be proud of. All of our Representatives cast deciding votes to put us closer than we have been in the last 60 years to achieving real health care reform,” President Haynes said. 

He continued, “This is an historic victory that moves Massachusetts’ working families one step closer to the passage of real health care reform.  While all of Massachusetts’ House members passed with flying colors by standing up for the people who sent them to Washington, some in other states failed by voting to keep the status quo.  Make no mistake:  Working families will remember who fulfilled the promises they were elected on and they will continue to stand with their Representatives who delivered.  On behalf of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the over 400,000 working families it represents, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the ten members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation who took a stand to finally make affordable and quality health care a right of all Americans.”

He added, “It is very exciting that we are so close to winning genuine health care reform, and we will redouble our efforts to finish the job.”  He added, ““Now, we look to our distinguished Senators, John Kerry and Paul Kirk, to continue the work that our delegation in the House so courageously started, work that would make the late Senator Kennedy proud and will finally fix our broken health care system.”

****

The Massachusetts AFL-CIO is the largest umbrella labor organization in the Commonwealth, representing hundreds of thousands of working families from member unions and serves as the voice of working families in Massachusetts. Offices are located at 389 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. For additional information, call 781-324-8230 or visit www.massaflcio.org. Robert J. Haynes is the President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. Tim Sullivan is the contact for the press and may be reached at (781) 324-8230.

###