Vigils for Healthcare Kick-Off Across the State

There's growing opposition to the Governor's plan for making health insurance mandatory to all Californians without addressing affordability issues. The two-day vigils are designed to apply more pressure on the Governor and encourage him to modify his approach.

The vigils drew various local, national and international media. USA Today spoke with Art Pulaski, leader of the California Labor Federation, an It's OUR Healthcare! coalition partner.

"The governor's proposal says that if you make more than 350% of poverty (about $35,735), there is no support for you whatsoever," says Art Pulaski, head of the federation, an AFL-CIO-backed group of labor unions. His group supports health reform, Pulaski says, but would like to see subsidies extended to more Californians. Pulaski says families earning as much as $100,000 a year likely need help buying health insurance.

Efforts of IOH healthcare advocates in San Diego and Sacramento did not go unnoticed as the Sacramento Bee was on hand to snap some great photos of the vigil at the State Capitol and the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on the vigils. Janice Wright filed this report for KCBS in San Francisco.

Things are still going strong here in San Francisco. For a schedule of events and locations, click here, and share your photos with us!