Unions Rally Behind Single-Payer Health Care Measure
Members of the California School Employees Association and other unions in San Bernardino on Saturday rallied to support SB 840, a bill that would create a state-run, single-payer health care system in California, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports.
The measure by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles) would provide health care coverage to all California residents (Ladrón de Guevara, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 6/3).
The measure would require contributions from businesses and workers to help fund the program.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) in 2006 vetoed SB 840 after it won support in the Legislature (California Healthline, 5/15).
Vince Sollitto, vice president of external affairs for the California Chamber of Commerce, said a state-run, single-payer system would create a costly bureaucracy that would require new taxes to operate. He added that government officials instead should focus on increasing funding for Medicare and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.
Andrew McGuire, executive director for Health Care for All-California, said a state-run, single-payer system would cost less because administrative costs would be reduced (Riverside Press-Enterprise, 6/3).