Republican Assemblyman Rick Keene submitted the healthcare proposal from Governor Schwarzenegger to the independent Legislative Counsel for an opinion on whether the charges proposed by the Governor on employers, hospitals and surgeons are a tax increase as defined by the California Constitution. Undoubtedly Keene had to submit this question to the Counsel’s office because the Governor, who campaigned with an iron-clad promise that he would never ever raise taxes, has been characterizing these charges as "fees" — arguing that that there is a ‘hidden tax’ on Californians (the ‘cost’ of covering uninsured Californians) and therefore these charges, because they are part of a plan that purports to reduce this ‘burden’ on all of us, is a fee and not a tax. What are the charges? Increased payroll taxes, and increased income taxes on hospitals and doctors! Well, it comes as no surprise that the Legislative Counsel has made it very clear that, "…the provider contribution that would be imposed pursuant to the proposal would not constitute a fee and, as a result, would be… Read More

If FR readers don’t already know it, now is a good time for you to ‘officially’ hear that former FlashReport Managing Editor Nicholas Romero (pictured to the right) has occupied a leadership role with the efforts to get former Tennesee Senator and Law & Order actor Fred Thompson into the race for the GOP Presidential nomination. For those that took the opportunity to make their way over to the "Draft Thompson" website (www.fred08.com), you would have seen Nick’s name featured as their contact for the Golden State.

Nick actually joined up as a volunteer with the draft Thompson movement back in early 2007, and he has been steadily working to marshall California Republicans for the Thompson cause. I’m sure that Nick’s efforts have helped generate some of the more than 50,000 online petitions that were filled out on the Draft Thompson site.

As we have all seen lately (here on… Read More

Republican Assemblyman Rick Keene submitted the healthcare proposal from Governor Schwarzenegger to the independent Legislative Counsel for an opinion on whether the charges proposed by the Governor on employers, hospitals and surgeons are a tax increase as defined by the California Constitution. Undoubtedly Keene had to submit this question to the Counsel’s office because the Governor, who campaigned with an iron-clad promise that he would never ever raise taxes, has been characterizing these charges as "fees" — arguing that that there is a ‘hidden tax’ on Californians (the ‘cost’ of covering uninsured Californians) and therefore these charges, because they are part of a plan that purports to reduce this ‘burden’ on all of us, is a fee and not a tax. What are the charges? Increased payroll taxes, and increased income taxes on hospitals and doctors! Well, it comes as no surprise that the Legislative Counsel has made it very clear that, "…the provider contribution that would be imposed pursuant to the proposal would not constitute a fee and, as a result, would be… Read More

AB 16 passed today 44-28. To answer the question of how many Republican voted for a bill opposed by CFRW, CYR, YRFC and many pro-family groups is still at two (Emmerson, Huff). One Democrat voted no (Parra). See previous post on issue here. The following GOP Legislators actually stood up and opposed the bill. Joel Anderson, Doug La Malfa, Alan Nakanishi, Ted Gaines, Martin Garrick and Bonnie Garcia. Garcia was previously a co-sponsor, but became an opponent after amendments were added that ceded legislative authority to an unelected government official.

Audra Strickland was out there whipping the caucus for no votes as well.… Read More

The "Kill The Patient" lobby is reporting that their effort to authorize doctors tohelp kill patients appearsdeadfor thisyear. See here.

AB 374 was opposed by a diversity of groups that included the CMA and many disability rightsgroups. It was supported by the euthanasia advocates, Feminists,the ACLU and by the HMO lobbying Group. See previous blog here.

Update: See the Press release from Californians Against Assisted Suicide here.… Read More

Once again the Democrats in the State Assembly have demonstrated the kind of schizophrenia that is so shockingly prevalent in their ranks by decrying the "failure" of the free market and demanding more Big Government interventions into it to save us all from ourselves.

With more Big Government mandates placed on Insurers who want to compete in California than in any other state, the Big Government types want us to believe the market has failed. In other words, their constant attacks on the free market through onerous mandateshave created the health care crisis, now we are supposed to leave it up to the Big Government Dems to ride in on their white horses and save us from them!

At the end of the day, this whole conversation will probably be muted by the fact that this law clearly violates ERISA, but why make California wait for real health care reform while the Dems play games. We owe California better, and we need to take back Sacramento from the Big Government Dems.… Read More

Senator Migden is very mad at Tom McClintock. He used the "H" word during today’s Senate debate. McClintock rose to speak against a SB 375, a big government plan to control how people move around the state and asked generally Who the “hell” do you (meaning the government and Dems) think you are in deciding where people should live?

As he sat down Migden forgetting hell is a place accused him of using profanity. Perata ruled that that was not one of the words you are forbiddenfrom using. Migden was very upset. It was a good thing she didn’t hit his car from behind.

Besides doesn’t Migden know who McClintock is?… Read More

Update: After much debate, the assembly passes AB 8 out on a party line vote of 47-32.

One of my favorite arguments against was by Assemblywoman Audra Strickland. When speaking of a government run plan [the same government that has prison health care in receivership and Medi-cal in a shambles] promising higher quality, speedier access and lower costs she referred to a workplace poster that said. "Low Cost, Quality, Speed…Pick Any Two." Also, she compared to a Las Vegas buffet where you can pick from mediocre food, thechoices made by someone else for you, while the good stuff is elsewhere in short supply [rationing]

The effort by government to further takeover your health care choices rolls on. The Senate earlier passed the Don Perata bill, SB 48, 23-16, while we are currently debating the Assembly counterpart, AB 8 by The Speaker. Republicans are articulating our market, free choice proposals through floor amendments and reminders of our 18 bill package that were stopped in Committee on party line votes.… Read More