Universal healthcare is a leading issue in California. In his January 2007 State of the state address, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed providing medical insurance for all Californians. Citing statistics that find 6.5 million people without healthcare in the state, Schwarzenegger said that the need for a universal health care plan is crucial. The governor released a controversial plan to adminster universal system, which vyed with several other universal health care plans introduced by both liberal and conservative groups in the legislature. The most prominent of these, Fabian Núñez's AB 8 advanced through both houses of the legislature before being vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 12th. Schwarzenegger and Nunez were able to compromise and on Nov. 8, 2008, Núñez introduced ABX1 1, a bill which carried elements of both the Governor's plan and AB 8. ABX1 1 passed the state Assembly in Dec. 2007 but met stiff resistance in the Senate because of concerns over long-term costs of the plan. ABX1 1 was supported by a range of consumer and labor groups as well as corporate inteterests but was ultimately voted down by the Senate health committee on Jan. 29, 2008.

This website contains information on the 7 California universal healthcare plans widely discussed in 2007. Each plan noted includes a description with key provisions as well as current status. Several bills are considered still active and in limbo in the legislature.

Californians have long debated the merits of proposals to expand health insurance coverage. In 1945 Governor Earl Warren recommended the creation of a compulsory prepaid medical service based on payroll deductions from both employer and employee, a plan that was ultimately defeated by the legislature. In 1992 the California Medical Association (CMA) proposed the California Affordable Basic Health Care Act, requiring all employers in the state to provide health insurance for workers and their families. The proposed legislation, SB 248, passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly. In the 1992 general election CMA sponsored a similar plan as Proposition 166. It was defeated by a two-to-one margin.

In October 1999, Governor Gray Davis signed Senate Bill 480 (introduced by then-State Senator Hilda Solis). This law called upon the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) to examine options for providing health care coverage to Californians. SB 480 also mandated that the legislature act on the CHHS findings by enacting universal health coverage for all California residents by July 1, 2003. After the CHHS study was released, SB 921 was introduced by Senator Sheila Kuehl in February 2003. SB 921 would tax up to 5 percent of an employee's annual income and require businesses to provide matching contributions. This would pay for 35 million Californians to have unlimited visits to doctors and discounts on prescription drugs. An elected official would be responsible for running the program. SB 921 passed the Senate in June 2003. Senator Kuehl shelved the bill till 2005 when she re-introduced it as SB 840 (see 2007 plans below).

Senators John Burton and Jackie Speier introduced Senate Bill 2 (SB2), which sought to extend health care to about 1 million uninsured Californians. After intense debate SB2 was passed in the final hours of the 2003 session, and signed by Governor Davis just 48 hours before the special election that resulted in his recall. SB 2 became Proposition 72 on the Nov. 2, 2004 ballot. It was defeated, 50.9% to 49.1%.

For detailed table of proposed health plans, see Comparisons of California Health Coverage Expansion Proposals from the California Healthcare Foundation.

In 2007, universal healthcare became a leading subject in California politics. With polls revealing that most Californians believe that some form of health care should be available to all residents, both Governor Schwarzenegger and California legislature released expansive and sometimes controversial proposals on how to organize, fund, and administer healthcare that can cover the 33 million people who live in the state.

Democrats in the State Assembly and Senate released several plans which met with stiff resistance from Republican and business interests. Sen. Sheila Kuehl resurrected SB 840, which had previously been vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger. This bill would have eliminated insurance companies and established a state run system to administer health care. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez released AB 8 in December of 2006. AB 8 would have established a "pay-or-play" system that would be financed through employer and employee contributions with federal matching dollars. Sen. Don Perata introduced a similar proposal. Like AB 8, SB48 would have created a purchasing pool for health coverage.

The governor released a sketch of of his plan in January 2007. His proposal spreads the cost of healthcare to employees, employers, insurance companies and the state government. After some significant changes, his formal plan was introduced in Oct. 2007. Schwarzenegger stated his desire for the proposal to make the November 2008 ballot. On January 30, 2007, Senate Republicans released their own universal health plan, Senate Bill 236. Their plan would have redirected tobacco tax dollars toward children's health care. Democrats in Sacramento approvde of the Gov. plan over the GOP proposal. However, there was still opposition to Schwarzenegger's proposal on the grounds that it wouldn't guarantee affordability.

