Two legislative prescriptions for the state’s ailing health care system are a little closer to being “filled.”
Key committees in recent weeks have given their approval to CTA-cosponsored SB 840, a single-payer health care proposal by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), and AB 8, a comprehensive health care reform measure by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland).
CTA is pushing hard for the approval of the wide-ranging Kuehl measure and closely watching the new version of AB 8.
On July 2, the Assembly Health Committee approved the CTA-cosponsored Kuehl bill on a 12-5 party line vote. Voting with CTA and for the measure were Assembly Health Committee Chair Meryvn Dymally (D-Compton) and Assembly Members Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles), Patty Berg (D-Eureka), Hector De La Torre (D-Southgate), Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles), Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward), Ed Hernandez (D-Baldwin Park), Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), and Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista).
Voting against CTA and casting “no” votes were Assembly Members Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi), Bill Emmerson (R-Redlands), Ted Gaines (R-Roseville), Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), and Audra Strickland (R-Camarillo).
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.
Meanwhile, AB 8, the CTA-watch measure, cleared the Senate Health Committee on July 17 on a 7-4 vote. It now heads to the Senate floor, where it could see action later this month or early in August.
CTA Members:
Check out the Legislative Action Center and get in touch with your state Assembly Member. Urge her/him to support health care reform and CTA-cosponsored SB 840 (Kuehl).
For more information, contact CTA GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at lfeldman@cta.org.