[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

One more thing about the Legislative Analyst’s Office beyond yesterday’s article, and their role in health reform, in the recent debate, and in the future.

THE LAO'S INFLUENCE: While some have seen the LAO report as a factor in the stalling of AB x1 1 and health reform this year, I think the evidence shows that it was the easy excuse--rather than the actual reason--for the Senate to stop the bill. (For example, one Senator said that the LAO report was determinative in deciding how to vote, even though that Senator had announced opposition to the proposal months earlier.)

In other words, the LAO report, along with other factors, helped create an environment where a "no" vote was acceptable and even easy. The LAO has no formal decision-making power, but it does have influence, and its decisions do have political consequences.