Saturday, January 28, 2012

part time faculty should save CA single payer bill


Single payer health care in California would be especially helpful to part time faculty since many community colleges don't bother to give health insurance to part timers.  I taught community college for ten years before any of my employers offered me health insurance--and that's just for me, it won't cover my wife or child. 

My wife's dad lost his health insurance with his job, but is too young for Medicare, so he drives to Tijuana every month or so for cheaper out of pocket medical care.

That's a disgrace in the richest, most powerful nation on Earth. We have a right to the same kind of universal healthcare people in Europe and every other advanced democracy enjoy.


Single payer for California has made it to the governor's desk twice before, but Arnold vetoed it both times.  

Now we have a Democratic governor who is a lot more likely to sign it than our former Austrian Autocrat and state senator Mark Leno's SB 810 for single payer health insurance in California made it's way through senate but failed by two votes.

Five Democratic state senators abstained from voting, but if two of them vote yes by the 31st, the bill will go to the Assembly.

It's critical that you call, fax, or email these five abstainers and tell them to support Mark Leno's SB 810 single payer bill or expect a progressive primary opponent in their next election.  

Alex Padilla (Pacoima/LA area)
Capitol – 916-651-4020
Fax:  916-324-6645
District – 818-901-5588
Fax:  818-901-5562

Rod Wright (Los Angeles area)
(916) 651-4025
Fax: 916-445-3712
(310) 412-0393

Juan Vargas (San Diego area)
Sac: (916) 651-4040
Fax: (916) 327-3522
Dist: (619) 409-7690
(619) 409-7688

Michael Rubio (Fresno/Bakersfield area)
Sac: (916) 651-4016
Fax: (916) 327-5989
Dist: (661) 395-2620
Fax: (661) 395-2622

Ron Calderon (Los Angeles area)
Sac: (916) 651-4030
Fax:  (916) 327-8755
Dist: (323) 890-2790
Fax:  (323) 890-2795
KEY EXCERPTS:





Friday, January 27, 2012
Single Payer 2 Votes Short in Senate
by David Gorn

The idea of a single-payer health care system in California stalled on the Senate floor yesterday, falling two votes short of passage.

Reconsideration of the bill was granted, though, so proponents of SB 810 by Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) have until Tuesday to reintroduce the bill. First they will have to come up with two big votes. The bill failed on a 19-15 vote.

The idea of universal coverage has been passed by the Legislature before. In 2007 and 2009, both houses approved the idea, only to have it vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. Last year, it passed the Senate and stalled when it was not brought to the floor in the Assembly.

Follow the story at:



1 comment:

Vanessa Vaile said...

Welcome back Professor Smartass ~ we've missed you. Thanks too listing New Faculty Majority on your sidebar.