On July 22nd, 2007 Fabian Núñez and Don Perata agreed to merge together AB 8 and SB 48 into one bill. The new bill required employers to spend 7.5% of their payroll costs on health care and merged SB 48's affordability and evaluation requirements with AB 8's premium assistance requirements and insurance market reforms, as well as many other settlements. AB 8 was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 12th. SB 840 passed the CA Senate in June 2007. It passed to the Assembly but was stalled in committee. SB 236 was referred to the Senate Rules Committee and has missed the deadline to pass out of its house of origin.

After the defeat of AB 8, Fabian Núñez introduced ABX1 1, a bill which carried elements of both the Governor's plan and AB 8. The bill was ammended several times, results of negotiations between the Governor's team and legislators. ABX1 1 passed the state Assembly in Dec. 2007 but was ultimately voted down by the Senate health committee on Jan. 29, 2008.

On January 8, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger proposed that California provide medical insurance to all residents in the state. Under his plan, illegal aliens would also be included as federal law requires hospitals to not turn away anybody in need of medical assistance. Schwarzenegger said that uninsured citizens and illegal immigrants currently seek emergency care in emergency rooms and when they are unable to pay, California taxpayers must pick up the tab. Schwarzenegger's proposal would alter the health care market by spreading the cost of universal coverage amongst employers, citizens, insurance groups, the government and health care providers. Schwarzenegger's plan's original cost was $12 billion. The governor maintained that he woould not raise taxes to pay for his plan.

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Gov. Schwarzenegger released a new, amended version of the proposal which included some changes from his original plan introduced in January. The governor's ammended plan would involve leasing the state lottery to a private group and using about $2 billion a year of the proceeds to pay for universal health coverage. The funds would be used exclusively for health care and would not divert any lottery funds to be used for education. Education has traditionally received $1.1 billion from the lottery each year. In Schwarzenegger's plan, the private company would pay $37 billion for a 40-year lease on the lottery. The state would use that money to create a $2 billion-a-year fixed payment for health care. At the end of the 15 years, the state would have to find the money elsewhere.

Financing for the proposal is subject to approval of a ballot initiative. Gov. Schwarzenegger has said he expects the iniative to appear on the November 2008 ballot. The Governor’s plan was formally introduced as ABX1 2 on September 11th and was ammended on November 8th. The Governor shelved his proposal after reaching a compromise with legislators on ABX1 1.

Key Provisions:

• The proposal would cover an extimated 4.1 million Californians.
• Employes would contribute based on a sliding scale from 0-4% of total payroll based on payroll size.
• Californians would have to obtain a minimal level of health insurance, either through their employer or by purchasing it individually. The plan would provide for a $5,000-deductible minimum for each person, with a maximum expense of $10,000 per family.
• Low-income Californians would pay for insurance based on their gross annual income in relation to the federal poverty level. 0-150% FPL would pay no premium or out of pocket costs. Families at 151-200% FPL, would pay up to 4% of income for premiums. Families at 201-250% FPL would pay no more than 5% of income. And finally, 250-350% FPL would receive a tax credit if their costs of insurance is more than 5% of the their income.
• Partial subsidies to people with incomes up to 3.5 times the federal poverty rate.
• All children who live below 300 percent of the federal poverty line would receive insurance under the plan. The state would provide health insurance to all children. Illegal immigrant children would also be included under this part of the plan.
• 630,000 indigent adults not currently eligible for benefits would receive expanded Medi-Cal coverage.
• Hospitals would have to pay a 4% provider tax. This would raise an additional $3.5 billion in money to pay for the plan. 85% of their revenue would have to be spent on services.
• Insurance companies would no longer be able to reject individuals because of negative medical histories. 85% of their revenue would have to be spent on services.
• Individuals would receive health care discounts for undergoing assessments that determine potential health risks and suggest ways to modify behavior. Those patients would be re-evaluated every two years.

Supporters of the plan believe that the plan could slow the rate of *hospital closures. They claim that the plan exempts many small businesses that would be unable to afford the new 4% tax. Furthermore, they argue that the plan will not raise taxes but rather charge fees to employers, physicians and hospitals. Many supporters have hailed the governor's plan as a bold new attempt to confront the unacceptable problem of the uninsured in California.

