FCL ACTION ALERTS
April 07, 2005

Senate Insurance Committee Passes Universal Health Care!

Dear FCL Supporter,

SB 840, The California Health Insurance Reliability Act (CHIRA) by Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) passed the Senate Banking, Finance and Insurance Committee late yesterday by a vote of 7-4. CHIRA creates a universal health care plan with comprehensive benefits for all Californians.

Senator Dave Cox (R- Fair Oaks) voted no, saying that SB 840 would destroy California's health care system and that he preferred the creation of medical savings accounts.

Everybody knows that healthcare costs are out of control. The system is broken and tinkering won't fix it," - said Senator Kuehl. We're beyond the point of cosmetic surgery. SB 840 is the cure.  Approximately half of all bankruptcies are due to medical costs. Of those, 75 percent had health insurance.

Senator Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborogh), the Chair of the Committee, drew applause when she said that the creation of Medicare was bold act and that most people would be unwilling to give up their Medicare benefits. Speier chided the opposition for their repeated failure to come forward with their own plan.

CHIRA will likely be referred next to the Senate Health Committee.

Thank you for your letters of support and for your testimony at the hearing.

Aye Votes: Figueroa, Lowenthal, Machado, Murray, Ortiz, Scott, Speier

No Votes: Cox, Denham, Hollingsworth, Maldonado

Sincerely yours,

Jim Lindburg
Legislative Advocate
 

http://www.fclca.org
E-mail: JimL@fclca.org
Phone: (916) 443-3734
Fax:     (916) 448-6109

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