Thursday, June 27, 2002

HEALTH BUDGET CUTS UPDATE & ALERT
Wednesday, June 26, 2002

LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT GROWS FOR UPPER TAX BRACKET RESTORATION
The Budget Battle Begins...

ALERT: Please THANK the legislators who have taken a stand for upper tax bracket restoration and a balanced solution to the budget crisis. We need to reinforce their support as we go after other potential supporters.

SENATE REPORT: On Tuesday, the Senate voted on AB 428, a bill that raises $4.7 billion in revenues, through upper tax bracket estoration, a tobacco tax increase and other items. The bill did not include the vehicle license fee restoration. It did restore funding to everal specific proposed cuts, including selected cuts to Medi-Cal providers and the Healthy Families program.

The vote was along party lines, with all Senate Democrats voting for the bill. Since no Republican voted for the bill, it did not pass. We expect the issue to be reconsidered.

The Senate came out with several trailer bills, including AB 442, the Omnibus Health Trailer Bill, which has 67 items detailing the recent decisions of various budget committees.

ASSEMBLY: On Wednesday, a solid core of 19 Assemblymembers detailed their support to upper tax bracket restoration in a press conference. Below is a description from Assemblywoman Wilma Chan's office:

--
California Assemblymembers Call for Taxing the Wealthy to Close State Budget Gap
$3.1B Will Prevent Severe Cuts to Health and Education

June 26, 2002
Info: Rachel Richman, Assm. Wilma Chan, 510-286-1670

Today, 19 members of the California Assembly endorsed a plan to help close the $23.6 billion state budget gap by restoring higher tax brackets to the wealthiest Californians. The legislators include both moderate and progressive members and representatives of urban, suburban and rural areas stretching from one end of the state to the other.

A similar approach to solve the budget deficit was taken by the Wilson administration and the Legislature in the early 1990s, and by previous Legislatures.

"With a budget deficit as big as the one facing California, we all have to share in the solution," said Assemblywoman Wilma Chan (D-Oakland) who organized the press conference. "It is only reasonable that the wealthiest Californians contribute a fair share." Chan noted that with federal tax cuts enacted last year, most high-end taxpayers will still end up with a net decrease in their state-federal tax bill.

The revenues raised by the tax reinstatement will help fund a number of programs recently restored in the budget by the Senate-Assembly Budget Conference Committee, including funding for high priority schools, Healthy Start school programs, expansion of Healthy Families health insurance, funding for emergency rooms, a small cost-of-living increase for the aged, blind and disabled (SSI/SSP) and increased fire protection.

Under the proposal, to be voted on by the Assembly on Thursday, individuals earning more than $130,000 in taxable income and couple earning more than $260,000 in taxable income will see their tax rates increase slightly. About 2.5% of Californians will be affected by the tax.

Among the members attending the Capitol press conference today or signing on to support the reinstatement are:

> * Assemblymember Wilma Chan (D-Oakland)
> * Assemblymember John Dutra (D-Fremont)
> * Assemblymember Jackie Goldberg (D-LA)
> * Assemblymember Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego)
> * Assemblymember Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto)
> * Assemblymember Helen Thomson (D-Davis)
> * Assemblymember Paul Koretz (D-Hollywood)
> * Assemblymember Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park)
> * Assemblymember Elaine Alquist (D-Santa Clara)
> * Assemblymember Joe Nation (D-San Rafael)
> * Assemblymember Rod Wright (D-LA)
> * Assemblymember Dion Aroner (D-Berkeley)
> * Assemblymember Fred Keeley (D-Boulder Creek)
> * Assemblymember Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced)
> * Assemblymember Virgina Strom-Martin (D-Duncan Mills)
> * Assemblymember Manny Diaz (D-San Jose)
> * Assemblymember Patricia Wiggins (D- Santa Rosa)
> * Assemblymember Gil Cedillo (D-LA)
> * Assemblymember Carole Migden (D-SF)