Opposition to the plan comes from several sectors. Some small business owners have spoken out that the plan will be too expensive for them to afford. Many labor unions have opposing the plan because they believe that it will not assure that health plans will be affordable. And nurses' groups have complained that the plan is merely an attempt to boost income for the insurance companies. Finally, many believe that leasing the state lottery to a private company is an unreliable method to fund health care, as lottery funds traditionally grow slowly.

On January 30, Senate Republicans released details of their new plan which would use existing tax dollars to provide health coverage for a lowered number of uninsured Californians. The GOP proposal would not gather money from employers and health care providers to pay for health coverage. Republican backers of the plan claim that statistics quoted by Governor Schwarzenegger and liberal policy makers are inaccurate. They claim that a majority of those uninsured are illegal immigrants who should not be eligible for care. They say that another 2 million residents can afford health coverage but do not choose to buy it. Under the Senate GOP proposal, the Legislature would put a ballot measure before voters in the next statewide election to redirect about $580 million in tobacco tax dollars toward children's health care. Current tobacco tax revenue is used by the First Five California Commission to promote early child development. Backers of the plan say that these funds have been misused by the commission.
Senator George Runner introduced the plan as SB 236 on February 14, 2007. The bill was referred to the Senate Rules Committee but saw no further action and has missed the June 8 deadline to leave the Senate.

Key Provisions:

• Senate GOP proposal does not tax or charge employers and health care providers to offer the state's uninsured residents health coverage.
• The proposal calls for a ballot measure in the next statewide election to redirect tobacco tax dollars toward children's health care.
• The plan would attempt to bill the federal government $2.2 billion for mandated health care services to illegal immigrants.
• The plan would offer businesses tax credits to businesses to voluntarily buy coverage for their employees.
• Expands the capacity of low cost or free clinics in caring for the uninsured.

SB 840 (Senator Sheila Kuehl) was introduced in January 2005 and went through a long amendments process before being passed by both the Assembly and the Senate in August, 2006. Gov. Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill on the grounds that it was "socialized medicine" and he could not support it. Kuehl re-introduced the bill on February 14, 2007 and it was referred to the Senate Rules Committee. The bill passed the CA Senate in June 2007. It is currently in the Assembly.

Key provisions:

• SB 840 would replace insurance companies and government insurance programs with a new state administered system. A Health Insurance Commissioner would be elected to govern the program.
• All individuals would be covered under the plan, including those with no insurance.
• The system would provide comprehensive medical coverage including in patient and outpatient care, mental health services, prescription drugs, dental and vision care.The system would cover all people in California for their first 100 days of medical need. Long term care would not be provided.
• Patients would pick the doctor of their choice or enroll in health care systems that would cover all of their medical needs.
• Employers and employees would pay about the same in premiums, but into a statewide pool. This pool would pay for the new system.

AB 8 was introduced by Assembly speaker Fabian Núñez on December 4, 2006. His bill would have created a state purchasing pool which would buy insurance from private insurance companies. This pool would cover employees and dependents. It would restrict insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. On July 22nd, SB 48 was combined with AB 8.

AB 8 was vetoed by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 12th.

Key provisions:

• AB 13 would have created a state purchasing pool for insurance.
• All employers who have two ore more employees and a payroll of over $100,000 payroll would have been required to offer insurance. Employees would have been required to take offered insurance as long as the out-of-pocket expense remains below a minimum level.
• Expansion of existing public insurance plans such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families would have occurred.
• New restrictions would be put in place to help prevent insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.
• All children who fall below 300% of the federal poverty level would be covered. Eventually, childless adults would also be covered.

SB48 would create a purchasing pool for health coverage. This pool would cover all Californians who are employed and their dependents. On July 22nd, SB 48 was combined with AB 8.

Key provisions:

• SB48 would require that insurance companies reduce their administrative expenses.
• Employers would have the option to spend a percentage of payroll on health insurance or pay an equivalent amount toward a state pool.
• The bill would expand Healthy Families program to 58,000 children living under 300% of the federal poverty level.
• Other programs which insure children would also be expanded.
• The bill would cover parents up to 300% of the federal poverty level under the Medi-Cal program.
  

