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About this blog: I am a native of Alameda County, grew up in Pleasanton and currently live in the house I grew up in that is more than 100 years old. I spent 39 years in the daily newspaper business and wrote a column for more than 25 years in add...  (More)

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More craziness in Sacramento

Uploaded: Jun 6, 2017
The California Senate has rushed into uncharted waters with stunning and irresponsible haste last week.
The Senate, on a largely party line vote, passed unprecedented legislation authored by Democrats Richard Lara and Toni Adkins that would abolish private health insurance in the state and replace it with a single-payer government plan.
Mind you—this bill was introduced this year. It’s June and the Democrats in the Senate believe this absurd legislation—backed by the California Nurses Association (a union)—should become law.
The bill that passed last week did not identify any funding for a bill estimated to cost $400 billion. For comparison, the General Fund in the state’s budget is about $124 billion. If you say YIKES, you’re right.
The Senate faced a deadline for moving the bill to the Assembly so a majority of the Democrats jammed it through. Dems have two-thirds majority in both houses. When it comes to paying for the measure—which will require a tax increase—that will require all Dems in both houses to sign on unless some Republicans sign on.
Here’s hoping there are enough rational members in the Assembly to scuttle this terrible bill. The Senate seems to “Feel the Bern” and thus discards any semblance of thoughtful decision making.
Consider, an article in the East Bay Times on June 1 reported that Planned Parenthood was closing three clinics in the East Bay. The cited reason was the shrinking reimbursement from the state of California for coverage for patients on Medi-Cal. For me, seeing three abortion clinics close is good news.
That said—the reason should give great pause to anyone embracing the Senate’s folly. Over the years, I have come to understand from health care professionals and those trying to seek care for poor people that Medi-Cal is a disaster. Many physicians simply refuse to take Medi-Cal patients (it hasn’t changed with the expansion of Medi-Cal under ObamaCare). Their reasoning is simple: the reimbursements are so sub-standard compared with Medicare and it’s so difficult to get paid, avoid it.
Some physicians who did accept Medi-Cal patients simply wrote off the visit instead of trying to collect.
And, that’s the system that 23 Senators believe all Californians should rely upon for health care.
You also should mix in the union influence. It would have a seat on the board that governs the system. Talk about foxes in the hen house.
The governor may be a final backstop on this bill—but there’s no telling with Jerry Brown. Time to let Assembly members know just how crazy this bill is and that it is well past time to bury it.

Local Journalism.
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Comments

Posted by Henry, a resident of Pleasanton Valley,
on Jun 6, 2017 at 2:55 pm

I'm sure that persons celebrating the closure of Planned Parenthood clinics, with 98% of services going to non-abortion medical care, would also be as avid in pushing for the closure of all hospitals performing abortions. That's almost all of them in Bay Area. I'm sure a clinic opponent needing emergency care would refuse care in any local hospital that has abortions performed. The closure of the clinics affects primarily the poor, and will only lead to more unwanted pregnancies and discontinuance of prenatal care. I'm sure that clinic opponents would refuse private prenatal care for mother and child if any abortion related services were supported by the medical practice they attend. Discontinuance of vaccinations for the poor, STD prevention and treatments, basic medical care - that's OK as long as our private Pleasanton care is available, even though it's just as connected to abortions.


Posted by PP, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jun 6, 2017 at 3:59 pm

Tim am a conservative, but not your type... We used to help people, now we just shame them for basic healthcare. I find it ridiculous celebrating clinic closures that likely is not preform any aborting to be disheartening. Maybe you can stop to think and try to help others that is under privileged. Maybe you should follow Jesus teaching? but you are not a conservative.


Posted by Inquiring Mind, a resident of Danville,
on Jun 6, 2017 at 4:22 pm

Does Tim not know how to link actual evidence of his many unsupported claims, or is he just politically disinclined?


Posted by Huh??, a resident of Pleasanton Valley,
on Jun 6, 2017 at 4:52 pm

Henry - not sure how you get all what you have written from what Tim has said. While he is against abortion, that's not the point of the article.

All those things you point out will happen if we get a single payer system in CA.

And those of us most able to pay the taxes are going to leave.

Yes, that includes me. Good-bye to CA is this passes.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jun 6, 2017 at 4:56 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Ok...so Tim won't link anything, but I will.

This is Planned Parenthood: Web Link

They broker in baby parts.

Let me say it a little louder: THEY BROKER IN BABY PARTS.

Shame on anyone who defends that organization.


Posted by Inquiring Mind, a resident of Danville,
on Jun 6, 2017 at 8:42 pm

Someone needs better material. That smear-job was discredited years ago. Nobody believes it.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jun 6, 2017 at 10:21 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

Inquiring Mind,

"That smear-job was discredited years ago."

Citation please?

Otherwise, just simply state for all that you approve of killing babies so that their parts can be distributed.


Posted by Inquiring Mind, a resident of Danville,
on Jun 7, 2017 at 6:29 am

Pulitzer prize-winning Politifact rates the charge FALSE, along with a lot of other right-wing nonsense about PP: Web Link

Fetal tissue in significant medical research has been used since the 1930s, against rubella, parkinson's, polio, stroke, etc.: Web Link

It was all just a big hit-job by opponents of choice.

I will not extend this "discussion" further, because you are on an overheated crusade and I was not even writing about the abortion claim (which was opinion, obviously), but claims like medi-cal "is a disaster."


Posted by OH please Mr Troll, a resident of San Ramon,
on Jun 7, 2017 at 8:43 am

Web Link


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jun 7, 2017 at 9:37 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

Inquiring Mind,

I understand why you don't want to comment further because nothing in the post from Politifact refutes the video I posted.

Nice try.

"Crusade"?

If being against the selling of baby-parts is considered a "crusade", then so be it.

I sleep well at night.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jun 7, 2017 at 9:42 am

DKHSK is a registered user.

And by the way, lest you think I come at this from a religious perspective I have said many times that I don't practice any religion - much to my own disappointment.

The harvesting of baby parts from live (or dead) babies is barbaric.


Posted by Inquiring Mind, a resident of Danville,
on Jun 7, 2017 at 10:06 am

Sleep well, good crusader. That's when you make your best arguments.


Posted by DKHSK, a resident of Bridle Creek,
on Jun 7, 2017 at 4:30 pm

DKHSK is a registered user.

"Sleep well, good crusader. That's when you make your best arguments."

And I could still out-think you.

Have a nice day!


Posted by screen23, a resident of Greenbrook Elementary School,
on Jul 4, 2017 at 8:02 am

screen23 is a registered user.

What we have generated online from this website Web Link online from this hack.


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