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[XiaNaphryz]

http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/California-legislation-would-create-single-payer-10939557.php

A push for a single-payer health care system in California is making a comeback.

State Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens (Los Angeles County) plans to introduce legislation Friday to create a single system that would provide health insurance to every California resident.

“This is our opportunity to put ourselves on the record and be proactive against a Trump administration that is hellbent on eliminating the Affordable Care Act,” Lara said.

The two-page bill contains no specifics. Friday was the deadline for introducing new legislation, and the bill will be fleshed out over the coming month, Lara said. It will first head to the senate Health Committee and then to the senate Appropriations Committee, which Lara chairs.

Previous efforts to create a single-payer system have failed. At least eight bills were introduced between 1992 and 2009 that attempted to create one. They failed to get through the Legislature or were vetoed by Republican governors.

Efforts to create a single-payer system in California ended after the passage of the Affordable Care Act under President Obama.

RoseAnn DeMoro, executive director of National Nurses United, the largest U.S. organization of registered nurses, said the union would mount a “major mobilization” to try to enact a single-payer system in California.

She said she believed it had a better chance than in years past because of President Trump’s efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act, a more active political base, and a new crop of state legislators who are younger and more open-minded.

“It is one of the most salient issues of our time,” she said.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Finally. Hope it passes. I don't mind paying higher taxes for this if it means we no longer rely on Federal funding for our healthcare. Or start using those sweet sweet pot dollars.

 

[rokkerkory]

<3 Cali

Let's go

 

[ReAxion]

let's get it on!

 

[iavi]

If we get this done, I'm never leaving this state.

Let's go

 

[sphagnum]

Probably one of the few states that can do it on their own.

 

[RandomExpletive]

Good on ya Cali, keep it up

 

[Got]

nice. don't mind paying more taxes for it.

 

[Beastdrowski]

Hope Cali gets this done. Love this state.

 

[Sulik2]

I really hope California does this. There really needs to be a shining example of what healthcare should be in the USA to try and get through the propaganda blinded minds of the south and midwest that single payer works and is great.

 

[Razorskin]

If this get done, I wonder if this will prompt more Americans to move there.

 

[Pancake Mix]

In a similarly liberal state, Coloradocare was defeated by a margin of over 4:1 at the ballot box last November.

Sadly, I think universal health care is a pipe dream in the US outside of New England.

 

[studyguy]

Threats of higher tax burdens are going to cause it to fail without question whether they're true or not. CO single payer bombed tremendously over the same reason. Prop 61 had the single largest spending done in during the campaign thanks to big pharma and failed because of it most likely. Imagine what happens when the entire medical industry and pharma come down on it.

If it passes, great... but even in CA it's going to be a massive uphill battle.

 

[Kill3r7]

In a similarly liberal state, Coloradocare was defeated by a margin of over 4:1 at the ballot box last November.

Sadly, I think universal health care is a pipe dream in the US outside of New England.

If Silicon Valley decides to back it financially it has a chance. Otherwise not much hope.

 

[Bonen no Max'd]

This is deeply encouraging, I think one of the most important things the Democratic trifectas can do right now is offer a bold different vision of America and this is the sort of big change I think we need.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Threats of higher burdens are going to cause it to fail without question whether they're true or not. CO single payer bombed tremendously over the same reason. Prop 61 had the single largest spending done in during the campaign thanks to big pharma and failed because of it most likely. Imagine what happens when the entire medical industry and pharma come down on it.

If it passes, great... but even in CA it's going to be a massive uphill battle.

We have a billionaire liberal who can at least go toe-to-toe with big pharma. His name is Tom Steyer.

 

[phazedplasma]

Doesn't California have trouble paying for things?

How can they afford this

 

[Got]

I'm not sure if the Colorado comparisons are apt as the states are very different.

It would be interesting if marijuana taxes helped with it though.

 

[m_shortpants]

Doesn't California have trouble paying for things?

How can they afford this

6th largest economy in the world

 

[Rentahamster]

I like states trying out different things so that we at least have a diverse record of what works and what doesn't work. I hope they can do it.

 

[Pancake Mix]

I'm not sure if the Colorado comparisons are apt as the states are very different.

Then take a look at similar proposals in California. There's a reason this is a thing in most other Western countries but has never properly happened anywhere in the US. It won't be easy.

 

[Darryl M R]

If this get passed then I might actually move to Cali...but I love the East Coast

 

[erlim]

Do it! Do it!

