California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had planned to pass statewide universal health care by the end of last year. He offered a proposal to cover millions of uninsured residents — through individual mandates and employer requirements to provide insurance.
The vote for his plan is today, but it’s not expected to pass.
The second-term governor has worked with the state House Speaker Fabio Nunez on the plan, and many residents support health care reform, but the plan isn’t gaining any ground with state lawmakers.
From the beginning, Republican legislators have been rallying against Governor Schwarzenegger’s plan, reported the New York Times.
“[The governor] felt the entire system had to be changed. We felt 80 to 90 percent of the system was working. He wanted to throw the whole thing out. And generally, we think the system works, ” said Republican state Senator Dick Ackerman.
Many Democrats are wary of the plan, as well.
“[T]he working people are going to end up paying for it. There’s control for everybody else — the employers are protected and the insurance industry. The only group that’s vulnerable is the working people, ” said state Senator Leland Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco.
Another obstacle universal health care in California faces is the state’s $14.5 billion budget deficit.
“I think the Senate has the very serious responsibility to make a sound judgment about the fiscal security of this bill, which isn’t there, ” said state Senator Sheila Kuehl, a Democrat.
With so much opposition from both parties, things aren’t looking too good for Governor Schwarzenegger’s health care plan.