ABX1 1
Status: Last Legislative action taken: 01/28/2008
On November 8th, Fabian Núñez introduced ABX1 1, a bill considered by many in the legislature as a compromise between AB8 (which was vetoed on Oct 12th) and the Governor’s current healthcare proposal. The new plan would require employers to provide coverage but would require small firms to pay less than mandated in AB8. Democrats have also made a concession in mandating that insurers cover all Californians with or without pre-existing medical conditions. This is identicle to the Governor's proposal.

The plan differs from Schwarzenegger's in several ways. ABX1 1 would require every Californian to have coverage but the bill, unlike the Governor's plan, would make exemptions for those whose health care costs make up more the 6.5 percent of their total income. The Democratic plan would call for a $2 a pack increase on the cigarette tax to raise an additional $1.8 billion. This contrasts with Schwarzenegger's plan to lease the state lottery to a private company to raise additional funds. Finally, ABX1 1 would give partial subsidies to people with incomes up to 4.5 times the federal poverty rate as opposed to the 3.5 times the poverty rate mandated in the Governor's plan.

Key provisions:

• Californians required to have a minimum level of coverage. Exceptions in cases where the cost of coverage exceeds 6.5% of family income. The Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) would determine other exemptions in cases of hardship.
• Employers are required to pay 2 to 6.5% of Social Security wages for employee health care. A sliding scaled is introduced based on payroll size of the firm with smaller firms with payrolls less than $250,000 paying less. Full and part-time workers are both covered as seperate groups but are still given the minimum percentage.
• Healthcare providers would pay a fee equal to 4% of patient revenues. This provision would be subject to voter approval.
• Healthy Families coverage expansion for parents with incomes between 133% and 300% of the federal poverty level. Additional HFcoverage for children in families with incomes between 133 and 300% of the federal poverty level. All children would be covered, regardless of immigration status.
• Funding provided to in the form of grants for local health departments for obesity, diabetes and smoking prevention
• Single, Medically Indigent Adults would receive expanded Medi-Cal up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level.
• Those with incomes at 250-450% FPL will receive a tax subsidy to help purchase healthcare coverage.

ABX1 1 passed the state Assembly in Dec. 2007 but was ultimately voted down by the Senate health committee on Jan. 29, 2008.

ABX1 8
Status: Last Legislative action taken: 11/20/2008
Assembly Republican Leader Michael Villines’ (R-Clovis) introduced a Republican backed health reform proposal on November 6th, 2007. ABX1 8 would enact regulatory reform to assist employers and individuals in purchasing health coverage. Physicians would receive a tax credit when they provide care to uninsured patients. Medi-Cal payment rates would be increased but most public programs would not see additional funds. The plan would provide tax deductions for individuals purchasing coverage. In addition, the bill would establish the Health Insurance Exchange which would provide tax benefits for employees and employees using it.

Key provisions:

• Individuals could put tax-free deposits into health savings accounts.
• New companies would receive a 15 percent tax credit if they offer coverage to employees.
• Individuals would be permitted to deduct the costs of health care from their state taxes.
• A selection of employers would receive a tax credit for providing high-deductabile health plans.
• The creation of the California Health Insurance Exchange which would extend federal and state tax benefits related to the purchase of health insurance to employees in the state. These benefits could significantly reduce an individual’s cost of coverage.
• Requires health care corporations who have converted from non-profit to profit foundations to spend 90 percent of their yearly expenditures on health services for California citizens who are currently not eligible to receive health care services through state or federal programs.

For detailed table of proposed health plans, see Comparisons of California Health Coverage Expansion Proposals from the California Healthcare Foundation.

Health Care for All
HCA is supporting SB 840

Universal Health Care Action Network

One Care Now

The Foundation For Taxpayer & Consumer Rights (FTCR)

SB 921 Campaign

California Health Reform
Coverage of the health care reform proposals from the California Healthcare Foundation.

Cal Care
Website for Republican backed plan

Health Access California

Stay Healthy California
Website supporting Gov. Schwazenegger's reform proposal

The State of Health Insurance in California: Findings From the 2005 California Health Interview Survey, July 2005.
UCLA Center For Health Policy Research.

