MRMIB: Davis Reapportioning Leaves Lean Board
The decision by newly elected Gov. Gray Davis to yank the nominations of 135 Wilson appointees awaiting confirmation has left the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board without a quorum. Sandra Shewry, executive director of MRMIB, confirmed yesterday that three board members were included in the nominations withdrawn last week. Board chair Cliff Allenby, former state Department of Health Services Director Kim Belshe and Tom Topuzes were among the nominations withdrawn by the governor. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Davis told the state Senate in a one-sentence letter that he was yanking the nominations made by former Gov. Pete Wilson. Davis press secretary Michael Bustamante said, "There were about 135 (appointees) we invited to not continue. The 135 at this point have been withdrawn, and we will review them and make a determination later." Meanwhile, Davis appointed Tal Finney as temporary chair of the MRMIB board, according to Shewry. Remaining board members include Soap Dowell and Dr. Sandra Hernandez, who have served on the board since 1990 and 1998, respectively. MRMIB administers four health care programs in California: the Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM), the Health Insurance Plan of California (HIPC), the Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) and the Healthy Families program (Kennedy, California Healthline).
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