California Democrats want free, universal health care for every resident of California (does this include illegal residents, too?).
Sacramento – The Democratic-controlled Legislature is on the verge of sending Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a bill that would create a state-run universal health care system, testing him on an issue that voters rate as one of their top concerns in this election year.
On a largely party-line 43-30 vote, the Assembly approved a bill by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, that would eliminate private medical insurance plans and establish a statewide health insurance system that would provide coverage to all Californians. The state Senate has already approved the plan once and is expected this week to approve changes that the Assembly made to the bill.
Of course the Democrat’s plan leaves out one very important aspect of the plan: the bill does not account for the costs of the program.
Billy Hollis, a commentor at the Daily Pundit sums up my feelings on why this is such a stupid idea:
If you wanted to design a public policy to draw in parasites and drive off productive citizens, it would be hard to do better than a program such as this.
Well, the bright spot for the rest of us is that we’ll see our own doctor and nurse shortages slightly relieved as medical personnel in California move elsewhere, just as so many of Britain’s NHS personnel have.
Democratic lawmakers are threatening to use this issue against Gov. Schwarzenegger if he vetos the bill. The irony (and the hypocrisy) is that the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Phil Angelides, doesn’t support the Kuehl bill either.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go and find the section of the US Constitution that guarantees free health care to all citizens…
Well, this is a topic that I care about. I do believe in health care assurance for all, b ut it’s the “how” to do this that’s going to make it or break it.
As I read the article,
All private insurance would be eliminated? Does this mean a person cannot have their own insurance regardless?
Funding won’t be decided for years and years. There should be a law that prevents lawmakers from making laws that they can’t fund or enforce. This is absolutely stupid. Some suggest funding it by an 8% payroll tax and a 3% income tax. Gee, that sounds like people who work are going to pay for everybody who doesn’t. Hmmmm I wonder what they’re going to do about the people who don’t or won’t work? Gee, I might choose not to work too in that case. Why not let the guy who works pay for me too??? And, hey, this is California. Of course they’ll provide health care to illegals. They already do.
But, the bottom line is this is going to be fought as a partisan issue, so nothing will get done anyhow, which is unfortunate.
Left by dianne on August 29th, 2006 at 3:10 pm