CA Advocates and Watchdogs Weigh in on State and National Bills
CA Advocates and Watchdogs Weigh in on State and National Bills
By
Dianne Anderson // —
Other than what’s in their wallet, most people aren’t thinking about bills lately — but they should.
Once again, bills are starting to fly between both state houses, putting legislative watchdogs are on high alert for what’s coming up in California. Last year alone, about 900 bills became law.
Anthony Galace, director of health policy at the Greenlining Insititute at Berkeley, said they are tracking AB-1344, authored by Shirley Weber (D – San Diego), to help inmates and the formerly incarcerated get fair access to voting information. It passed out of Assembly, and now being heard in the Rules Committee.
In April, Greenlining testified in favor of the bill before California Assembly Committee on Public Safety.
“We’re really taking a stand for the reentry population and voting rights. Greenlining’s view is that voting is essential to improving health and wellness, and the best chance to reassert their leadership,” Galace said.
At the state level, the Assembly also passed AB 1008, authored by Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), now on to the Senate side, hoping to expand current Ban the Box policies down to local city, county, and private employers to stop questions about criminal records until applicants already qualify the job.
The bill, not yet assigned, stems from several ongoing Ban the Box campaigns of recent years, including policy regulation last year by President Obama to stop federal agencies from asking questions prior to the last phase of the hiring process.
“We’re looking to make sure that we’re uplifting jobs and removing barriers for vulnerable populations, which are disproportionately young men of color,” Galace said.
Greenlining is also watching SB 562, the California single-payer healthcare bill that passed last week as an answer to the Trump Administration attempts to tear up President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
The single payer pushes universal health coverage for all, and is supported by the California Nurses Association. Greenlining has staff members in Sacramento, and keeps close ties with several coalitions representing the voice of marginalized communities.
Other debates around the astronomical $400 billion for the state to administer a single-payer plan are blown out of proportion by opponents, Galace said.
Some estimates run as low as $50 billion a year to administer the single-payer plan.
“The current cost of healthcare of $350-380 billion already,” he said. “If Congress moves forward with the AHCA [American Health Care Act], that would spell even more problems to ensure that medical premiums don’t skyrocket.”
At the national level, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), last week also weighed in on the Congressional Budget Office report about the looming Republican healthcare bill, also known as Trumpcare, which she said discriminates against seniors, those with pre-existing conditions, and women.
Harris tweeted that the Trump budget proposes $2 trillion in tax cuts for millionaires in the next ten years, and $2.5 trillion in cuts to programs for the poor.
“Access to quality and affordable health care in America should be a right, not a privilege. This nonpartisan report makes clear that if the Republican health care bill becomes law, middle-class families will pay more for health care, costs for seniors will increase, 14 million more Americans will be uninsured next year, and 23 million more Americans uninsured over the next decade. This bill is nothing short of a disaster,” she said in a release.
AARP also condemns the Trumpcare AHCA plan, calling it a special interest healthcare bill that will hurt the elderly with an age tax, along with up to $8,000 a year in hiked premiums, and gives a $200 billion break for insurance and drug companies.
“Finally, Medicaid cuts could impact people of all ages and put at risk the health and safety of 17.4 million children and adults with disabilities and seniors by eliminating much-needed services that allow individuals to live independently in their homes and communities. Although no one believes the current health care system is perfect, this harmful legislation would make health care less secure and less affordable,” the AARP said.
For more information on SB562, see http://www.
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