He did indeed!
From the Governor's Press Release:
The California Health Benefit Exchange will make it easier for individuals and employees of small businesses to compare plans and buy health insurance in the private market using federal tax subsidies to make health coverage more affordable. Federal health care reform makes tax credits and subsidies available in 2014 to Californians with incomes between 133 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $29,000 to $88,000 for a family of four).
Schwarzenegger makes California the first state to form health insurance exchange
Amid appeals from the White House and consumer health care advocates, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed two key health bills Thursday that make California the first state to begin establishing its own health insurance exchange, which could widen medical coverage for small businesses and the millions of uninsured.
Facing a deadline of midnight Thursday to act on bills, Schwarzenegger signed scores of new laws, ranging from requiring schools to provide fresh drinking water to extending foster-care benefits to young adults and rolling back the date by which kindergartners must turn 5 in order to start school.
The health benefits exchange is a key component of federal health care overhaul legislation signed into law in the spring by President Barack Obama.
Anthem Blue and "the chamber"?
As late as Thursday, the bills' fate had been uncertain amid a barrage of lobbying by Anthem Blue Cross, the state's largest for-profit health insurer, and the California Chamber of Commerce.
In particular, the chamber expressed worry that the oversight board will make key decisions without being accountable to elected officials.
It appears that Arnold may go out more popular with Californians than his governorship's choppy waters have indicated. I know I'm celebrating the fact that Arnold took the president's phone call.