Health Care AND California Gov Candidates: I Double Dog Dare You!!

also @ MLW
SB 840: California Health Insurance Reliability Act

A bill creating universal healthcare through a publicly financed administration in California, authored by Senator Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, was introduced in February, 2005.

So far it has won votes in State Senate Committees on Health and Appropriations, a floor vote in the State Senate, and one Assembly Committee vote.

The next Governator Governor of Kahlifoania California could sign this bill.

In polls, Democrats overwhelmingly favor government sponsored Universal Health Insurance, in some polls by an 8-to-1 margin.

We know that Arnold the Enronator will veto this bill. I have been listening for a Democratic candidate for governor to loudly say he will sign SB840, if given the chance...








[... sound of crickets chirping... ]


Are candidates for governor legally prohibited from mentioning one of the most important bills ever to be considered by any state legislature?

Come on Phil or Steve, I double dog dare you to promise you will sign SB840 !!

In a nationwide poll, in 2003, the Pew Center asked people if they were willing to give up the Bush tax cuts for Universal Health Care. The answer was crystal clear.

Scrap Tax Cuts for Health Insurance
Fully 72% of Americans agree that the government should provide universal health care, even if it means repealing most tax cuts passed since Bush took office. Democrats overwhelmingly favor this proposal (86%-11%) and independents largely agree (78%-19%). Even a narrow majority of Republicans (51%) favor providing health insurance for all even if it means canceling the tax cuts, while 44% disagree.

In addition, most Americans ­ especially those who support repealing tax cuts to provide universal health coverage ­ see this as a moral issue as well as a political issue. Just a third believes this is strictly a political issue, while a narrow majority (52%) views it also as a moral question. A big majority of those who support this proposal ­ 61% ­ think of it as a moral as well as a political issue, while most opponents tend to see this in strictly political terms (58%).

So one would assume that in a Democratic primary in a state that has a single payer bill sitting in the legislative branch, this would be one of the top most mentioned topics? Right? Right!?!

Angelides Web Site:
Phil Angelides believes that working families deserve affordable access to quality health care. He understands the stakes of health care reform and believes that affordable access to quality care is essential for the state's long-term economic competitiveness. The health care crisis must be addressed in the opening years of the 21st Century if we are to build an economy and a society of enduring strength.

Increasing Access to Quality Health Care:
o Angelides is supporting efforts to increase access and ultimately provide coverage to all California families.

[When? How?]

o Supporting Community Clinics
o Stopping WellPoint-Anthem Merger
o Fighting Republican Attempts to Slash Services
o Removing Tobacco from State Portfolios

Bzzzt.

That's it. No "health care is a moral issue", no mention of SB840.

Westly Web Site:
Californians should have access to quality, affordable healthcare. Unfortunately, over six million of us have no health insurance.  This includes almost 800,000 children.  Both the State and the business community have a responsibility to address this shameful situation. Californian also must protect its citizens against public health threats.  This is especially important in a time of bird flu and possible terrorist attacks.

Steve's plan for meeting the healthcare needs of California includes:

o Insure all children
o Drug discount program
o Require workplace coverage
o Expand public health system.

Bzzzt.

That's it from the other Democrat. No "health care is a moral issue", no mention of SB840.

SB840

California SB 840: The bill incorporates the following features:

Security - Everyone is covered. No one will ever lose coverage for any reason.

Choice - Everyone can choose their doctors and other providers. Under this single payer plan, health care delivery is in the private sector.

Comprehensive Benefits - Everyone has full benefits that include prescription drug coverage and mental health care.

High Quality - Doctors and patients, not administrators, make medical decisions. Hospitals can afford safe staffing levels for registered nurses. Primary and preventive care are priorities.

Efficient Administration - Huge savings result from removing insurance companies from health care. Provider and patient paper work is slashed.

Fair Cost sharing - Employers and employees pay a modest health care premium, which is less than most pay now.

Fair Reimbursement - Providers receive fair and full compensation for their services.

Cost Controls - Health care inflation is controlled by efficient administration, global health care budgets, bulk purchases of drugs and durable medical equipment, coordination of capital expenditures, and linkage to growth of the State Gross Domestic Product.

A very tiny portion of the list of folks endorsing SB840 according to HCA (A list which includes, oddly, State Treasurer Phil Angelides... a man whose web site campaigning for governor makes no mention at all of SB840)

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO
American Medical Student Association (AMSA)
American Nurses Association, California (ANA)
California Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA)
California Black Women's Health Project
California Consumer Health Care Council
California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies (CCCMHA)
California Democratic Party Women's Caucus
California Faculty Association
California Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG)
Consumers Union
Planned Parenthood, Los Angeles
Service Employees International Union (SEIU), California State Council

If Lucy believes that Democratic candidates really listen to their voters, she's got some serious splainin' to do about this one. Lucy? Luuuuuuucy?