Rachel Richman
Chief of Staff
Assemblywoman Wilma Chan

--

ALSO ATTACHED: Another good press release from PICO decrying Assemblyman's John Campbell's comments about "bread, water, and shelter."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Paty Madueño, OCCCO- 949- 689-8817
Alma Vergara Marquez, OCCCO- 714-931-6051

June 20, 2002

Orange County Religious Leaders Travel To Sacramento to Discuss Assemblymember Campbell’s “Bread, Water and Shelter” Proposal

Today, Orange County religious and community leaders will travel to Sacramento to meet with Assemblymember John Campbell (R-Irvine) and to discuss his proposal made in the Budget Conference Committee yesterday that state elected officials only concern themselves with providing families with “bread, water and shelter.”

Mr. Campbell put forward his “bread, water and shelter” theory to explain why he was opposed to government funding that provides health services to low-income working families. Over the last two weeks, Assemblymember Campbell has proposed a series of massive cuts to health care for working families, including the elimination of the Child Healthy and Disability Prevention Program that provides health services to 2 million low income children, funding for primary care clinics, and reductions in MediCal eligibility.

“Our assemblymember is clearly determined to make thousands of families in his district sicker and poorer,” said Paty Madueno of St. Joachim’s Catholic Church in Costa Mesa. “Our parish has over 3,000 families. Our families work and pay taxes. Few receive health insurance from their employers. Our families need MediCal, Healthy Families, and community clinics,” said Madueno.

On June 7, Father Robillard, pastor of St. Joachim, and Mrs. Madueno invited Assemblymember Campbell to visit their community and to meet with families whose health and well-being depend on the health programs he has proposed to cut. Mr. Campbell’s district staff have indicated to St. Joachim’s that he will not be available to meet with them for at least one month. For that reason, St. Joachim’s leaders chose to travel to Sacramento today to issue a personal invitation to Assemblymember Campbell in the State Capitol.

St. Joachim’s is a member of the Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), a faith-based community organization made up of 14 churches representing 34,000 families in Orange County, and the PICO California Project, a statewide network of faith-based community organizations

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 10:08 AM


 

Tuesday, June 25, 2002

HEALTH BUDGET CUTS UPDATE & ALERT
June 25, 2002

TRAILER BILLS & TAXES: The Assembly Budget Committee met Monday night and voted on the budget bill (SB 1840) and several trailer bills, including those for education (SB 1841, 1842), general government (SB 1843), social services (SB 1845), and health (SB 1846). They also voted on proposals for tobacco securitization (SB 1831), transportation loans (SB 1847) of $1.2 billion, and a tax package (SB 1849) of $4.7 billion in increased revenues, on which everything hinges.

The tax package includes upper tax bracket restoration, as well as a tobacco tax increase and other items. The Democrats largely voted in favor of all bills. The Republicans voted against the budget, tobacco securitization, and tax bills, and did not vote on the trailer bills, stating that they needed more time to review them. The full Assembly is scheduled to take them up Thursday, June 27.

As of this writing, we understand that the Senate may vote on the budget and related trailer bills as early as Tuesday, June 25.

QUARTERLY STATUS REPORTS: The Omnibus Health Trailer Bill (SB 1846) contains 105 items, legislative language to implement the intent of the various budget committees. One item that is NOT included is the reinstitution of quarterly status reports (QSRs) in Medi-Cal. As you may know, the Budget Conference Committee earlier voted to require adult Medi-Cal recipients to fill out QSRs--as burdensome a process as having to do your taxes four times a year--which was estimated to force almost 250,000 people off of health
coverage. [There was some concern that the imposition of QSRs would have messed up the federal government's agreement on the Los Angeles 1115 waiver.]

There appears to be some hope in preventing the re-institution of Quarterly Status Reports. The Assembly did NOT include this in the trailer bill. Since the Senate trailer bill needs to be identical to the Assembly, our understanding is that the Senate is placing the QSR issue in a separate bill. This bill may come up for a vote Tuesday, June 25th.

