[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Sheila Kuehl
Chair
California Senate Health Committee

According to the new statewide poll by the Field Institute, released Monday, the number of Californians who would prefer to receive their health care coverage “through the government” has risen by 9 percentage points since the last poll in 2006, and now stands at 31%, while those who prefer that individuals take responsibility for their own coverage dropped 6 percentage points to 20%, and those preferring employer sponsored coverage declined 4 percentage points to 38%,. “Government provided health coverage” was the only policy option showing an increase in support.

Since 2002, universal health care advocates have rallied around Senate Bill 840, the California Universal Health Care Act which I am proud to have introduced. These advocates have formed the OneCareNow coalition, made up of hundreds of supporting organizations around the state. The coalition has prioritized community education about universal health care and sponsored hundreds of public educational events throughout the year.

by Patrick Briggs [courtesy of Blog for America]

California Senate Update: Passage of One Health Bill Yesterday and Another Expected Today--And Dozens of Other Bills

By Frank D. Russo

The Senate, with fewer members than the Assembly and also fewer bills (77 in total), adjourned earlier than their larger cousin, but passed major legislation yesterday on universal health care (SB 840--Kuehl), a referendum for Californians on the Iraq War, clean air, water, alternative fuels, flood prevention, food safety, sentencing reform, and privacy.

Major Health Care Legislation Passes

The Senate passed SB 840 (Kuehl), The California Universal Health Care Act, SB 840, which establishes a single payer universal health care system in California, passed the Senate Floor by a vote of 23 to 15 and now heads to the California State Assembly. Ot os expected to be joined there by SB 48 (Perata) which is being debated and voted on the Senate floor this morning.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The Senate, with fewer members than the Assembly and also fewer bills (77 in total), adjourned earlier than their larger cousin, but passed major legislation yesterday on universal health care (SB 840--Kuehl), a referendum for Californians on the Iraq War, clean air, water, alternative fuels, flood prevention, food safety, sentencing reform, and privacy.

Major Health Care Legislation Passes

The Senate passed SB 840 (Kuehl), The California Universal Health Care Act, SB 840, which establishes a single payer universal health care system in California, passed the Senate Floor by a vote of 23 to 15 and now heads to the California State Assembly. Ot os expected to be joined there by SB 48 (Perata) which is being debated and voted on the Senate floor this morning.

SB 840 covers every California resident with comprehensive health benefits, contains the growth in health care spending, and provides patients with total choice over their doctors and hospitals. "California is leading the nation on health care reform with passage of SB 840," stated Senator Kuehl. "This is the gold standard for health reform and the only way to achieve the kind of health care system that Californians want and deserve."