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

I don't live there but I really hope this happens. You gotta get the ball rolling.

 

[PkunkFury]

Is there any reason a number of liberal states couldn't pull together and create a shared single-payer system without any federal involvement? Seems like this would be a good "ground up" way to get national healthcare rolling, as if it's successful, more states would join

 

[Gully State]

Let's get this done...

 

[Pancake Mix]

Is there any reason a number of liberal states couldn't pull together and create a shared single-payer system without any federal involvement? Seems like this would be a good "ground up" way to get national healthcare rolling, as if it's successful, more states would join

It seems to be controversial in the US because it's a mild form of socialism to say that everyone should have at least basic access to medical care, regardless of income. It always gets defeated, vetoed or not properly implemented.

Other Western countries don't give a shit if it's slightly socialist.

 

[RagnarokX]

In a similarly liberal state, Coloradocare was defeated by a margin of over 4:1 at the ballot box last November.

Sadly, I think universal health care is a pipe dream in the US outside of New England.

Colorado isn't the 6th largest economy in the world, though. We got Canada beat and they have single payer.

 

[Pancake Mix]

Colorado isn't the 6th largest economy in the world, though. We got Canada beat and they have single payer.

Not in left of centre thinking.

 

[Foffy]

Is there any reason a number of liberal states couldn't pull together and create a shared single-payer system without any federal involvement? Seems like this would be a good "ground up" way to get national healthcare rolling, as if it's successful, more states would join

Vermont tried, IIRC.

One of the issues they faced is that the costs could not be held well by the state, leading to the argument that it needs to be federal.

But if you mean liberal states kind of creating a "union" for the program and have the cost spread over a few states, that sounds interesting..

 

[AuthenticM]

Go Go California!

 

[FreezeSSC]

In a similarly liberal state, Coloradocare was defeated by a margin of over 4:1 at the ballot box last November.

Sadly, I think universal health care is a pipe dream in the US outside of New England.

I wonder if it would pass though in the political climate of trump and obamacare repeal.

 

[Knuckle Sandwich]

Let's do it, baby.

 

[Alcotholic]

I hope oregon follows suit.

 

[whyamihere]

It will pass BUT the referendum to repeal it is going to be brutal.

 

[LegendofJoe]

Getting marijuana legalization passed is nothing compared to single-payer. The knives of dozens of multi-billion dollar companies will be drawn. California will need a rock steady coalition of opposing multi-billion dollar companies and an absolutely brilliant PR campaign to get this done.

 

[Nafai1123]

Really hope this passes but I'm skeptical. Still too many Republicans in this state for it to stand a chance.

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

Let's do this.

 

[fredrancour]

I hope oregon follows suit.

PacifiCare? The west coast states unite into one single-payer program? The extra bargaining power would be sweet.

 

[Ashby]

PacifiCare? The west coast states unite into one single-payer program? The extra bargaining power would be sweet.

I wish the East Coast only had three state :/

 

[KDR_11k]

Expecting congress to ban states from providing healthcare then...

 

[whyamihere]

I wish the East Coast only had three state :/

No you don't because then we'd have fewer Democratic senators.

 

[Kthulhu]

Please call your state legislators CaliGAF. If California can get it the rest of the nation will at some point.

 

[Hale-XF11]

Would be nice to see such a large state make it happen and hopefully be a good model for the rest of the country to follow.

 

[fredrancour]

I wish the East Coast only had three state :/

i'd imagine if Mass ever takes steps from romneycare to something more aggressive they'd look at ways to drag all of new england into it at the very least.

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

If this get done, I wonder if this will prompt more Americans to move there.

If they are republicunts, they can stay the fuck out. We have enough

 

[King of GAF]

The details matter. I'll wait to see the details before making any judgement.

 

[LegendofJoe]

Please call your state legislators CaliGAF. If California can get it the rest of the nation will at some point.

It won't be that simple. The propaganda against this will be deafening. Lots of checks will need to be written to fuel a massive, brilliantly executed PR campaign to have a chance of succeeding at this.

 

[Lemaitre]

I'm hoping it passes as well but I'm not overly optimistic.

They have my vote though, as long as the single payer system is implemented properly.

 

[Ogodei]

If any state could do it, it's probably Cali.

Not politically, i mean. They've got the economic heft and the tax base to get it done. That's the problem with implementing it on a state level, one of the cases where bigger is better.