So it has happened. SB 810 made it through the Appropriations Committee.
I believe that thousands of activists calling California Senators did it.
On Tuesday it goes to the whole Senate and if it passes, then it goes to the Assembly and then to Governor Jerry Brown.
If it passes the Senate on Tuesday we have a plan to get it through the Assembly. It involves the much awaited economic impact study. I will diary about this after Tuesday.
But until then we need to keep up the pressure on the 4 Democratic Senators who may abstain.
Here is some good info about SB 810 and Single Payer.
A lot more below.
First, a proof that we are making a difference.
The four possibly abstaining Senators are;
Senator Alex Padilla (Pacoima/LA area)
Email: Senator.Padilla@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 651-4020
Fax: (916) 324-6645
Senator Juan Vargas (San Diego area)
Email: Juan.Vargas@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 651-4040
Fax: (916) 327-3522
Senator Michael Rubio (Fresno/Bakersfield area)
Email: Michael.Rubio@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 651-4016
Fax: (916) 327-5989
Senator Rod Wright (Los Angeles area)
Email: Senator.Wright@sen.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 651-4025
Fax: (916) 445-3712
JP Massar posted this diary
And then California OneCare received this call. Click on the link to listen to the recording!
Hi, California. One Care, my name is Jasmin and I'm calling on behalf of Senator Vargas I'm one of the staff members and capital office and it seems like our phones are ringing kind of off the charts. Amazing, find 5000 called needed for SB 810 on your website and I just want to let you know that this is really overwhelming. For staff. We're having a lot of trouble getting the other work that we need to get done here in the office. Just because our phones are non stop ringing. I literally I've been here since before 9 o'clock this morning and the phone started before then. It's 12:15 now and I have maybe been able to get a paragraph, read on something else that I'm working on. Just because the phone just kept ringing. I understand what you're trying to do and you know the Senators very supportive of health care for Californians, but having people over load our phones is just really difficult for the other work that we need to get done for Californians and you know there are other things that we can be doing for health care that I'm actually not getting to 10 2 because of all the phone calls that we're getting. So if I want to call me back and you know, maybe take our number off of the has, or let me know exactly what can be done. I would really appreciate that. Again, my name is Jasmin. I work for Senator Vargas in his capital office and my phone number here at the office is 651-4040. I would really appreciate a call back. Thank you very much. Bye bye.
So you see, it IS working.
I called all 4 Senators.
Padilla's people told me that the Senator would abstain because he wants Obama's Affordable Care Act to be implemented because it will help a lot of Californians. This may or may not be true but we believe that Single Payer is the the way to go. If it passes in California (and Vermont and Montana) it will become unstoppable and will be adopted everywhere. Other state Single Payer movements are supporting us, Colorado for example.
Vargas's office (Jasmin?) told me that the Senator will not vote Aye because he is conncerned about its costs. If he didn't abstain and we got the 21 votes needed we will conduct the economic study plan that will prove finally (as it is known in Canada, Taiwan and elsewhere) that Single Payer pays for itself.
Rubio and Wright may be the easiest to get to change to Aye. They did not give me reasons for their abstentions.
We can do it!
Let's keep the calls going. Hell! Call any other Democratic California Senator if you wish. The Republicans are ALL voting No.
If you wish, check the info about this effort with Single Payer activist organization;
Physicians for a National Health Plan
California OneCare (I am very very involved in this one)
Healthcare for All
Single Payer Now
Even Michael Moore is on our side.
Come on California Kossacks and Single Payer supporters, we CAN do it.