Rep. Sánchez: New 2008 Census Reoprt Confirms that Americans Need Health Insuarance Reform Now

Bush Policies Left Americans Worse Off and the Economy in the Worst Recession since the Great Depression

Washington, DC - Today, Rep. Linda Sánchez responded to the release of this year's Census Report on Income, Poverty and Health Insurance. The report shows the number of Americans without health insurance increased to 46.3 million in 2008, and climbed by 7.9 million during the eight years of the Bush Administration. It also shows that real median household income dropped nearly 4 percent last year to $50,303, with a drop of $2,197 over the last eight years. The number of Americans in poverty grew to 39.8 million, with the nation's poverty rate climbing to the highest rate since 1997 - to 13.2 percent up from 12.5 percent in 2007 - and 8.2 million more Americans falling into poverty during the Bush years.

"Forty-six million Americans -- including 6.3 million Californians -- without health care, isn't a minor nuisance, it's a tragedy," said Rep. Linda Sánchez. "But in economic terms, the uninsured also cost us all: $1,100 extra for the average American family, higher costs for our businesses, and huge pressure on state and federal budgets. Only by acting now on health reform can we bring stability and security to Americans who have insurance today, and affordable coverage to the growing number of American families who don't."

"After eight years of one of the worst economic records in history, 8.2 million more Americans fell into poverty, and 7.9 million more Americans lost health insurance," continued Sánchez. "As a Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus, I am proud to work with President Obama to undo the legacy of the Bush Administration and its devastating impact on hardworking families who are simply trying to provide quality housing, education, and health care for their families."

Experts agree that the Bush Administration has one of the worst economic records in history, with the:

* Worst private sector jobs record of any Administration in 75 years, with job losses exceeding 700,000 in January 2009 alone
* Worst record for economic performance since President Harry Truman, when quarterly GDP data was first released; also leaving office in January 2009 with an economic growth rate of -6.4 percent, the worst decline in a single quarter in nearly 30 years
* National debt nearly doubling from $5.7 trillion to $10.6 trillion