ACTION: Please CALL YOUR SENATOR today to tell them to VOTE AGAINST legislation to require low-income California families to deal with QUARTERLY STATUS REPORTS. It's a burdensome procedure that forces eligible working families off of health coverage. We need enough Democratic Senators to vote against this concept, which was supported by the Governor and the Conference
Committee.

Once again, none of this matters without full passage of the budget with increased revenues to makeup the shortfall. The people who fall off of Medi-Cal due to QSR was estimated to have saved the state $155 million. So in making the call, please also URGE YOUR SENATOR to SUPPORT INCREASED REVENUES TO PREVENT THIS AND OTHER SEVERE BUDGET CUTS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
June 24, 2002

CALL-IN SHOW: Jean Ross of the California Budget Project is scheduled to appear on the Bay Area radio show "Forum" on KQED, public radio 88.5FM, this Wednesday, June 26, starting at 9am. She will, as always, persuasively use her considerable expertise to demonstrate to listeners the need for additional revenues and, in particular, upper income tax restoration. While this is NPR, it is still talk radio: It would be good to have friendly calls to back her up, and to talk about the severity of the proposed cuts without
increased revenues. The call-in line is 415-863-2476.

FEDERAL CONFERENCE CALL WITH CMS: Below is a message from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) about an important conference call scheduled for this Wednesday, June 26 at 12noon PST. Details below.

California health care advocates have serious issues with CMS, including upper payment limit (UPL) funding to hospitals, disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding issues, and other matters that impact the safety net, quarterly status reports, continuing issues around the 1115 waiver in Los Angeles, issues around waivers CMS may or may not be open to, and various
items about the state Child Health Insurance Program/Healthy Families. California organizations have advocated with our national counterparts for "open door" meetings specifically designed for consumers and their advocates (as opposed to the many for doctors, hospitals, etc.), and for the timing of the meetings to be California-friendly.

From CMS:
---

As you may know, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has formed 11 "Open Door" Forums that meet monthly or bi-monthly to address concerns that beneficiaries and providers have with our programs. These Open Door Forums have been popular and have achieved tangible results for participants.

As part of a collaboration on health access issues with the Health Resources and Services Administration, we are pleased to announce a forum on low-income health access issues. This meeting will be chaired jointly by CMS Administrator Tom Scully and HRSA Administrator Elizabeth James Duke. Both will have their key policy staff available to answer questions, including Dennis Smith from the Center for Medicaid and State Operations.

The group will meet on Wednesday, June 26, 2002, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm EST. The meeting will be held in Room 800 of the Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C.; you can also participate by conference call by dialing 1-800-837-1935, access code 2813854.

The key items we anticipate that we will discuss at the meetings are:
- Health access initiatives for uninsured families;
- Waivers (including HIFA and PharmacyPlus);
- Impact of CMS policies on safety net providers;
- Health access for dual eligibles and the PACE program;
- Improving enrollment in Medicaid and S-CHIP, including outstationing
issues; and
- Coordination of CMS decisions with state ADAP programs.

In addition, as at all of our Open Door Forums, we will present opportunities for interested parties to bring issues regarding low-income
health access to our attention.

If you plan to attend the Hubert H. Humphrey Bldg. to particpate in this forum, you must RSVP by sending us your name, organization, and telephone number via email to kboston@cms.hhs.gov , NO LATER THAN JUNE 24, 2002.
Thank you.

If you have any questions about the session or the Open Door initiative generally, please email Tom Barker at CMS at tbarker@cms.hhs.gov. We look forward to seeing you or hearing from you at the meeting on the 26th.
Please feel free to let your state and local affiliates and other interested individuals know about this Open Door Forum.

