Governor optimistic he can get health care overhauled this year
Tom Chorneau
San Francisco Chronicle
Just one day removed from a near-record state budget impasse caused largely by a dispute with members of his own party, Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed optimism Wednesday about finding GOP support for health care overhaul legislation this year.
Schwarzenegger, who struggled for 52 days to get two Republican votes in the state Senate to pass the budget, said he still wants a comprehensive overhaul of the state's health care system. That would require support not just from powerful interest groups like doctors, hospitals and consumer groups - but also a two-thirds majority of the Legislature.
"If I have to crawl around on all fours throughout the Capitol, it makes no difference to me, I just want to get it done," he said. "So in the end, yes it would be tough, yes it would be a struggle, and yes there will be battles and fights ... but we have a good chance of getting it done."
In January, the governor proposed a $12 billion health care plan aimed at bringing universal coverage to California by sharing the cost between employers, workers, government and health care providers. His plan also requires all Californians to have health insurance, either through employer plans, purchased on the open market or provided by a government-sponsored program.
An alternative offered by the Democratic majority in the Legislature would extend coverage only to working families that now lack insurance. Employers and workers would share the costs, with the employers picking up the lion's share. Democrats would not require all Californians to have insurance.
August 23, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Blog Reactions
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