Well, Well. Look Who's Opposed to Universal Health Care for Californians.

Update:

Link to Sen Committee meeting underway now https://t.co/nDvD5ZcBrQ

Update:

The California Senate Health Committee this afternoon, Wednesday, April 26th, just voted 5-1 with three Senators still to vote to pass SB 562, single-payer, universal health care through their committee.

The California Senate Health Committee staff completed an analysis of SB 562, Universal, Single Payer, ‘Medicare for All’ legislation yesterday — legislation authored by Senator Ricardo Lara that will come before the committee this afternoon, Wednesday, April 26th.

In the report is a list of 206 supporting organizations (starting on page 15) and those in opposition. The supporting organizations span an incredible spectrum, from a number of large labor unions to Sue’s Hair Salon, from homeless people’s organizations to the City of Los Angeles, from neighborhood associations to the Courage Campaign.

The opposition is, shall we politely say, not so broad, nor so deep: Out of forty-three organizations listed in opposition there are twelve that are either health insurers or organizations of health insurers and nineteen Chambers of Commerce or similar, not to mention (surprise!) the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.

America’s Health Insurance Plans Anthem Blue Cross Association of California Insurance Companies Association of California Life & Health Insurance Companies Bay Area Council Blue Shield of California California Association of Health Plans California Association of Health Underwriters California Chamber of Commerce California Farm Bureau Federation

California Framing Contractors Association California League of Food Processors California Manufacturers & Technology Association California Professional Association of Specialty Contractors California Retailers Association California Taxpayers Association California Trucking Association Camarillo Chamber of Commerce El Centro Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau Fresno Chamber of Commerce

Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce Health Net Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of California Kaiser Permanente Long Beach Chamber of Commerce Murrieta Chamber of Commerce Molina Healthcare National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors of California

National Federation of Independent Business North Orange County Chamber of Commerce Oceanside Chamber of Commerce Orange County Business Council Oxnard Chamber of Commerce Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Bureau Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce Southwest California Legislative Council Torrance Chamber of Commerce

Valley Industry and Commerce Association Western Growers Association Yuba-Sutter Chamber of Commerce

That insurers who will go out of business are in opposition is at least understandable. That business associations don’t want their employees (and themselves!) to be guaranteed medical coverage and care is simply despicable.  There should be a special circle of hell for Chambers of Commerce, but I would settle for even just a few degrees of arc.

There will be a rally beginning at 11:00 AM in Sacramento today (Wednesday, April 26th), organized by the California Nurses Association. Buses have been arriving in Sacramento from all over the state as I type, filled with individuals supporting health care as a right. You should be able to watch the rally here.

The bill is scheduled to be heard in committee starting at 1:30 PM.  The hearing can be viewed here.

California lawmakers are considering an audacious proposal that would substantially remake the state's health care system by eliminating insurance companies and guaranteeing coverage for everyone.

Hundreds of nurses are planning to rally Wednesday in Sacramento ahead of a hearing in the Senate Health Committee.

"We have the chance to make universal health care a reality now," Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, said last month. "It's time to talk about how we get to health care for all that covers more and costs less."

The measure would guarantee health coverage with no out-of-pocket costs for all residents of California, including people living in the country illegally. Private insurers would be barred from covering the same services, essentially eliminating them from the marketplace. Instead, a new state agency would contract with health care providers such as doctors and hospitals and pay the bills for everyone.

www.scpr.org/...

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By the way, Daily Kos isn’t on the list of supporting orgs, even though they have lent their name to the Courage Campaign’s petition in support of SB 562, which you can sign.

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Background: It's Getting Real: Healthcare 4 All - An Analysis of SB562, CA's Single Payer Healthcare Legislation

SB 562 Legislation text as it currently stands.