[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The PPIC's latest statewide survey is out, and it reveals an electorate desiring action on health care and term limits reform, but skeptical of our state's financial future.

Prop 93, the term limits reform, has the backing of 47% of likely voters, with 38% opposed and 15% unsure. While this is below the coveted 50% threshold, when the specifics of the initiative are laid out to voters, an even more promising picture emerges. 67% of likely voters support the reduction of maximum time spent in the legislature from 14 years to 12 years, while 58% of voters (including 60% of Republicans), support allowing a legislator to serve a total of 12 years in both or either chamber. And while 66% of likely voters think term limits are a good thing, 69% agree that changes need to be made to the system.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Hayley Leventhal
Reporter
California Progress Report

With 6.5 million uninsured Californians, both Governor Schwarzenegger and the legislature have placed an emphasis on health care reform this year. However, current state proposals to reform health care do not sufficiently protect California’s families, experts say. A new study, “What Does It Take for a Family to Afford to Pay for Health Care?”, coauthored by the California Budget Project (CBP) and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research finds that in order to ensure adequate health care for Californian families, the state will need to provide assistance to families making up to almost $62,000 a year.

“A necessary part of health care reform is ensuring that families have healthcare that they can actually use, and that they can realistically afford along with their other basic living expenses,” said David Carroll, the research director of the CBP. “In the midst of complicated health reform discussions, we shouldn’t lose sight of what families can realistically afford to pay for healthcare.”

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Today Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) announced that they have merged their health care proposals.

The two Democratic leaders field press questions here, here, and here.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

The taxpayer-paid state office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a copy of a Republican Party blog penned entry by controversial CRP Chairman and Grover Norquist/Jack Abramhoff associate Ron Nehring attacking Democrats for their health care plans -- a move some say violates a state ban on using public resources for political purposes.
 
The Schwarzenegger Press Office sent an "In Case You Missed it Memo" to reporters with a headline "Governor Schwarzenegger vs. The Left on Health Care." The partisan blog equates Democratic health care proposals with those of East Germany. Using taxpayer dollars to circulate GOP party material is widely considered to be illegal; typically the "In Case You Missed It" pieces are copies of articles and editorials in the press that favor Schwarzenegger, not partisan materials.
 
It's likely that an FPPC compliant will be filed over this apparent misuse of public resources; we'll provide details on that once it is filed.
 
This isn't the first time the Administration has crossed the line between official state business and campaign business. The Los Angeles Times and others heavily criticized full-time Administration staffers collecting paychecks from the campaign last year.

Image courtesy Hightower Lowdown.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

Perata and Nunez have fleshed out their health care proposals and put a price tag on them. They cost less than Arnold's plan. However, they are not universal, covering 69% of the uninsured. But, that includes more part-time workers and dependents than the governor's proposals. Both Perata's and Nunez's legislation would set the employer contribution at 7.5% of payroll, about what the average firm already contributes to health care. Arnold's plan is woefully low at 4%

It may cover less than Arnold's "universal" plan, but has garnered more support from the power players on this issue, with good reason. LAT:

But several key players in the debate in Sacramento seem poised to back the Democrats' approach over the governor's as closed-door negotiations intensify. Both critics and backers said the chances of the Democrats' plans were bolstered by an outside analysis of the plans that said they would raise enough money to subsidize care for the poor and all low- and moderate-income children in California.

There are serious questions about the viability of Arnold's health care funding. The Democrats want to cover less people, but thus far their proposals are more realistic. A number of stakeholders voiced their approval yesterday:

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

• Democratic legislative leaders release financial specifics on health care proposals
• Proposals would cover over two-thirds of uninsured; provide more security for workers
• Momentum for reform prospects, affordability for consumers and employers highlighted

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Leaders’ New Proposals Narrow “Individual Purchase Mandate,” But Still Bow to Private, For-Profit Insurance Industry

By Jerry Flanagan
The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR)

New legislative health care proposals by California Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and state Senate leader Don Perata focus on covering more children and omit or narrow the “individual mandate” to buy insurance that marked Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposal. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights (FTCR) has praised the new plans for acknowledging that individuals should not be forced to buy private insurance, but faulted the proposals for their failure to keep health care affordable by regulating insurance rates.

FTCR expressed disappointment that the proposals continue to rely exclusively on the private insurance market instead of giving Californians access to the nonprofit public insurance pool already offered by the state employee benefit program through CalPERS.