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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901630.html

On his health-care plan, Schwarzenegger tried to sidestep Republican orthodoxy against higher taxes by calling for an increase in "fees" to pay for expanded state coverage.

"Whether or not a fee is a tax, whatever you call it, in his proposal we would not support it," said state Senate Republican leader Dick Ackerman. "There's some areas in here which we support and some areas we don't support. He's proposing covering illegal immigrants, and that we do not support."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-analysis9jan09,1,5500664.story?coll=la-headlines-politics

Business leaders and conservative lawmakers were not immediately buying the governor's proposal.

"It is disappointing that just 72 hours into his [second term] he's shattered the central campaign pledge upon which he won reelection — not to raise taxes," said state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), who ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor last year with the governor's support.

"I think it's ironic," McClintock continued, "that a governor who just proclaimed himself a centrist would come up with a proposal well to the left of the one presented by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata," a Democrat from Oakland.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/01/10/news/top_stories/1_01_061_8_07.txt

Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines said in a statement that he opposed requiring businesses to pay taxes in lieu of providing health insurance.

"Imposing a new jobs tax on employers of any size and expanding costly government mandates is the wrong approach, one which will devastate our economy," Villines said. "We continue to agree with the governor's statements in 2004, when he argued that a new jobs tax will be a job killer and force many businesses to lay off workers, move out of state or close their doors for good."

The plan also drew strong reaction from those who oppose state benefits for illegal immigrants. Several local Republican lawmakers, including state Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Carlsbad, said they would oppose enrolling illegal immigrants in state-funded health programs.

"I don't think we should be asking citizens to cover benefits for those who are here illegally," Wyland said.

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1538709.php

Republicans said tax dollars shouldn't go to help cover uninsured illegal immigrants, estimated at 1 million people by the state.

Schwarzenegger said the federal government requires medical care for illegal immigrants. Instead of providing them with the most expensive – at emergency rooms – the state should provide care efficiently and with less expense through insurance programs, he said.

But Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman of Irvine said uninsured illegal immigrants might number more than 2 million people and that some health care assumptions need to be studied.

"Nobody knows the exact number. I think everybody is making an educated guess," Ackerman said.

The health care debate needs to slow down while the state tries to get better numbers, he said.

Ackerman said Republicans estimate as many as 900,000 people in the state can afford insurance but choose not to buy it and another 900,000 already qualify for programs. If those numbers are correct, he said, the state might not need a program as radical as the governor's.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/16419206.htm

The administration contends the governor’s plan does not include taxes because the money collected will be recycled specifically into health coverage.

California Chamber of Commerce President Allan Zaremberg, who worked in the administration of two Republican governors, maintains "revenue enhancements" in the plan require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.

"The payroll tax on employers and the 4 percent and 2 percent charge on hospitals and doctors, require a two-thirds vote," Zaremberg said.