California State Senate Passes Nunez-Perata Health Care Bill
Frank D. Russo
California Progress Report
This afternoon the California State Senate passed AB 8 (Nunez-Perata) on a 22 to 17 vote with only Democrats in support and all Republicans opposed. Democratic Senator Sheil Kuehl, the author of SB 840, a single payor plan, and Senator Lou Correa voted against the bill. Senator Joe Simitian did not vote. The bill now heads to the Assembly, which we have just been advised will be debating it shortly.
The debate on the bill was a little more bizarre than most. It took place against the backdrop that there is almost a virtual certainty that Governor Schwarzenegger will veto the bill and then call the legislature back for a special session on health. Senator Perata in presenting the bill acknowledged that the seven week impasse on the state budget had a big impact on failure to negotiate a last minute deal that the Governor could commit to in advance to sign. He said if there was a special session, it will be incumbent on the Governor to provide us with his legislation—a not so gentle reminder that the Governor has never had a bill proposal introduced in this, the “year of health care” that he proclaimed.
September 10, 2007 at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Blog Reactions
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