Editorial and Opinion Writers Assess GOP Health Reform Plan
Senate Republicans on Tuesday unveiled their health care reform proposal. The proposal would seek to expand access to health care services for one million of the state's 6.5 million uninsured residents.
The proposal would not cover the state's estimated 2.5 million uninsured residents who are undocumented immigrants, nor would it require coverage for uninsured residents who are eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage, state insurance programs or those who can afford individual coverage, according to the plan (California Healthline, 1/31).
Summaries of an editorial and opinion pieces reacting to the health care reform proposal appear below.
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Orange County Register: The Senate Republicans have "unveiled an appealing plan to improve the availability and affordability of health care for all residents without imposing new taxes or forcing businesses or individuals to buy or provide anything," a Register editorial states. "The plan certainly is responsible since it leaves in the hands of individuals rather than the state the task of obtaining and paying for insurance and health care," according to the editorial (Orange County Register, 2/1).
- Daniel Weintraub, Sacramento Bee: The Republicans' plan "has no chance of being approved as written. It won't even get out of its first committee," Weintraub writes in his Bee column. "But it's an excellent start -- and it includes some creative ideas for expanding coverage without raising taxes," Weintraub concludes (Weintraub, Sacramento Bee, 2/1).
- George Skelton, Los Angeles Times: "Schwarzenegger needs GOP support" for his proposal to pass, Skelton writes in his Times column "Capitol Journal." He writes, "Credit Senate Republicans with showing [the governor] how to get it on the emotional issue of illegal immigrants: Treat their routine ailments, without insurance, in low-cost clinics. It's not brain surgery" (Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 2/1).
KQED's "The California Report" on Wednesday reported on the Republican proposal. The segment includes comments from Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster) and Peter Harbage of the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation (Myers, "The California Report," KQED, 1/31). Audio of the segment is available online.
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.