Universal Health Care Measure Gains Panel Approval
A CTA-cosponsored measure that would implement a single-payer health care system has gained the Senate Appropriations Committee’s approval. SB 840, by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), was moved into the panel’s “suspense” or hold file pending the approval of the 2007-2008 state budget.
(In recent years, the legislature’s fiscal committees have established “suspense” files where they place measures they approve in concept. After the approval of the state budget, they re-approve as many of these measures as they believe the state can afford to implement. Those measures go to the house floor for further action.)
CTA Emeritus Lobbyist Bill Collins was the lead presenter during testimony in support of the measure. The action on the bill occurred with the support of a coalition of groups supporting the expansion of health care to all Californians. In recent weeks, CTA representatives have met with a number of coalitions of stakeholders, as well as with representatives of the governor’s office.
Meanwhile, a CTA-backed companion measure by Sen. Kuehl, SB 1014, has become a two-year bill. SB 1014 contains an auxiliary funding mechanism for SB 840. SB 1014 is expected to see action during 2008, the legislature’s second year of its two-year session.
In related action, the governor, who floated his own health care plan that has yet to be introduced in the legislature, reportedly told members of the state Chamber of Commerce recently that he does not favor SB 840. Last year, the governor vetoed a very similar CTA-backed measure by Sen. Keuhl.
• CTA Members:
Get in touch with your state Senator and seek support for SB 840 (Kuehl), the CTA-cosponsored single-payer health care measure.
For more information, contact CTA GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at lfeldman@cta.org.