Posted on 12/03/2006 10:06:41 AM PST by NormsRevenge
As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's team of health care consultants prepares a plan for overhauling California's $200 billion health care industry, administration officials say the governor is willing to consider all solutions -- including those that may be unpopular with the governor's allies in the business community.
Though employer groups vociferously oppose requiring businesses to cover their workers, the governor's staff says that could be a part of his proposal.
"Everything is on the table," Schwarzenegger's communications director, Adam Mendelsohn, said last week.
Schwarzenegger actively worked in 2004 to repeal Senate Bill 2, a state law requiring big employers to provide coverage.
But his opposition was based on how that law was written, administration officials now say. In recent days, they have been careful to clarify that the governor is not absolutely opposed to employer mandates.
Kim Belshé, Schwarzenegger's secretary for health and human services, said at a press briefing last week that the governor was likely to embrace an approach that requires all sectors to shoulder some of the costs of covering the more than 6 million Californians who are uninsured.
The governor is "open to the principle of shared responsibility, and that involves government, that involves individuals, that involves employers, that involves health plans and providers," Belshé said during a press briefing.
Business groups say they remain firmly opposed to a requirement on employers.
"We're opposed to employer mandates," California Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg said. "It's part of our principles."
The discussions are happening as Schwarzenegger's team of health care consultants has held hundreds of meetings with groups representing insurers, hospitals, doctors, consumers and others.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
full byline is
Aides say governor may ask employers to shoulder worker coverage, but is seeking other ideas.
This is going to be a battle "Rayale".
Employers who have to cover the cost of health care for their illegal alien employees is a good thing.
Well .. I hope the Gov realizes that if he does make that choice .. companies will ALSO CHOOSE TO LEAVE THE STATE.
So much for encouraging business.
I guess the hope is that illegals will then be less competitive-no jobs, they leave, and voila! All the honest people are no longer on the hook.
However, since 60%??? work under the table, it's probably just a Sunday morning fantasy.
and people thought Superman was dead.
If there is one on his underwear, it doesn't stand for Super anything!!! It stands for sucky SOCIALIST!!! (oh! That would then be "SS!")
Powder..Patch..Ball FIRE!!!
The productive will be taxed to fund the non-productive...again!
It is called redistribution of wealth. And liberals will try to do it again and again....
"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
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