Filmmaker Moore Storms Capitol to Support Health Reform
Michael Moore, the award-winning filmmaker, came to the state Capitol in June to support efforts –backed by the California Teachers Association -- to reform the state’s ailing health care system.
Moore, whose new film “Sicko” exposes shortcomings of the current health care system, attended a series of media events aimed at advancing CTA-cosponsored SB 840, the single-payer measure by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) and legislative efforts by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) to expand coverage to all California children and residents without health protections.
In a morning news conference with Speaker Nunez, in testimony before a special Senate informational hearing chaired by Sen. Kuehl, during remarks to more than a 1,000 union members at a mid-day rally, and in introductory remarks at two screenings of his new documentary, Moore delivered one consistent message: America’s health care system must be changed to provide coverage to everyone irrespective of their ability to pay.
“We are the only county in the western world that doesn't believe it's a human right to provide care to its citizens,” Moore said. “The fact that we would allow nine million of our children [across the U.S.] to remain uninsured….. What’s wrong with us? That's not what we used to be about.”
Moore’s documentary powerfully portrays the plight of Americans who have no coverage or find the costs of their care rejected by their insurers. In one vignette in the movie, Moore fills three boats with emergency workers who were injured providing help in the aftermath of the World Trade Center tragedy. Moore takes them to Cuba for health services denied them in the United States. In other heartbreaking scenes, children are denied services and injured workers have to choose which severed digits they can afford to have reattached.
In recent weeks, CTA-cosponsored SB 840 has gained the approval of the state Senate. The measure is soon expected to see further action in the state Assembly.
SB 840 was originally one of three major measures aimed at expanding health care and reforming the system. Assembly Speaker Nunez earlier this year introduced AB 8 and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata introduced his own SB 48.
In a major development, the two lawmakers announced on June 21 that they had merged their bills into one major health care reform proposal. The amended AB 8 bears the names of both lawmakers as authors. (See next story for details.)
Last year with CTA’s backing, lawmakers sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a comprehensive single-payer measure by Sen. Kuehl, only to have it vetoed. This year, the governor has proposed a modest health care reform measure of his own, but he has thus far been unable to find a Republican lawmaker willing to introduce it for him. The measure’s backers are hoping SB 840 and other reform measures will clear the legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. That kind of backing might also have an impact on the governor’s view of SB 840.
SB 840 would implement a single-payer health care system that would provide comprehensive health, dental, vision, and pharmacy services to all Californians. The measure would use premiums currently paid by employers and employees, establish minimum fees for employers and employees, and levy new taxes on the wealthiest taxpayers in order to fund the new system.
SB 840 sets out the elements of the new system, and a companion measure, SB 1014 also by Sen. Kuehl, establishes the financial mechanism to fund the new system.
• CTA Members:
Get in touch with your state Assembly Member. Urge her/him to support health care reform and CTA-cosponsored SB 840 (Kuehl).