Lockyer Chides Governor for Veto of Hospital Financing Bill
In a letter sent last week, Treasurer Bill Lockyer (D) criticized Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) veto of SB 1221 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), the Sacramento Bee's "Capitol Alert" reports (Goldmacher, "Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 10/14).
The bill would have required health care facilities to demonstrate that they meet community benefit standards before seeking tax-exempt funding through the California Health Facilities Financing Authority, a local government, or a joint powers authority (Senate analysis, 8/27).
In the letter, Lockyer wrote that the bill would have clarified existing legislation and applied the community benefit standard to hospitals seeking financing from JPAs, not just those seeking financing through CHFFA. Lockyer maintains that the bill would have eliminated one motivation for hospitals to opt for JPA financing over CHFFA financing, arguing that JPAs provide less oversight of financing moves than CHFFA (Lockyer letter to Schwarzenegger, 10/7).
In the letter, Lockyer also criticized Schwarzeneggerâs veto of SB 1293, which also dealt with JPAs. Lockyer pledged to support both bills again in the 2009 legislative session ("Capitol Alert," Sacramento Bee, 10/14).
Lockyer's letter to the governor is posted on the Bee's "Capitol Alert" (.pdf).
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.