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Their Government, Public Policy Institute, June 2007.
"Residents (72%) and likely voters (65%) strongly support Governor Schwarzenegger’s health insurance proposal."

Californians Firmly Favor State-Guaranteed Health Insurance. Survey & Policy Research Inst., Jan. 11, 2007.

California Statewide Health Care Survey. Ditmar, Inc. Feb. 20, 2007

California Voter Views of the Health Care System (part 1 of 2). Field Poll, Release 2221, Jan. 3, 2007.

California Voter Views of the Health Care System (part 2 of 2). Field Poll, Release 2221, Jan. 4, 2007.

Proposition 72: voters currently disposed to vote yes on referendum requiring health care coverage for employees working for large and medium-sized employers, Field Poll, Release #2127, August 12, 2004.

Voters initially supporting health care coverage requirements referendum," Field Poll, Release #2119, June 8, 2004.

Voters favor provisions of SB2, the Health Insurance Act of 2003. If a referendum to repeal SB2 qualifies for the ballot, both sides have potent arguments, Field Poll, Release #2104, January 23, 2004.

Health Care Reform, Jan. 22, 2008.
Legislative Analyst's Office

Designing Coverage: Uninsured Californians Weigh the Options, July 2007.
California Healthcare Foundation

Jacobs, Ken; Ronconi, Lucas; Graham-Squire, Dave.
Health Coverage Proposals in California: Impact On Business, July 11, 2007.
UC Berkeley Labor Center

The Working Uninsured: An Analysis of Worker Health Coverage Among California Industries, July 2007.
Center on Policy Iniatives

Wicks, Elliot.
A Framework Assessment of Major Health Reform Proposals in California, June 2007.
California Healthcare Foundation

Healthcare On the Ballot: A Historical Overview, May 2007.
California Healthcare Foundation

Comparisons of California Health Coverage Expansion Proposals, March 28, 2007.
California Healthcare Foundation

Health Savings Accounts: No Solution for the Uninsured, January 2007
California Budget Project

Yelowitz, Aaron S.
Pay-or-Play Health Insurance Mandates: Lessons from California, October 2006
Public Policy Institute of California

The Health Care For All Californians Act: Cost and Economic Impacts
The Lewin Group, January 19, 2005
The Lewin Group was commissioned by the HCA-CA Education Fund to study the economics of SB 921. The study was conducted during the year 2004.

Earl Warren Oral History Project
Earl Warren and Health Insurance: 1943-1949

Universal Healthcare in California
August 30, 2006 KQED Radio Forum discusses SB 840, passed by the California Legislature in August 2006
Host: Michael Krasny

"The Healthcare Solution: California OneCare"
OneCareNow.org
http://youtube.com/watch?v=jB0Vn_BppwM

BalancedPolitics.org
"Should the Government Provide Free Universal Health Care for All Americans?"

The following citations include links to full-text articles online, when they are available. Some restrictions on use apply, due to licensing requirements. For more information, see Tips for Finding Full-Text Articles.

Chorneau, Tom.
"Health plan may fall short of cash: Feds might not OK funds the governor is counting on," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 16, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Fraser, Jean S.
"On Rethinking Health Care in California: True choice -- universal health care," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 31, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Weintraub, Daniel.
"Won't be easy to require all to get insured," Modesto Bee, Jan. 17, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Burger, Deborah.
"Healthcare packages all inferior, except for one," Ventura County Star, Jan. 10, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Ralston, Richard E.
"Universal Freedom: The Only Hope for Health Care," Capitalism Magazine, Dec. 20, 2005.

The following citations include links to full-text articles online, when they are available. Some restrictions on use apply, due to licensing requirements. For more information, see Tips for Finding Full-Text Articles.

