Divided We Fail Asks President to Signal Importance of Health Care Reform

The leaders of Divided We Fail are urging President Obama and his administration to keep health reform a top priority this year. AARP CEO Bill Novelli, Business Roundtable President John Castellani, National Federation of Independent Business CEO Dan Danner and SEIU President Andy Stern sent a letter (PDF version) to the president, urging him to signal that health reform will be a priority this year by including reform policies in his budget submission.

February 6, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

The health and financial security challenges facing the American people are significant, and growing as our economic woes continue to grow. Because of our belief that bipartisan health care reform is critical to a strong economy, personal financial security and long-term fiscal stability, we are writing to urge you to make health reform legislation a top priority this year. We ask you to send a clear signal on the importance of health care reform by including in your budget submission policies that would moderate cost growth and reinvest savings toward providing the tools necessary to support a modernized health care delivery system that provides access to quality, affordable coverage for all Americans.

As leaders of organizations representing well over 50 million American consumers, workers, CEOs of the nation's largest companies and small business owners, we have joined together to form Divided We Fail, an effort to break the partisan gridlock to improve health care and long-term financial security for all Americans. We are supported by nearly 100 other organizations representing a diverse spectrum of interests which share our commitment. We represent important and powerful constituencies that can help advance the pillars of quality, access and affordability in health care reform.

Health care is inextricably tied to America's economic well-being. For families and workers, job losses and economic woes are compounded by soaring health care costs for the care they need. Unsustainable growth in health care places an unaffordable burden on all businesses. Now is the time to begin bipartisan discussions on getting all Americans access to affordable health care.

Health care reform requires everyone working together and taking responsibility to improve the system. Our organizations came together two years ago and formed Divided We Fail for just this reason. We stand ready to work with you and your Administration to engage the American people on these issues and propel action.

Sincerely,

Bill Novelli
CEO, AARP

John Castellani
President, Business Roundtable

Dan Danner
President and CEO, NFIB

Andy Stern
President, SEIU

Download a printable version of the letter to Obama.