Posted on 10/31/2006 12:27:23 PM PST by calcowgirl
Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promises comprehensive healthcare reforms but says he's saving the details for after the election.
Critics say the governor's opposition to Democratic proposals and his failure to offer solutions of his own do not bode well for a second term.
But on Friday, in a Fox News interview, the governor said: "We are going to go and do everything that we can to reform healthcare, to provide healthcare for everyone in California."
(snip)
Schwarzenegger has tapped healthcare policy experts to help draft a reform plan, with the idea of laying out the particulars next year in his State of the State address. Their members include Herb Schultz, a former aide to Democratic Gov. Gray Davis, who helped write the bill that became Proposition 72, and John Ramey, who worked with the California Chamber of Commerce to help defeat the measure.
In a San Diego Union-Tribune Op-Ed piece in September, Schwarzenegger wrote that he favors an approach that "provides affordable medical treatment to people when they are ill," "strives to make sure people don't get sick in the first place," "supports cost containment," "promotes personal responsibility and builds on existing private and public systems" and "recognizes the shared responsibility of individuals, employers and government."
"Those are the kind of statements that suggest a broad direction but avoid a specificity that doesn't really let us know where he's going to go if he's reelected," said E. Richard Brown, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
One thing that Schwarzenegger has made clear — his opposition to new taxes — would limit the scope of any proposed reform, said Jack Lewin, the outgoing chief executive California Medical Assn.
"We don't believe you can get 7 million insured here without any additional resources," Lewin said.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
With his re-election apparently all but certain, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is turning his attention to what he says will be the major focus of the start of his second term: health care.
At a private gathering at the home of venture capitalist Ray Lane in Atherton on Oct. 18, Mr. Schwarzenegger told a room full of technology executives -- who donated $300,000 that night -- the expansion of health insurance would be his major focus in 2007.
"Gov. Schwarzenegger has put health care at the top of his legislative agenda," says Patrick Shannon, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig LLP, who attended the function.
In fact, next year is shaping up as the year of the great health care battle. State Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, plans to reintroduce her bill from this year that would have created a single-payer health insurance plan. That bill, SB 840, passed the Legislature but was vetoed by Mr. Schwarzenegger.
(snip)
Since the summit, the governor, a Republican, has appointed four advisors to come up with the plan he will present in January at his State of the State speech.
His appointments include Herb Schultz, a former deputy director of external affairs of the Department of Managed Health Care; John Ramey, the former director of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board; Richard Figueroa, who was the legislative director for Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi; and Daniel Zingale, the first lady's chief of staff. Mr. Zingale ran the Department of Managed Health Care during the Gray Davis administration.
The latter two appointments had not been announced as of Oct. 25, but people involved with the task force confirmed them.
(snip)
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
If my vote was for Angelides, it would be for immediate socialism. If my vote is for Arnold it is for incremental socialism. Not much of a choice.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus
Herb Schultz, former aide to Democratic Gov. Gray Davis and who helped write the bill that became Proposition 72 and a former deputy director of external affairs of the Department of Managed Health CareJohn Ramey, who worked with the California Chamber of Commerce to help defeat Proposition 72
Richard Figueroa, the legislative director for Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi
Daniel Zingale, the first lady's chief of staff. Mr. Zingale ran the Department of Managed Health Care during the Gray Davis administration
Agreed. There is no good choice, except maybe an immediate departure from California.
well, at least they all know their way around the Capitol. :-)
" an immediate departure from California"
Working on it! ;)
Didn't think the Austrian could outdo the Texan when it came to rolling out the welcome mat.
Next we'll have 3 story, neon signs on our southern border:
If You Can Make It, Health Care Is Free For Life !
When Pete Wilson's right hand, Bob White, came to visit him on the set of "End of Days" in 1999, Schwarzenegger was cool to White's idea that he enter politics and revive the state GOP. The star instead complained about the party's support for the impeachment of President Clinton. Two years later, Schwarzenegger's political consultants sat him down in front of a camera and asked him to state his views on issues. He railed against partisan politics and laid out his plan for expanding healthcare coverage. After focus groups complained that the plan sounded like something Hillary Rodham Clinton would embrace, he dropped the idea.
"California is still too prosperous! I can think of no better way to shove us even further into debt than to socialize health care. Let's do it! Fiscal conservatism is so boring!"
It ain'ta gonna stop any time soon, either!!!
I think you better think on that idea some more before you bet any money on it. Maria wouldn't like it either!!! (grin)
Yes... And everyone will be saying:"don't tax you and don't tax me... tax that man behind that tree!!!"
Very much like free ice cubes for Eskimoes!
'Free' healthcare has always been there for those who want it; just eat real food instead of pasta, french fries, wonderbread, and soy beans. It can be done without any tax increase too; real food is actually cheaper than the junk.
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