California Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Assembly Vote on Landmark Health Care Reform

Comprehensive Plan Provides Access to Affordable Health Care for All Californians

12/17/2007 -- Joined by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and a diverse coalition of labor, business, elected officials, hospitals, doctors, medical groups, consumer advocacy groups, insurers, children's health advocates and other health care professional groups in support of fixing our broken health care system, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger applauded today's successful Assembly vote of AB x1 1, the Health Care Security and Cost Reduction Act.

"With the Assembly's courageous vote just a short time ago, we are closer than ever to fixing our broken health care system. We owe so much to the great leaders, Assembly Speaker Núñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and to all the different groups standing with us today who normally oppose one another, but who have gradually joined forces for the good of all Californians," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Health Care Security and Cost Reduction Act:

* Requires that all Californians take responsibility for their health coverage (individual mandate).
* Guarantees that no Californian will be turned away from buying insurance based on their age or medical history (guarantee issue).
* Spreads responsibility across individuals, government, hospitals and employers (shared responsibility).
* Makes coverage more affordable for individuals and families through tax credits and subsidies.
* Helps keep hospitals and emergency rooms open by increasing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates.
* Allows individuals to choose their health coverage and keep their current insurance.

"This reform is the best thing we could do right now for the California economy and our state budget because it is self-financing, it takes nothing from our general fund and it pumps billions into our economy," said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "I am confident the Senate will follow up and quickly move the finish line even closer because I know Senator Perata is a big believer in making sure everyone has medical insurance and giving California the world-class health care it deserves."

Speakers at today's press conference were:

* Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles)
* Andy Stern, president, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
* Steve Burd, chair, Coalition to Advance Healthcare Reform (CAHR) and CEO of Safeway
* Jeanine English, state president, AARP
* Willie Pelote, senior assistant director, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
* Ruben Barrales, president and CEO, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
* Bill Hunt, chief operating officer, Catholic Healthcare West
* Dr. Stan Padilla, board member, California Association of Physician Groups
* Deena Lahn, state policy director, Children's Defense Fund, Californians for Healthy Kids
* Peter Harbage, senior associate, New America Foundation
* Danny Curtin, director, California Conference of Carpenters
* Mayor Alan Autry, City of Fresno

Groups represented at today's press conference were:

* AIDS Project Los Angeles
* AARP
* AFSCME
* Agency for Hearing
* AIDS Healthcare Foundation
* Alameda Health Consortium
* Albertson's
* Alliance for Better Medicine
* Alliance of Catholic Health Care
* AllScripts
* American Cancer Society
* American Diabetes Association
* American Electronics Association
* American Nurses Association - California
* Asian Health Services
* Association of Regional Centers
* Bay Area Council
* Black Chamber of Commerce
* Blue Shield
* California Hepatitis Alliance
* California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
* California Program on Access to Care
* California School Health Centers Association
* California Arthritis Foundation
* California Association of Dental Plans
* California Association of Nurse Anesthetists
* California Association of Nurse Practitioners
* California Association of Physician Assistants
* California Association of Physician Groups
* California Children's Hospital Association
* California Coalition for Compassionate Care
* California Commission on Aging
* California Conference of Carpenters
* California Council of the Alzheimer's Association
* California First 5
* California Food Policy Advocates
* California Hepatitis C Task Force
* California HIV Alliance
* California Hospital Association
* California Naturopathic Doctors Association
* California Nurse Midwives Association
* California Optometric Association
* California Pan-Ethnic Health Network
* California Primary Care Association
* California School Nurses Organization
* California School Nutrition Association
* California WIC Association
* Californians for Healthy Kids Coalition
* CAL-PIRG
* Catholic Healthcare West
* Central Valley Health Network
* Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
* Children Now
* Children's Defense Fund
* Children's Specialty Care Coalition
* Chronic Care Coalition of California
* CIGNA
* Cities, Counties, Schools Partnership
* Clinica de la Raza
* Coalition to Advance Healthcare Reform
* Community Clinic Consortium of Contra Costa County
* Consumer's Union
* Council of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Association
* Daughters of Charity Health System
* Education for Healthy Choices
* Epilepsy California
* Five Star Bank
* Graffiti Removal Services
* Having Our Say Coalition
* Health For All, Inc
* HealthCare Resource Center
* HealthNet
* Hemophilia Council of California
* Integrated Healthcare Association
* Kaiser Permanente
* LA Care Health Plan
* La Vida Foundation
* Latino Business Association
* Latino Coalition for a Healthy California
* LifeLong Medical Care
* Life Masters
* Lindora Medical Clinics
* Local Health Plans of California
* Longs Drugs
* March of Dimes
* Memorial Care
* Mental Health Association in California
* Molina Health Care
* National Association of Women Business Owners -Los Angeles
* National Multiple Sclerosis Society Northern California Chapter
* Operating Engineers California-Nevada Conference
* Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California
* PacifiCare/United
* Parkinson Association
* PEACH
* Plymouth Health
* Ravenswood Family Health Center
* Regional Chamber San Diego
* Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce
* Safeway
* San Jose Foothill Family Community Clinic
* SCAN Health Plan
* SEIU
* Sequoia Community Health Centers
* Silicon Valley Leadership Group
* Small Business California
* Small Business Majority
* South Central Family Health Center
* State Council of Laborers
* Sutter
* TechNet
* The Children's Partnership
* The Livingston Medical Group
* Tiburcio Vasquez Health Clinic
* TMJ Society
* United Farm Workers of America