[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

In Schwarzenegger's presentation on the budget last Wednesday, when being grilled by the media on the specifics of his lottery proposal and other elements of his budget, he made a point to invoke his "don't forget health reform" pitch: he indicated it was a shame it didn't pass earlier in the year, and how he is still committed to doing health reform in his term:

"As you know, we have made severe cuts in health care. And when it comes to health care, what is even more painful is that we didn't get health care reform done, because that would have given Medi-Cal an additional $4 billion dollars. So we are going to go and continue staying on that subject of health care reform, and continue working with the stakeholders together to get this done."

Some, especially those in the Senate, used the budget crisis as an excuse to stall AB x1 1, the negotiated plan between the Governor and the Speaker, saying it wasn't the right time for such an ambitious effort in the middle of a budget crisis. Others, especially in the Administration, stated that the budget deficit only reinforced the urgency of health reform.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

California Democratic Party chair Art Torres isn't impressed with John McCain's health care proposal. Here's the statement:

"One day after a new Field Poll showed that nearly six in ten California voters are 'very concerned' about not being able to afford health care, John McCain has presented a health care 'plan' that amounts to nothing more than a third Bush term.
 
The fact of the matter is McCain’s plan is all style and no substance. The McCain proposal lacks any specifics on how he plans to help more people get health insurance, or how he will bring down costs and improve quality.
 
And the plan wouldn’t do anything to help Senator McCain’s and my fellow cancer survivors and others with pre-existing conditions find health insurance.
 
Before John McCain publicly fantasizes again about winning California in November, he ought to listen to the millions of Californians who are very worried about their health care. Californians simply won’t accept four more years of the Bush approach to health care reform."

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Is it really that bad? Governor Schwarzenegger says California's budget deficit has reached $20 billion, but there may some strategy behind an inflated figure, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Even if the deficit is alittle lower, starting out bleak can force the hand of the Republicans,who hide behind their "no tax pledge" to avoid responsibility.

Our previous governor, Gray Davis, got in hot water for inflating the budget deficit to push for higher taxes, so it wouldn't be unprecedented for Arnold to be doing the same thing, writes Dan Walters in today's Sacramento Bee.

To his credit, perhaps, the Governor continues to assist health care reform can be passed and signed into law, and wants to bring back a bill with the same elements of last year'sfailed attempt, the Associated Press reports. The one thing he forgetto mention was how he intends to pay for it.

There's more... 

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Art Pulaski
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
California Labor Federation

No one likes going to work sick, but nearly six million working Californians – that’s 40 percent of all workers in the state -- do not get any paid sick days from their employers. For these workers, staying home sick could mean losing a day’s wages, or even their jobs.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Anthony Wright
Executive Director of Health Access California

California's effort at comprehensive health care reform is still getting attention, as various experts from California and across the country are weighing in with their analyses, reports, and debriefs from the fight. (This is beyond the initial reactions in the first week, by Health Access and many others, such as editorial boards.)

It's clear the eyes of the nation (or at least health reformers) were on California, and there's a consensus that there are important lessons to learn from our experience: from the policy, from the politics, and the process, as the nation starts to deal with this issue as the federal level. While not endorsing the view of any commentator or author, here's what has come out just recently:

• The New America Foundation has a full report, entitled "Lessons From California's Health Reform Efforts for the National Debate" written by Peter Harbage, Leif Wellington Haase, and Len Nichols.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By David Dayen
d-day

Facing a torrent of criticism Tuesday, Blue Cross of California abruptly halted its practice of asking physicians in a letter to look for medical conditions that could be used to cancel patients' insurance coverage.

In a statement issued about 6 p.m., the state's largest for-profit insurer said, "Today we reached out to our provider partners and California regulators and determined this letter is no longer necessary and, in fact, was creating a misimpression and causing some members and providers undue concern.

"As a result, we are discontinuing the dissemination of this letter going forward."

The Los Angeles Times occasionally earns its moniker of the Los Angeles Dog Trainer, but they have covered the many Blue Cross issues with a great deal of honor and professionalism. And they can be proud of the results.