by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

Today the Senate Health Committee voted 7-1 not to advance AB 1x1 the massive health care reform bill championed by Speaker Fabian Nunez and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. That means health care reform legislation is killed for the year given the timing to make it on the ballot. Chron:

Shortly before the committee hearing, Senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland, said in a letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that he does not support the measure because it lacks adequate funding and could worsen the state's budget problems.

The measure, which passed the state Assembly last month, needs the backing of a majority of legislators in each house before it can be sent to the governor, who supports it.

Schwarzenegger, speaking to the editorial board of the Chronicle, said he will do everything he can to keep the measure alive.

"I'm not taking 'no' for an answer," he said. "We've come a long way to get as far as we have ... this is the last mile."

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[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Papers were filed today with the Attorney General for the funding component of the comprehensive health care reform legislation co-authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata.

The main news is the tobacco tax will be $1.75 per pack -- that's halfway between the $2 that Nunez wanted and $1.50 the Governor was holding out for. The compromise makes sure that the lung, cancer, and heart groups will continue to have their programs adequately funded. Some $1.5 billion will be raised by the doubling of the current tobacco tax.

The 30+ page plus initiative also has "lockbox" provisions that prevent the funds for the health care program from being raided, and insures that the program wont kick in until funds are being received and federal programs approved. There's also a $25 million loan from January through May 2009 to make sure every California child has health care coverage until the revenues start flowing into the state from the tobacco tax, hospital fee, federal government, and employer fees.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Michael Russo
Health Care Advocate and Staff Attorney
California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG)

The long-gestating comprehensive health care reform bill, ABX1-1, also known as the Health Care Security and Cost Reduction Act, finally cleared the California Assembly with great fanfare on Monday. But even now that the glow of the triumphal press conference has faded, opinions have still failed to converge, with some calling it a giant leap forward for consumers, and others labeling it fiscally irresponsible and doomed to failure.

It’s no surprise that different people will have different takes on a 200-page piece of legislation that institutes fundamental changes in dozens of areas. Just coming to grips with what ABX1-1 does is a task in itself. But while there are definitely areas where ABX1-1 can be improved, it really is a landmark bill that will catapult California out of the dark ages and towards a nation-leading health care system.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Yesterday afternoon the State Legislature moved one step closer to reforming California's broken health care system. The Assembly Health Committee considered and voted on a compromise health reform package authored by Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez and Senate Pro Tem Don Perata. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report the groundbreaking Democratic health care reform legislation will provide coverage to all Californians, includes affordability provisions, reins in medical costs and guarantees coverage for people with pre-existing illnesses.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

Considering the fact that these guys have not met lately, this should be a pretty important meeting to determine the likelihood of coming to an agreement on health care reform legislation. Sen. Don Perata was sounding overly pessimistic, and his comments were pretty unproductive to the overall reform efforts. Nunez and Arnold were much more upbeat. SacBee:

In a prepared statement, Núñez said he remains "an eternal optimist," and added, "I will fight 'til the end for health care reform."

The speaker has said he plans to introduce the governor's health care plan himself and ask lawmakers to consider it this week.

The governor remains committed to achieving health care reform this year, said Sabrina Lockhart, a spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger.

"He looks forward to working with leaders on both sides of the aisle to get it done," Lockhart said.

Weintraub has an interesting column today, suggesting that the fee on hospitals aspect of the governor's proposal may not be dead in the water. He points out that a similar fee was passed on the nursing home industry, after they requested it.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

Surprising no-one, Blue Cross is emerging as the biggest impediment to health care reform legislation in California. They are transitioning from simple anti-reform rhetoric to full on campaign mode. Blue Cross is playing concern troll. Just check out this language from an upcoming print ad.

"Unintended consequences do happen," the new ad says. "Other states have tried healthcare reforms like 'guaranteed issue' that sounded good. They now have the highest premiums in the country while California has the lowest. Sound familiar? Remember how the rash deregulation of the energy market in California spawned power outages and soaring rates? Let's not go there again."

They are intentionally sowing fear in an attempt to keep the legislature from doing anything to spoil their profit making machine. Salladay rightly points out that the comparisons to energy deregulation are not apt. The deregulation was pushed forward without Capitol insiders really understanding the issue. That is not the case with health care. People are extremely well-informed on the issue and there is a bevy of data to dig into.