California Democrats’ single-payer healthcare plan passes first hurdle

Assemblyman Ash Kalra, shown in 2019, is the author of the legislation to create a single-payer healthcare system in California. The California Chamber of Commerce added the proposal to its annual “job killer” list that highlights laws corporate interests say will hurt employment and the economy, with a spokesman adding that Kalra’s legislation would “ruin quality healthcare delivery” and “create the largest tax increase in state history.” “This would significantly underfund a single-payer system, which means all of us would actually pay more taxes than currently proposed,” said Preston Young of the California Chamber of Commerce. “For those who make that intellectually lazy argument, you’re not helping those of us who are fighting to improve the system in our democracy.” Kalra’s legislation and Newsom’s proposed healthcare expansion for those living in the country illegally have been competing for attention over the last two days, but the measures are largely supported by the same advocacy groups, raising questions about whether they would move forward in tandem or be pitted against each other. I think it’s important to have the vision of getting to a truly universal and unified system, but I also think it’s important to take tangible steps, urgent steps, so that we can get people help now.” Newsom’s plan, which was released as part of his budget proposal Monday, would allow those whose income falls below the federal poverty line to qualify for the state’s healthcare program for low-income people, regardless of immigration status. “Study after study has shown that a single-payer system, like CalCare, is the only solution that would provide universal, comprehensive benefits to all while also reducing overall healthcare spending,” said Carmen Comsti of the California Nurses Assn., which Many of the Democrats who voted in support of the bill said they have concerns that must be addressed to receive their future votes.