by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

There is a lot to get up to speed on and a relative light news day, so here are a few of my favorite articles from today for folks to chew on.

• A bunch of new laws went into effect yesterday, including another $.50 raise in the minimum wage. Great news for the countless workers trying to eek out a living on what is now $8 an hour.
• The Bee has a good overview on the health care deal, done in a Q and A style. Go check it out for the basics on the proposed legislation that is awaiting the Senate's action.
• Steve Lopez has an excellent column today telling the story of one kid who is being screwed by Blue Cross. It is just one of tens of thousands that could be told. There is something seriously wrong with our health care system.
• California is suing the EPA after it rejected our request for a waiver to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Bush is sure to drag this one out until the end of his term. Meanwhile global warming gets worse. Fabulous isn't it?

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

While Democratic negotiators of a comprehensive health care package continue to meet behind the scenes with Schwarzenegger Administration officials to come up with a compromise bill, politicos of all political stripes are trying to figure out if the financing for what they devise could win the support of voters if it's put on next November's ballot.

In one corner are the powerful and well-financed opponents of any type of health care reform. Blue Cross, the California Chamber of Commerce, and the pharmaceutical industry all are likely to put big bucks into thwarting an initiative that threatens their profits.

On top of that crowd, the proposal by Democratic legislators to tax tobacco by $2 per pack also will attract the opposition of Big Tobacco. This past November, Big Tobacco spent upwards of $12 million in Oregon to kill a cigarette tax increase that would have used revenue for children's health care. Supporters of the effort were underfunded and disorganized. But still, a win is a win.

Add to that mix the radical California Nurses Association, which would attack any compromise from the left. CNA's political clout has taken a nosedive in the past two years, however, so its opposition won't be worth more than some scant media coverage. Still, it shows the odd bedfellows that would make up the opposition, making it look a little bit like the bar in Star Wars.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

It looks like the affordability issues have been taken care of with regards to AB 8 and it now has the pretty much full support from the labor and consumer groups. The bill is now on the Assembly floor and seemed destined for Arnold's desk. While, he has promised a veto, the more pressure that is brought to bear on him the better. This bill does an excellent job creating large group pools, from both programs open to all to join and an expansion of governmental programs that will help reduce expenses. Naturally, Blue Cross et. all strongly oppose the plan.

He has been pledging to bring the legislature back for a special session. The goal would be to hash out a compromise. Weintraub has a good overview of what's going on and how such an agreement will be likely created. (h/t to Dave). He starts off talking about AB8.

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by Matt Ortega [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(Disclosure: I work for It's OUR Healthcare.)

The state legislature is down to its final days of the session and Blue Cross alerted their list of insurance agent supporters that current reforms on the table are "unhealthy." (And the status quo isn't?)

The fact of the matter is that Blue Cross, and like-minded groups, are adamantly opposed to real healthcare reform in California: creating astroturf front groups (with a laundry list of insurance agent supporters) and running print and radio advertisements stressing "responsible" reform as part of a scare-tactic campaign.

But what's really irresponsible is standing in the way of meaningful healthcare reform.

Below is a video parody of the Monty Python's The Life of Brian, specifically, "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life."

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

One I had a hand in creating that goes after Arnold and another by Its OUR Health Care on Blue Cross.

"Doh! Arnold won't "read or lead" on dirty tricks

The Bright Side of Death

by Its OUR Healthcare [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

In Los Angeles yesterday, Blue Cross was brought before the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) following 4,100 calls and complaints in the last three years. The Sick of Blue Cross petition drive turned in more than 1,600 in only one week's time.

The hearing gave Californians a great opportunity to hold the state's largest for-profit health insurer accountable for dangerous business practices such as only covering the healthy and denying coverage to the sick. Blue Cross is also notorious for raising rates however and whenever it chooses.

Find out more and see pictures of Mr. Sick of Blue Cross below the fold...

For years, Blue Cross has treated California like an ATM machine and recently shipped $950 million in profits to it's corporate parent, WellPoint, based in Indiana.

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

The guys behind It's OUR Health Care just launched a new site called Sick of Blue Cross designed to expose the campaign Blue Cross is waging against reform. They have a letter you can sign to Schwarzenegger and your legislature to tell them to stand up to Blue Cross.

There is a page full of horror stories from consumers of Blue Cross, like this one from Kristina in San Jose:

I went to the hospital a few times for a routine treatment and everything was fine, until I got the bills. The hospital said I didn't have insurance, even though I did. When I called Blue Cross, they told me they would "take care of it." The next thing I know, the bills for those visits were sent to collections.

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