HARTFORD—Public service workers will continue their push for a proposed bill that would "pool" public service workers into a single healthcare plan to reduce costs and expand coverage when they join legislative leaders for a press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 10:30 a.m in Room 1B of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

Speakers at the press conference will include Sen. Edith Prague (D-19) and Rep. Chris Donovan (D-84), along with Cathy Osten, a correctional lieutenant; Anne Kellner, a paraprofessional in the Thompson school system; Thomas Ledoux, a crew foreperson for the Town of Newington; and Leslie Maddocks, a glazier at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

The workers and legislators will discuss House Bill 5536, "An Act Establishing The Connecticut Healthcare Partnership,” which is designed to cut healthcare costs for municipal, non-profit and small business employees, and achieve tax savings through pooling more insured lives.

The healthcare pooling press conference will take place against the backdrop of an April 16 Labor Lobby Day, which is expected to bring hundreds of union members statewide to the Capitol to talk about issues of importance to legislators, including healthcare, contract reform, municipal budgets and more. Participating union members will be on hand from Council 4 AFSCME, CSEA/SEIU Local 2001, CEUI/SEIU Local 511 and others.