Newspapers Publish Recommendations on Ballot Initiatives, Including Health-Related Measures
The Orange County Register and Fresno Bee this week published their recommendations on how state residents should vote on initiatives on the Nov. 8 special election ballot, including Proposition 73, 78 and 79. In addition, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat published an editorial with recommendations on Propositions 78 and 79.
Proposition 73 would amend the state constitution to require health care providers to inform a parent or guardian 48 hours before performing an abortion on an unmarried minor (California Healthline, 10/14).
The Register recommends voting "yes" (Orange County Register, 10/19).
The Fresno Bee recommends voting "no" (Fresno Bee, 10/20).
Proposition 78 would establish a voluntary prescription drug discount plan for state residents whose annual incomes do not exceed 300% of the federal poverty level. The measure is supported by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (California Healthline, 10/18).
The Register recommends voting "no" (Orange County Register, 10/19).
The Fresno Bee recommends voting "no" (Fresno Bee, 10/20).
The Press Democrat recommends voting "no" (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 10/19).
Proposition 79, a measure supported by Health Access California and a coalition of labor groups, would require drug makers to participate in a prescription drug discount program or face exclusion from the Medi-Cal formulary in some cases. To qualify, state residents' annual incomes could not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level. State residents who spend more than 5% of their annual income on health care also would be eligible to participate in Proposition 79's drug discount program. In addition, people could sue a pharmaceutical company if they believe it is participating in illegal pricing practices (California Healthline, 10/18).
The Register recommends voting "no" (Orange County Register, 10/19).
The Fresno Bee recommends voting "no" (Fresno Bee, 10/20).
The Press Democrat recommends voting "no" (Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 10/19).
"Californians cannot afford to cede control of [prescription drug] costs to the drug manufacturers as proposed in Proposition 78," Helen Russ, state president of AARP, and Tom Porter, state director of AARP, write in a Sacramento Bee opinion piece. They add that Proposition 79 "is a more reasonable framework and eventually should deliver meaningful drug discounts for California's medically uninsured" (Russ/Porter, Sacramento Bee, 10/20).
In related news, KCRW's "Which Way, L.A.?" on Tuesday included a discussion of Proposition 73. Guests on the program included:
- Jenna Bellman, director of prevention education and training at the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital Los Angeles;
- Katie Short, an attorney who helped draft the proposed amendment;
- Jennifer Obakhume, a student at Inglewood High School and reporter for Youth Radio in Los Angeles; and
- Dawn Wilcox, spokesperson for Campaign for Teen Safety (Olney, "Which Way, L.A.?," KCRW, 10/18).
Additional information on Propositions 73, 78 and 79 is available at HealthVote.org. 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.