California Nurses Association in Massive Demonstration Outside Packed Press Conference
Appearing with a broad coalition including the President of the California Labor Federation, and representatives of many health and consumer groups, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Don Perata announced that the time has come for AB 8, their combined bill, to be voted on by both houses. The Senate will take up the measure within the hour. Nunez held out hope that the Assembly would be able to complete passage on the bill and send it to the Governor later today.
Speaker Nunez described the bill as a comprehensive approach that sets the standard for other states. Art Pulaski, the head of the California Labor Federation, said “This is considered to be the best bill in any state in the nation.” He described health as “the epic battle of our generation.”
There has been no clear indication as to whether Governor Schwarzenegger will sign the bill which has had a number of amendments made last week. While Nunez opened the press conference saying “If and when the governor signs AB 8, California will be a leader again,” he later acknowledged this may not come to pass. Senator Perata said if the Governor vetoes the bill and calls a special session, the Governor then “brings the bill” to be negotiated—a not so thinly veiled way of reminding those in attendance that the Governor has not had legislation in bill form on this issue. He said if there is a special session, the legislature will “go there knowing that we have a body of work.”
Also on the crowded stage were about 25 leaders of different organizations from Sal Roselli, the President of the hospital care workers, Willie Pelote, the head of AFSCME, which represents state, county, and municipal employees, Casey Young from AARP, to Anthony Wright of Health Access California, an umbrella group of over 200 groups statewide that is now supporting the bill with the recent amendments.
Outside, the California Nurses Association had the hallways of the bottom floor of the Capitol filled, as promised, and chanted “We want single payor—Now.” They arrived early and are scouring the offices of members of the legislature in an attempt to derail AB 8.
Anthony Wright of Health Access issued a statement saying:
“AB8 would make coverage more available and affordable for California consumers, both extending coverage to a majority of the uninsured, while at the same time providing more security for millions more who have coverage but are concerned that it won’t be there for them when they need it.
“In dramatically expanding public programs and setting a minimum employer contribution for health care, the bill is as groundreaking as the original establishments of Medicare and Medicaid 40 years ago and the minimum wage 70 years ago. Very few bills have the promise to dramatically improve the lives of millions of Californians, this bill deserves to be passed, and is worthy of the Governor’s signature.”
The California Labor Federation also issued a statement saying:
“The California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, on behalf of our two million union members, strongly supports AB 8. This legislation makes significant strides toward fixing California’s broken health care system while expanding health care coverage to millions more Californians and shielding working families from the rising cost of coverage.
“AB 8 sets a necessary minimum standard, like a minimum wage, for employer health care spending for part-time and full-time workers. Requiring employers to spend at least 7.5% of payroll on health care guarantees that more workers will receive health care coverage and that employers can compete on an even playing field rather than sinking to the lowest common denominator.”
The bill is expected to pass without a single Republican vote in the legislature.