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Indybay Feature

State Senator Mark Lenos Speaks On State Single Payer Health Care

by Rubble
Hear Senator Leno give a presentation on the "2011 Campaign For Universal Healthcare Without the Insurance Industry". The event was held at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco on Saturday, January 8, sponsored by Single Payer Now (singlepayernow.net), with over 170 activists in attendance. (15:16)
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With Democrat Jerry Brown now in the Governor’s office, State Senator Leno is starting a renewed push to re-introduce and pass SB810, the California Single Payer Health Care Bill. The bill has been voted on three times. It lost the first time around. It passed both houses of the legislature the second and third time, then was vetoed both times by Republican Governor Schwarzenegger. It reportedly died in a committee and expired last year without coming to a vote of the full legislature.

Leno spoke articulately about the need for this bill, to provide coverage for all residents at a significantly reduced overall costs to both the cash-strapped State and to the individual consumer. This is achieved by eliminating health insurance companies and profits from the system, with the State as the “single-payer” handling administration.

He reports that under the current privatized system, about 31 cents of every dollar paid in goes to non health-related interests, such as profit, marketing, outreach, lobbying and basic administration. Nationally, close to 18% of Gross Domestic Profit (GDP) is spent on health care. This rate is steadily rising and could be as high as 25% in the near future. That means that 25 cents of every dollar in the U.S. economy will go to health care, to a inefficient and near “broken“ system.

Leno alluded to recent corporate news reports that Blue Shield of California is currently seeking rate increases of 59%. Another company had last year attempted to get an over 30% increase and was forced to settle for a lesser increase.

Governor Brown could be a strong ally. Leno reports that Brown has recently told Congressional Democrats that if they can get a passed bill onto his desk, he will sign it. As a liberal/progressive challenger to conservative Democrat President Clinton, he had promoted the need for this legislation nationally.

However, passing it is “just the beginning” as opposed to the end of the fight. He says the insurance industry is likely to appeal passage in courts, and also put forth a ballot proposition to overturn it. He believes it will ultimately be decided at the ballot box. If passed and implemented effectively, it can serve as a demonstration project for other states and, ultimately, the federal government to implement. Proven effectiveness could break down the resistance at the Federal level, given the way the door was absolutely shut by the Obama Administration to even allowing Single Payer advocates and Congresspeople be a part of the process.

A rally will be held at the steps of the State Capital this Monday morning, January 10th, organized by Single Payer Now. Busses are organized from the Bay Area and other major cities. Organizations led by physicians, medical students, other medical workers such as nurses and labor unions are among those organizing and involved. Hopefully, 2011 can be a breakthrough year for this legislation.
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