Free Republic

As many as 6 million Californians would benefit from legislation sent Wednesday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that would impose mandatory prescription drug discounts. Schwarzenegger has said he will sign the bill, the result of negotiations between his staff and the Legislature's Democratic leadership. "With prescription drug costs contributing to more than 8 percent of health care inflation, this is a critical step in addressing access to affordable health care," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. The bill, by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, passed a final Assembly vote 42-28, with lawmakers sticking to party lines. "This is an opportunity to...

SACRAMENTO – A sweeping $3 billion agreement to give hundreds of low-performing schools smaller classes, more qualified teachers and additional counselors was revealed yesterday by the Schwarzenegger administration and the California Teachers Association. The proposal would create one of the largest pilot programs in state history, targeting 600 struggling schools heavily populated with minority students. As the Legislature worked feverishly to complete business for the year by tomorrow night's deadline, lawmakers also advanced several notable bills that would: Provide prescription drug discounts for about 5 million uninsured or underinsured residents. Make illegal immigrant students eligible for higher education financial aid...

SACRAMENTO Legislation to provide prescription drug discounts for about 5 million uninsured or underinsured Californians was approved by the Senate on Tuesday despite warnings that it wouldn't work or could harm the state's poorest residents. The bill, the result of negotiations between the Schwarzenegger administration and Democrats, would require the state Department of Health Services to attempt to negotiate discounts with drug manufacturers. Drug companies that refused to cut deals with the state could find it tougher to get their prescriptions used by Medi-Cal, the state's huge health care program for the poor. The legislation comes after voters rejected two...