Fernandez, Elizabeth.
"Political divide in solving health care crisis," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 30, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle

Chorneau, Tom.
State Senate committee kills health care bill, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 29, 2008.
San Francisco Chronicle

Chorneau, Tom.
Key vote on health care coverage delayed, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 24, 2008.
San Francisco Chronicle

Chorneau, Tom.
"State health reform may be pricey prospect", San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 23, 2008.
San Francisco Chronicle

Lawrence, Steve.
"Governor's bill in doubt after key senator says he'll vote no," San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 22, 2008.
San Francisco Chronicle

Lawrence, Steve
Governor's health care bill faces long hearing, close vote,"  San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 20, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle

Kurtzman, Laura.
"Ballot language filed for healthcare plan," Ventura County Star,  Dec. 29, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Herdt, Timm.
"Healthcare Q&A - Bill would alter insurance plans," Ventura County Star, Dec. 23, 2007. 
Access World News (UCB)

Chorneau, Tom.
"Assembly health care reform bill shows strong support in Field Poll," San Francisco Chronicle, Dec. 21, 2007
San Francisco Chronicle

Weintraub, Daniel.
"Governor, allies insist health plan fits GOP ideals," Sacramento Bee, 
Dec. 20, 2007
Access World News (UCB)

Chorneau, Tom.
"Assembly panel gets governor's health care plan," San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 31, 2007
San Francisco Chronicle

Geissinger, Steve.
"Leasing state lottery may boost health care," Hayward Daily Review, Oct. 18, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Kurtzman, Laura.
"Labor attacking governor's health plan as bad for middle class," San Francisco Chronicle, Oct. 17, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Zapler, Mike.
"Health insurance lessons from Mass.: Universal coverage tougher in California," San Jose Mercury News, Oct. 13, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Zapler, Mike.
"Governor would lease out lottery to fund health care: No diversion of money for education, he says," San Jose Mercury News,
Oct. 10, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

York, Anthony.
"Former foes huddling on health-care," Capitol Weekly, Aug. 30, 2007.
Capitol Weekly

Chorneau, Tom.
"Record numbers of Californians living without health insurance," San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 29, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Zapler, Mike.
"State's health debate heating up," Ukiah Daily Journal,Apr. 30, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Allen-Taylor, J. Douglass.
"Universal Health Care Bill Passes Committee," Berkeley Daily Planet, Apr. 20, 2007.
Berkeley Daily Planet

Zapler, Mike.
"Senator to again push single-payer health plan: governor's veto likely for 2nd time," San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 28, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Weintraub, Daniel.
"Key to state health care reform is controlling costs," Sacramento Bee, Feb. 27, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Werner, Erica.
"In D.C., Schwarzenegger seeks help, gives advice," Oakland Tribune, Feb. 27, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Colliver, Victoria.
"Health care costs likely to keep rising: One federal forecast says spending will nearly double by 2016," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 23, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Rau, Jordan.
"Health Plan Leaves Some in A Bind," Los Angeles Times, Feb. 21, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Boren, Jim.
"Legislature may duck again on health care reform," Fresno Bee, Feb. 18, 2007
Access World News (UCB)

Geissinger, Steve.
"Governor's health care plan faces GOP test," Oakland Tribune, Feb. 11, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Correa, Barbara.
"Universal health coverage: A challenge for Mr. Universe," Daily News of Los Angeles, Feb. 11, 2007
Access World News (UCB)

Benson, Clea.
"Governor attracts health plan support -- for now," Sacramento Bee, Feb.10, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Howard, John.
"Gov, labor close on health care; wary heavy hitters stay outside 'broad coalition'," Capitol Weekly, Feb. 8, 2007.
Capitol Weekly

Lawrence, Steve.
"Coalition backs health care for all: Players urge compromise, quick action," San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 7, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Chorneau, Tom.
"Key health care groups favoring governor's plan/Major opposition to broad changes hasn't developed," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 6, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Ostrov, Barbara Deder.
"Affordable' health care hard to craft for everyone," San Jose Mercury News, Feb. 5, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Hua, Vanessa.
"Núñez shops health care proposal, says insuring kids is top priority," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 4, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Chorneau, Tom.
"GOP leaders reject governor's health plan, suggest an alternative," San Francisco Chonicle, Jan. 31, 2007.
San Francisco Chronicle

Clark, Cheryl.
"Uninsured find a way: Health care access exists for illegal immigrants," San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan. 30, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Alonso-Zaldivar, Ricardo.
"California Health Plan Has Budget Hawks Antsy," Los Angeles Times, Jan. 29, 2007.
Access World News (UCB)

Koehler, Tamara.
"Health proposal faulty, some say Critics claim medical tax will drive doctors out," Ventura County Star, Jan. 14, 2007.
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