Keri Boston
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Professional Relations Staff
410-786-6631
kboston@cms.hhs.gov

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 10:22 AM


 

HEALTH ACCESS UPDATE
June 21, 2002

HEALTH LEGISLATION:
Alas, the regular legislative cycle continues in the midst of the budget battle. Our Legislation page contains an UPDATED bill list, prepared by Beth Capell, legislative advocate for Health Access California, detailing our position on that. Please contact us with any questions about pending legislation.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:
As of this writing, the Conference Committee has adjourned for the weekend, and is scheduled to reconvene sometime on Monday.
It ended its business on Thursday, when Assembly Republicans blocked passage of a $1.1 billion deferral of school funding from the current year to the budget year. If this is not done in the next week, the legislature will need to find another $1.1 billion in cuts or revenues, on top of all existing budget issues. In response to this obstructionism, Conference Committee Chairman Steve Peace adjourned the committee on Thursday afternoon, feeling he could not move ahead without knowing the outcome of this issue.

Earlier this week (although often late into the night), the committee began discussion of revenue options, including the tobacco tax increase, the restoration of the vehicle license fee, and, yes, the potential restoration of the upper tax brackets. While it is unclear what the Committee will do, all these revenue increases--and others--are now on the table.

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 10:01 AM


 

Thursday, June 20, 2002

HEALTH ACCESS BUDGET CUTS UPDATE
July 19, 2002

ADDITIONAL CUTS PROPOSED BUT REJECTED
Conference Committee Has Major Discussion on Health Care: "Bread, Water and Shelter vs. A Wise Investment for California"


MORE CUTS CONSIDERED: Budget conference committee met earlier today June 19 to review further potential cuts. They re-opened a number of items looking for additional cuts. Health care items reconsidered for cuts included trauma care funding, the increase in the DSH administrative fee, the frequency of pediatric dental care, Medi-Cal co-payments, and CHDP periodicity, and provider rates.

By the end of the night, in the items of most concern to health care advocates, the Committee voted to sustain the decisions they have made in earlier sessions, and prevent further cuts, with the Republican members often dissenting.

DISCUSSION: The following is NOT a verbatim transcript: it is from notes taken by Beth Capell, Health Access legislative advocate, on Wednesday morning. Health Access has ordered the videotape and will make a verbatim transcript of key passages. With that disclaimer, what follows is a debate that goes to the core of the fight to provide health care to working people.
--

Conference committee was reviewing a list of health items that the conference committee had added above the Governor's May Revise proposal. Last on the list was the proposal to start Healthy Families coverage of parents. Steinberg asked what the federal match on this program was and got confirmation that it was $2 federal dollars for every $1 dollar in state general fund.

Assm. John Campbell, R-Irvine: Is this really needed? That's like saying that if you go to the store and need one thing, but if you buy two, you get one free, then you should buy two even though you only needed one.

Assm. Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento: 164,000 parents would be eligible under this program. There is a huge need. This is a wise investment for California to make up front. If we don't invest in health coverage, people think we'll get off scot-free and that's not true. We spend it in emergency rooms.

Campbell: I disagree. The people of this state are not interested in increasing their taxes to fund programs that don't exist. This program is not so vital that it was needed before now.

Assm. Jenny Oropeza, D-Los Angeles: I don't agree that our citizens who pay taxes do not need health care
.
Campbell: We cannot provide all of what everyone wants free of charge. We have to draw the line somewhere. You choose to tax people for something that in some cases the people you are taxing don't have themselves.

Oropeza: We are making up for a past wrong that we just take care of half the family. It is heartless and inhumane not to take care of the entire family.

Campbell: A Rand study shows that 80% of these families have access to employer sponsored coverage.

Steinberg: You know it is not just Democrats that support this. Keith Richman (R-Simi Valley) spoke very eloquently for this (in the Assembly budget subcommittee). And the Bush Administration is funding it.

Campbell: This is about what you need, what you really need. The standard is bread, water and shelter.

Steinberg: If that's the line, I am ready to engage in that debate.

Campbell: Bread, water and shelter is what people really need.

Sen. Steve Peace (D-San Diego): My doctor tells me not to eat bread.

Steinberg: Mr. Campbell, you need to prove your supposition that people can get coverage because I don't believe it.

Oropeza: This is $27,000 for a family of three--what job offers coverage at that level?

Campbell: Well, I offer coverage to my employees regardless of what they make.

