Mortgage Crisis Poses Challenges to Health Care Reform
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic legislative leaders are facing mounting obstacles in approving health care reform, especially as Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) has shifted lawmakers' focus to helping homeowners with subprime mortgage loans.
After postponing a vote on health care reform, Núñez conceded that the threat of widespread mortgage defaults is "the biggest crisis we're facing today."
Nonetheless, the governor and legislative leaders remain outwardly confident that health care reform will happen this year, with a spokesperson for Núñez insisting that a vote will be held before Dec. 25.
Even if Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders hammer out a deal, political analysts warn that winning legislative approval for the plan will be the least of lawmakers' worries. Voters might be reluctant to approve the funding mechanism for the plan with the state facing a slowing economy and a $10 billion budget shortfall.
While negotiations continue, here's a review of legislation from 2007 dealing with health care facilities.