Governor Newsom Will Have To Reckon With Single-Payer Promises That Candidate Newsom Made
Gavin Newsom sailed to victory with help from supporters who are backing him because he champions a single-payer future for California. But the opposition to the model remains stiff.
KQED:
High Expectations On The Left For Governor-Elect Gavin Newsom
Single-payer is where state government essentially replaces insurance companies in paying health care providers. Last year, nurses were furious when a bill to advance single-payer died in the state Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown expressed doubt the state could afford it. Now, with Newsom set to replace Brown as governor, Stephanie Roberson, legislative advocate with the California Nurses Association, hopes to move the single-payer ball down the field. (Shafer, 11/7)
The San Diego Union-Tribune:
7 Things To Know About Gavin Newsom, California's New Governor
[Gavin] Newsom focused much of his time on homelessness and health care during his time as mayor, emphasizing services for homeless individuals, though his success doing so was mixed. An advocate for recreational and medical marijuana, Newsom led the campaign for Proposition 64 — which voters approved in 2016 to make recreational marijuana use legal in California 20 years after the electorate embraced medical marijuana. ... As mayor, Newsom helped create one of the nation’s first city-wide universal health care initiative, and he wants to see a similar program established for the entire state. Newsom also believes in universal preschool and two free years of community college tuition. (Hamblin, 11/7)