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California
Gov. Schwarzenegger threatens to veto
Democrats' Health Care Legislation
Aug 24, 2007--California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger (R) on Wednesday said he will
veto a health care bill by Democratic
lawmakers if it relies solely on employer
contributions for funding, the
Sacramento Bee reports.
The Democrats' bill would require employers
to spend at least 7.5% of payroll on
employee benefits (Yamamura,
Sacramento
Bee, 8/23).
Schwarzenegger said that the final health
care plan "needs to have mandatory health
care coverage, and it needs to have shared
responsibility." The governor's plan to
expand coverage to all residents would be
funded through mandatory contributions from
employers, hospitals and physicians, as well
as increased federal funds (Rau,
Los
Angeles Times, 8/23).
Schwarzenegger said that he would consider
pursuing a ballot measure to overhaul the
state health care system if negotiations in
the state Legislature fail.
Schwarzenegger at a rally in Sacramento,
Calif., on Wednesday told about 1,000
AARP members that he "can guarantee" a
compromise on health care reform will occur
this year (Herdt,
Ventura County Star,
8/23).
Steven Maviglio, spokesperson state Assembly
Speaker Fabian Núñez (D), said, "When
[Schwarzenegger] decides to roll up his
sleeves and engage with the speaker and
[Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata
(D)], we are confident we can resolve the
minor differences we have and complete
comprehensive health care reform" (Kurtzman,
AP/San Jose Mercury News, 8/23).
However, Perata said, "We should have been
working on this every day this month," but
lawmakers were "tied up with the budget
stalemate." He added, "When we try to do
things fast around here, we usually make
mistakes that we regret" (Chorneau,
San
Francisco Chronicle,
8/23). Perata also suggested that
Schwarzenegger might have to call a special
session after the legislative session ends
Sept. 14 to finish negotiating a health care
bill (Ventura
County Star, 8/23).
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