Posted on 09/01/2006 7:17:07 PM PDT by FairOpinion
DANVILLE -- Danville resident Mary Roberts doesn't trust the government with her health or her money.
As a baby boomer and a Republican, she said she's concerned with the rising cost of healthcare, how she will pay for it in the future and how the issue will play out in the upcoming election. But like other citizens of Danville, an affluent East Bay community 18 miles southeast of Berkeley, she opposed Senate Bill 840 that proposes ending private insurance and replacing it with state-run healthcare for everyone.
Danville and Clayton are the only cities in Contra Costa, Alameda and San Francisco counties that supported President George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he will veto the bill, an action state democrats hope will become an important issue for the upcoming gubernatorial election.
"Healthcare is too critical. We can't put it in the hands of the government," Roberts said.
Roberts said healthcare is a topic she will follow closely as the election approaches. Schwarzenegger has said he will propose a specific plan for affordable healthcare next year if he is re-elected.
"There's no kidding around with (healthcare access)," Roberts said. "It will affect us all and it keeps getting more expensive. I'd say people need to work hard and find good employers to keep themselves insured. It shouldn't be left to the government."
The bill, which was written by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, was approved by the Assembly Monday. It is scheduled to come before the Senate for a vote by the end of this week.
About 6.6 million Californians are uninsured, State Department of Insurance spokesman Norman Williams said. According to the department's 2005 report, "Priced Out," 20 percent or 1 in five residents are uninsured. The U.S. average is 15 percent.
Senator Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, said he thinks the bill would help the many uninsured Californians.
"I support Sen. Kuehl's efforts to address the healthcare crisis ongoing in our state," he said. "I recognize that many families are one illness away from bankruptcy."
Despite the large number of uninsured residents in the state, Bay Area Republican groups and party branches also said they won't support the bill.
Thomas Del Beccaro, Contra Costa County Republican Party chairman, said if passed, the bill would diminish the level of healthcare service to Californians.
"I'm not in favor of types of bills that essentially socialize insurance and coverage," he said. "It doesn't work. You wind up with a system like Canada which rations services, and in the long run reduces benefits."
According to Statistics Canada, the country's statistical agency, 80 percent of Canadians are content with their health care access, but complained of long waiting lists to see specialists, get tests and have elective surgery.
Low income Americans are more likely to be in poor health than low-income Canadians, but overall Canadians had more unmet healthcare needs, according to a study done by Statistics Canada and the US National Center for Health Statistics of US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Eric Gordon, another Danville resident who considers himself an independent, said he's against most government-run programs because he thinks bureaucracy leads to inefficient and ineffective service. He cited the Transportation Security Administration, which is in charge of providing security and screening for passenger and freight transportation, as an example.
"It's better to do it on your own, no matter what the cost," he said. "For many things are great now, but I don't think the government could make them any better."
The socialized medicine ( aka "universal healthcare, single payer) bill, SB840 that the socialist Dem controlled CA Legislature passed would be an unmitigated disaster. Fortunately, Arnold is expected to veto it.
Single payer is just another term for super sized group insurance, the most expensive. Don`t believe it, check out the cost of your state employee insurance. You`ll choke when you see the number.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Arnold will never sign a socialized healthcare bill.
He hates socialism.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Of course this is one of those things that would destroy the state in no time and Arnold will veto I am sure, but this is the main issue Hillary will push to get elected in 2008.
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