My experience is that people of all political persuasions go ballistic if you take away their healthcare choices. A total and complete government takeover of the system will take away plenty of choice, along with access, technology, quality, etc.
SB 840 is a pie in sky plan with "free" healthcare funded by: 1. people "assigning" their full Medicare and Medic-aid benefits to the state (good luck) and 2. a massive 14.5% payroll tax. Polls show it is opposed by 75% of voters, even before the negatives are presented.
The legislature is demonstrating how completely out of touch they are with voters on this subject. They truly do not care what the electorate thinks when their interest groups want something. Even the liberal legislators I've spoken with privately acknowledge that this is no solution that they would want for themselves or their families, but they vote for it anyway.
( No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)