Schwarzenegger makes health care push
Mike Zapler
MediaNews
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's self-proclaimed "Year of Health Care Reform" has turned out to be a year of gridlock with the state Legislature. But the ever-optimistic governor is still clinging to his dream of bringing universal health care to California.
The governor has called lawmakers back to town for an overtime shift - formally known as a special session of the Legislature - with the hopes of cutting a deal.
The outline of a possible compromise has already begun to take shape. Schwarzenegger and Democrats would agree on a basic reform package, which the Legislature would approve during the special session. But lacking the votes of Republicans needed to finance it, they would go to voters next year with a ballot initiative seeking billions in new taxes.
Sounds simple enough, perhaps. But a number of thorny issues lie ahead as the special legislative session gets under way. All of them, in one way or another, tie back to the question that has stymied reform countless times before: Who pays? Health care isn't cheap, after all, and the governor wants to cover 6.7 million people in California who go without insurance for all or part of the year.
September 17, 2007 at 01:28 AM | Permalink | Blog Reactions
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