SB 840 (KUEHL), CALIFORNIA UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE
ACT
Comprehensive and affordable universal health care
coverage
April 10, 2007
April 18 Senate Health Committee Hearing
The League of Women Voters of California continues to support SB 840,
now called the California Universal Healthcare Act (CUHA). Senator Sheila
Kuehl reintroduced an amended version of the former SB 840 for the 2007-2008
legislative session.
Advocates worked for two years to move the former SB 840 through the
legislature and to the governor's desk in 2006. He vetoed it. However,
the grassroots momentum for single payer universal health care remains
strong. The LWVC and a growing list of supporters continue to work to
put Kuehl's plan back on the governor's desk by this summer.
This year's campaign requires new strategies for expanding our movement.
We must educate new senators and assembly members who may not be aware
of the advantages and cost savings that a single payer universal health
care system could provide for all Californians--individuals, businesses,
and governments. Now, there are several competing health care plans,
including a plan put forth by the governor. These new plans provide
a stage for activists to compare their costs and benefits to Kuehl's
plan--still the only viable solution for the health care crisis.
Only SB 840 provides for a publicly financed system that is a real
universal health care plan. The universal health care system covers
all residents and provides for:
- comprehensive health coverage based on a single standard of care
- a universal risk pool that spreads the risk over the entire population,
simplifying administration and saving billions of dollars that can
be spent on health care
- a funding plan that requires the most economical and fair health
care contributions from employers, individuals, state and local governments
and other sources
- mechanisms that improve care quality such as system-wide health
care planning and evidence-based care standards
- savings on current health care spending by most individuals, families, businesses,
and governments
- the ability of all California residents to choose their own doctors.
The first opportunity for statewide action is the April 18
Senate Health Committee hearing.
TAKE ACTION!
Please use this opportunity for shoring up or seeking new support and
building awareness of the grassroots level of support for SB 840. All
senators should hear that SB 840 is beginning to work its way to the
governor's desk again and that constituent support is greater than ever
for passage of universal health care. Contact your
senator giving the message that the only viable and affordable solution for
California's health care crisis is Senator Kuehl's plan.
IF YOUR SENATOR IS A MEMBER OF THE SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE
(see list below): contact your legislator by letter
to show constituent support for Kuehl's plan. Then send the page URL of this alert
to your personal e-mail lists as soon as possible asking them to help you get the message to your senator.
LOCAL LEAGUE AND ILO PRESIDENTS should send official
League letters to senators whose districts are in their League's jurisdiction.
The highest priority for local League and ILO presidents whose jurisdiction
falls within the district of a member of the Senate Health Committee
is to contact their legislator by letter to show League support for
Kuehl's plan and to e-mail this alert to their members immediately with
a request for immediate action.
LEAGUE MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC: If possible, please attend
the committee hearing on April 18 in Sacramento, 1:30 p.m.
in Room 4203 at the State Capitol. When Senator Kuehl introduced SB
840 in February, the halls, offices, foyers and cafeterias were filled
to capacity by advocates for the bill. This level of support sends a
strong message to legislators and the governor. It is suggested that
one arrive at the hearing room by 12:30 for a seat.
Background information on SB
840: Single payer insurance: a viable solution to the health
care crisis
League Position: The LWVUS Health Care position promotes
a health care system for the United States that provides access to a
basic level of quality care for all U.S. residents and controls health
care costs.
For More Information: Contact the LWVC off-board Health
Care Program Director Barbara Storey at bs_lwv004@cox.net.
Keep Us Informed: Please send a copy of your letters
of support and any responses to Trudy Schafer, LWVC Program Director/Advocate
to:
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF CALIFORNIA
801 12th Street, Suite 220
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-442-7215, FAX 916-442-7362
E-mail: lwvc@lwvc.org
