California Dems Push Hillary-Care

ABC News ^ | 2/13/03

[11th Earl of Mar]

Feb. 13

— SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - California Senate President John Burton unveiled legislation on Wednesday that would require all businesses in the nation's most populous state to pay for health insurance for their employees.

A business lobby blasted the bill, saying it would raise costs for small businesses to operate in California and could drive more businesses out of the state at a time when they already face rising taxes.

Burton said he will introduce the bill that would make employers pay a fee to fund coverage through a state insurance pool if businesses opted not to provide benefits directly. The employer would choose whether to provide coverage or pay the fee, he said.

Burton said about 6.3 million Californians are without health insurance at some point during the year and that his bill would reduce that number by nearly 5 million.

"California is currently facing a health-care cost crisis," the Democrat said in a statement. "The increase in the cost of providing coverage for private employers has risen even more, with small employers seeing the most dramatic increase in costs."

It was too early to say whether the bill, which Burton plans to introduce next week, will pass the Democrat-controlled but deeply divided state legislature. A spokesman for Gov. Gray Davis said the administration had no comment on the bill.

Richard Costigan, a spokesman for the California Chamber of Commerce, said the bill would harm small businesses, many of whom would be forced to tap into limited resources to pay for the health insurance plan.

He added that while addressing the problem of uninsured Californians was an important one, putting the brunt of the solution on the shoulders of businesses was not the right way to go.

"If you are faced with that do you lay off workers, do you not expand, do you not give raises?" Costigan said. "Employers can only pay so much."

Burton said his plan would not scare away employers from a state where the cost of doing business is already among the highest in the nation.

Instead, he argued it would allow small employers to leverage the purchasing power of a large pool to cut the cost of insurance. It would also provide the kind of preventive care that makes it less likely workers would require costly treatment down the road, he said.

"Acute conditions such as injuries or infections are treated sooner and result in less time lost from work," Burton said.

Copyright 2003 Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[11th Earl of Mar]

"California is currently facing a health-care cost crisis," the Democrat said in a statement. "The increase in the cost of providing coverage for private employers has risen even more, with small employers seeing the most dramatic increase in costs."

Brilliant logic. Since the health care costs are drowning small business people, we are going to make them pay even more.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Dr Warmoose]

Brilliant logic

Of course it is brilliant logic. This is the politically correct way of combating illegal immigration. Destroy the state so thoroughly that no one wants to sneak in.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Oh, pass it quickly so it can fail and be an issue in a Presidential election. It's been too long since the GOP has won California.

[Argus]

While they're at it, maybe they'd like to force my company to pay for my auto, fire and earthquake insurance, too.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Just wait... Plastic sheeting and duct tape insurance will be next.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

Burton said his plan would not scare away employers from a state where the cost of doing business is already among the highest in the nation.

That must be some great stuff he's smoking.

[CyberAnt]

All the companies have to do is pass some of the cost on to their employees.

It's not the greatest, but the employer has to get real with their employees and explain to them what they are facing.

The biggest problem is that most employees are convinced that the employer is taking home extremely high profits, and then demanding the employee pay more for medical care. Although this can and probably is true for a few companies, the small business people are really being hit hard.

[bayareablues]

Get me outta here.

[Mr. Jeeves]

More genius legislation from John Burton, The Wickedest Politician in America (tm).

[Mr. Jeeves]

That must be some great stuff he's smoking.

Cocaine was Burton's drug of choice when he was in Congress.

[kjisaway]

just when I thought the boys in Sacramento were not doing enough to drive business out of California...

[ImphClinton]

Just do you think is paying for their medical cost now.

Hello they still get it as no hospital can turn them away. Somebody is paying.

Well that somebody is you. Thus all the employers in California that pay decent wages with health bennifits pay not only for their own employees health care but for all the other employers that are too cheep to offer health care. They also pay for all the illegals.

This law would actually reduce costs for most companies while forcing the Wall-Marts, Targets, Pennys, McDonalds etc. to pay their fair share of health costs.

How is that unfair. Seems the current system is unfair to me. Why should it cost my employer $700 / month for my insurance. Answer Joe at Mcdonalds and Jesus at the farm both go to the hospital at my employers expense. He thus pays me less than he otherwize might.

[Slyfox]

California Dems Push Hillary - anybody care?

[JSteff]

Nice try but your logic is not of reality. When was the last time you heard of an insurance company, hospital, doctor, or politician reducing rates on ANYTHING because their latest "fair, equitable, comprehensive money saving" scheme went into effect? Name it please.
It has never happened and that is what I think the average person knows... or senses. Everyone will be paying $700 per month/per employee, because now the government will take their cut. That is not to mention the fact that the government will demand extra coverages and mark some of the money for their pet programs.... (ie will try to buy votes with the extra dollars) whether those programs involve health care or not.
Don't kid yourself, this is about getting more money out of private industry and into government hands or under government control. Nothing less.

[11th Earl of Mar]

Hillary, is that you? Joe at Mcdonalds and Jesus at the farm both go to the hospital at my employers expense. He thus pays me less than he otherwize might.

If you think you are getting a raise because of a Ted Kennedy/ Hillary Clinton health care plan, you are dumber than you sound.

And I would be intereted in some information you could provide that would document how the costs for Wal Mart, McDonalds, etc. will decline by having to pay $700 per month, per employee.

[Amerigomag]

Yet another example why Californians would be better served to neutralize Wesson/Burton than to embarrass Davis through a recall effort.

Davis is a weakened, superfical, corrupt politician but Wesson/Burton are naked, commited, extreme ideologues.

[ImphClinton]

The prices in Wall Mart are artifically low right now. This is because Wall-Mart recieves more welfare than any other entity in America.

They recieve direct payments for some of their employees. They hire huge numbers of felons and welfare recipiants with the government picking up part of the tab.

WallMart only hires adults. They prefer married adults. Many of their employees have children and nearly all are on Food Stamps. This cost another $200 / month per child. In addition these children qualify for state paid health insurance wich cost about $400 / month per child.

WallMart pay is so low that some Employees qualify for AFDC (cash welfare payments). This means Medicaid as well this cost about $500 / month per employee that qualifies.

Wall-Mart does not even offer real Health insurance to full time employees only the Store Manager gets it. Thus when one of their employees gets sick they obtain service at a free (tax subsdized) clinc. If they really get sick they check into the Hospital and can not afford to pay the over inflated bill. Again we all end up paying or our taxes pay.

So next time you go to Wall-Mart remember this is your taxes at work. But is this a very good way to spend tax dollars. Wall-Mart is one of the richest compaines on earth. Why in He!! am I paying more taxes so their proffits can be higher???

That is why your wages will go up if all are insured. Some one always has to pay the bill. But if all are insured you will only be paying your own bill. You will pay a little more at Wall-Mart or Wall-Mart will earn less though. But how is it fair that Wall-Mart gets welefare but GE doesn't???

[11th Earl of Mar]

The prices in Wall Mart are artifically low right now. This is because Wall-Mart recieves more welfare than any other entity in America...

PROVE IT!!!

They hire huge numbers of felons and welfare recipiants...

PROVE IT!!!

WallMart only hires adults. They prefer married adults...

PROVE IT!!!

[N]early all [employees] are on Food Stamps...

PROVE IT!!!

I have neve seen so many unsubstantiated claims in one post. Your credibility just went down the toilet.