Peace: Health insurance is more expensive and fewer options. My employees were in the HIPC but they just chose to go with a single insurer because of costs. But in this universe of folks that employers do not offer coverage, what are we to do?

Peace: Are we saving the taxpayers money because the counties pay this without state and federal costs?

My notes fade here but Peace pursued this point about counties paying to support county hospitals and their requirement to be the provider of last resort. Department of Finance and Legislative Analyst talked about how difficult it is to determine what counties spend. They also mentioned hospital charity care and emergency rooms. Peace then talked about how the cost of care for the uninsured is cost-shifted to the insured. (Health Access believes that the real problem is that the uninsured just do not get care and thus are sicker.)

Peace talked about the ideological divide between the Republicans and Democrats on universal coverage and why the business community should support universal coverage. (Peace's solution was vouchers through refundable tax credits and medical savings accounts to allow people to participate in a single state system with list of providers similar to that offered by PERS Choice, a loose PPO. It is possible that this concept would need further elucidation to be understood in its full glory.)

Peace pointed out that there has been a shift in expectation from his parents' generation when health insurance was for catastrophic costs to a sense among the public that health care should be free. There was brief further discussion.

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 10:26 AM


 

PRESS CONFERENCE ON INCREASED REVENUES TO PREVENT CUTS
Follow-up Report
Click here for a pdf of the Final Press Release

* MEDIA MENTIONS: Below is a comprehensive list of the media mentions we collectively garnered from Monday's press conference of 100 organizations in support of upper tax bracket restoration. This includes significant print, television, and radio mentions, some as the lead of the story, some as part of a larger article on the budget deliberations.

* ACCOLADES: Thanks to all organizations for signing on and coming to the press event! We had over 125 organizations signed on, over 70 people attend and pack the stage, representing over 40 distinct organizations in person. Accolades should go to Jean Ross and Rebecca Gonzales of the California Budget Project, and Jeanine Meyer Rodriguez, Gina Bowers and Diane Edmundson of SEIU State Council, who organized this press conference with Health Access and the many other organizations who actively participated. The speakers did a fabulous job, led by the moderation of Scott Anderson of the California Council of Churches, and including Helen Russ of AARP California, Eric Wooten of the League of Women Voters California, Jan Harpe Domene of the California State PTA, and Viola Gonzales of Latino Issues Forum. Special kudos again to Jean Ross from the California Budget Project for answering the tough questions. Gracias to MALDEF, Consumers Union, National Council of La Raza, and Latino Issues Forum, for preparing language for and fielding questions from Spanish-language media.

* THE CONTINUING LIST: We are continuing to build the list of organizations in support of upper tax bracket restoration. We need to continue the drumbeat for increased revenues to prevent severe cuts, and we will let reporters and others know when we reach 200 organizations and other milestones. If you know of other organizations that are not yet on the list, please get them to either fill out the endorsement form, or to E-mail, to Health Access or California Budget Project, their support and permission to have their organizational name used in press materials. Please see the list of supporters as of June 14.

* PRAYER VIGIL: Earlier today, Wednesday, was the first of several weekly prayer vigils for a just budget meeting at noon in the Capitol Rotunda. A huge supporter of Monday's event, the Religious Coalition for a Just Budget is sponsoring the vigils. It is made up of California Council of Churches/California Church IMPACT, California Catholic Conference, Friends Committee on Legislation, utheran Office of Public Policy, and JERICHO: An Interfaith Voice for Justice. If you don't already have a "Not Just a Budget... A Just Budget" ribbon, it's the hip item that you should get and start wearing! The next vigils are Wednesdays, June 24 and July 3.

* LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: If every organization in support of increased revenues can produce just one letter to the editor to a local newspaper, that would generate over 125 letters and make a difference on the state's editorial pages. If you want sample language beyond the attached press release and previously distributed talking points, please let us know.

* IDENTIFYING SUPPORTIVE UPPER-INCOME TAXPAYERS: In addition to building organizational support, we are seeking alifornians in the upper tax bracket ($130,000 for an individual; $260,000 for a married couple) who will sign a letter in support of upper tax bracket restoration to prevent severe cuts.
If you know of donors, friends, colleagues, or others who fit into this category (or know others themselves) that may be supportive, please have them visit www.health-access.org/openletter.htm. We have sent out an E-mail alert that you can forward, and let us know if you want to follow up.

