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Field Report from Sacramento

July 30, 2007-Jacky Hayward, Artists United for Healthcare
On Wednesday July 11, 2007 I traveled to Sacramento to join It's OUR Healthcare's lobby day. Arriving at the capitol at 10 am, I was greeted by a great diversity of individuals; it was a truly exciting moment to see the gathering of almost 400 people from across California, united in an effort to give a personal face to the demand for affordable, quality health care. From San Francisco, I was joined by about 30 other individuals and after a brief training period, we entered the Capital Building to make office visits to Senators Leland Yee, Mark Leno, and Alan Lowenthal. It was a particularly gratifying moment when Senator Yee agreed to see us, and delegates from the San Francisco group spoke about the importance of health care and the amendments necessary to make the best health care plan for all Californians.

Later that day, all individuals gathered for It's OUR Healthcare's lobby day, lined up outside the Assembly Room; one legislative aid told us she had never seen such a long line for a committee hearing in all her years there. It was really gratifying to receive acknowledgement for our numbers. What was most significant about the assembly meeting, however, was the passing of AB8 out of Senate Committee with all seven Democratic votes, including Leland Yee! The bill needed six votes to pass. Leland Yee's vote, in particular, showed the importance of our visit. Unfortunately, Assembly Speaker Fabien Nunez and Senate President Don Perata, the writers of AB8, did not accept all of It's OUR Healthcare's amendments on affordability and cost containment; Nunez, however, did acknowledge that the bill was sill a "work in progress," while Perata said how important it is to move AB8 this year and also indicated his preference for a national solution.

AB8 was one among seven health care bills that passed the committee on July 11 and it is believed to be the most likely to be passed as law in California. AB 8 is also the bill most focused on the needs of Californian's for accessible, affordable health care and is thus the bill It's OUR Healthcare is advocating. Specifically, AB8, as it is written now, would expand public insurance program to children and parents up to 300% of the federal poverty level ($30,000 for individuals and $62,000 for a family of four), would set a minimum employer contribution to health care of 7.5% of payroll, and would make reforms to the insurance market, including a minimum medical loss ratio so that 85% of premium dollars go to patient care.

In addition, what was also rewarding was the amount of coverage July 11th's Senate Committee meeting and California's health care reform have received in both local and national newspapers. Here is a selection of articles:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/07/12/BAG61QV49L1.DTL&type=printable

http://www.sacbee.com/111/v-print/story/268739.html

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB118461111231167853-lMyQjAxMDE3ODE0NzYxMTcxWj.html

http://www.health-access.org/blogger.html?emc=&m=3663465&v=853780662&l=1