On Tuesday, the California Senate Appropriations Committee suspended until Thursday action on a bill (SB 810) that would create a single-payer health care system. The panel said it put the bill, by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), on hold to give it further consideration after a legislative analysis found that it would cost $200 billion to $250 billion annually. The measure does not include any taxes or fees to offset the cost of the single-payer system, which would be run by a new state agency. However, Leno said the bill would reduce costs by eliminating private insurers as the middlemen.
- "Amid Cost Concerns, Lawmakers Delay Vote on Universal Health Care" (McGreevy, "PolitiCal," Los Angeles Times, 1/17).
- "Committee Vote on Single-Payer Health Bill Delayed Until Thursday" (Van Oot, "CapitolAlert," Sacramento Bee, 1/17).
- "Single-Payer Health Care Bill Before California Lawmakers Again" (Bartolone, "KXJZ News," Capitol Public Radio, 1/17).