* REPUBLICANS: At the end of this process, a passed budget will require a Republican Senator and 4 Republican Assemblymembers to vote in support. To the extent your organization has a presence in Republican districts, please (if you haven't already) gear up any potential grassroots mobilization (phone calls, letters, faxes, etc) to tell Republican members to vote for a just budget, one that increases revenues to prevent the worst of the proposed cuts.

* OTHER FOLLOW-UP: The event Monday was the beginning of the campaign, not the end. Many organizations, including but certainly not limited to Health Access, will be forthcoming with additional follow-up activities.

Contra Costa Times 06-18-02 by Andrew LaMar
**Church coalition urges new top-bracket tax rate
http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/news/politics/3494637.htm

Ventura County Star 06-18-02 by Timm Herdt
**Tax-the-rich suggestion sent to state's budget committee
http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/county_news/article/0,1375,VCS_226_1214969,00.html

San Gabriel Valley Tribune 06-18-02 by Chris Rizo
**Groups call for tax hike on top earners
http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/articles/0602/18/new08.asp

Sacramento Bee 06-18-02 by John Hill
**Davis seeks a bigger budget reserve
http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/ca/story/3251355p-4279898c.html

San Francisco Chronicle 06-18-02 by Lynda Gledhill
**Davis to ask for more budget cuts
Governor wants another $1 billion trimmed to ease shortfall
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/06/18/BA1721.DTL

La Opinion 06-18-02 by Victoria Keith
**Proponen subir impuestos a los ricos
http://www.laopinion.com/estado/?rkey=00020617181220101557

Los Angeles Times 06-15-02 by Julie Tamaki
**Democrats See Need for More Tax Increases
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-000042068jun15.story
(Note: Julie Tamaki at the LA Times attended but did not report on the event, having already mentioned the alliance in this Saturday article.)

Electronic media in attendance at the event on Monday included the following:

Capital TV News Service (CTNS)
KXTV-TV (ABC) Channel 10
KOVR-TV (CBS) Channel 13
KTXL-TV (FOX) Channel 40
KCRA-TV (NBC) Channel 3
KUVS-TV (Univision) Channel 19
KPFA/KPFK Radio
Capital Public Radio

Below is a summary of the report from the monitoring service. Please note: they were unable to track stations that could have pulled the story from CTNS.

June 17
KXTV-TV (ABC) 6:00 p.m.
KXTV-TV (ABC) 11:00 p.m.
KOVR-TV (CBS) 6:00 p.m.
KTXL-TV (FOX) 10:00 p.m.
KXJZ-FM NPR 5:30 p.m. The California Capitol Report

June 18
KXJZ-FM NPR 5:30 a.m. The California Capitol Report
KXJZ-FM NPR 6:00 a.m. The California Capitol Report
KXJZ-FM NPR 7:30 a.m. The California Capitol Report
KXJZ-FM NPR 8:00 a.m. The California Capitol Report

Reports show that although KCRA-TV (NBC) Channel 3 was at the event, they devoted their braodcast time to the crash of the fire fighting airplane and that KUVS-TV (Univision) Channel 19 devoted their time to soccer coverage.


posted by Kristin | Permalink | 9:26 AM


 

Tuesday, June 18, 2002

BELOW is an alert for PEOPLE WHO MAY BE SUBJECT TO THE UPPER TAX BRACKETS, who would be supportive of restoring the upper tax brackets to prevent severe cuts to health care and other vital services.

IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE A RELATIVELY HIGH INCOME, PLEASE NOTIFY THEM OF THIS ALERT. We are seeking at least 100 or more higher-income taxpayers to sign this letter to show they are willing to share in the solution to the budget crisis by restoring the upper tax brackets. They can sign up at our web site, www.health-access.org/openletter.htm.
--
HEALTH ACCESS ALERT

HELP PREVENT DEVASTATING BUDGET CUTS TO HEALTH CARE AND OTHER KEY SERVICES
Support Restoration of Upper Tax Brackets

Under the Governor's budget proposal to fix a budget shortfall of over $23 billion, over a million of children, seniors, and working families will not have access to the basic health care they need. Over a half-million Californians will be dropped from Medi-Cal health coverage-the majority of whom are in working families. The proposal reduces eligibility, and restores barriers to enrolling and staying insured. Millions of working families Medi-Cal will get less coverage and care. Uninsured families may not be able to rely on the local safety-net hospital, which will have to cut services or close altogether after severe cuts. More information about these cuts are attached.

Faced with tough budget times in 1967, 1971, and 1991, Governors Reagan and Wilson respectively balanced tough cuts with increased revenues. They both signed into law increase in the top tax brackets. In better times, including the last several years, the state reduced these taxes.

ACTION: URGE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE RESTORE THE UPPER TAX BRACKETS TO 1995 LEVELS. This would provide a needed $3.1 billion, which would prevent the worst of the proposed cuts in health care and other vital services. This revenue is needed to preserve health coverage for over a million California families, and funding for hospitals and emergency rooms on which we all depend. More information about the upper tax bracket is
attached.

IF YOU EXPECT TO BE SUBJECT TO THE UPPER TAX BRACKET, WE NEED YOUR VOICE!
We are working to assemble a list of at least 100 higher-income taxpayers who want to share in the solution to the budget crisis, and support the upper tax bracket restoration.

The national effort to preventing the permanent repeal of the estate tax was greatly assisted by getting 1,000 of those who would pay the estate tax to sign a letter in support of it. Similarly, even 100 signers onto this upper tax bracket restoration support letter could help re-frame the debate substantially.

If you expect to have California taxable income of more than $130,000 as a single filer, $176,950 as a head of household, or $260,000 as a married couple, please consider signing onto our OPEN LETTER, which is attached. We will not publicize the letter until we have at least 100 signatories.

You can sign the open letter on the web at:
http://www.health-access.org/openletter.htm



posted by Kristin | Permalink | 5:06 PM


 

Wednesday, June 12, 2002

HEALTH ACCESS
HEALTH CARE CUTS ALERT
Tuesday, June 11, 2002


** CONFERENCE COMMITTEE DECIDES HEALTH CARE BUDGET
** Major Care and Coverage Items Saved For Now;
** Significant Cuts in Outreach and Retention

This Tuesday afternoon, the Conference Committee moved quickly and without much discussion to go make major decisions on many of the outstanding budget items regarding health care.

THE GOOD: The Committee rejected some of the major cuts to health care, restoring funds for direct care and coverage to Californians. This included:
* Starting up the Healthy Families parent expansion in October 2002 ($50 mill)
* Restoring basic funds for trauma centers ($25 mill) and the May Revise cut to safety-net hospitals ($31 mill);
* Rejecting the proposal to impose co-pays on Medi-Cal recipients ($30 mil);

THE BAD: The Committee approved some truly awful cuts that would have a direct impact on access to care for hundreds of thousands of California children and working families. The cuts below alone would mean that almost a million people who otherwise would get health coverage will either fall off or never get on. This included:
* Re-instituting quarterly status reports for adults in Medi-Cal ($155 mill, a cut originally rejected by both Assembly and Senate)
* De-funding all school- and community-based outreach, education and enrollment efforts ($7 mill);
* Delaying all "express lane" eligibility efforts until July 2003 ($25 mill);
* Approving drastic Medi-Cal provider rate cuts ($32 mill more);

THE UGLY: Some items remain open, such as whether to fund optional benefits, which has been a source of much discussion on the Conference Committee. (Assemblymember Campbell made a motion to remove medical supplies--things like diabetes test strips--as a benefit. The motion failed.) While the cuts that have been approved by the Conference Committee is are all but final, the fight by advocates to preserve those programs and services that have their funding restored is just beginning. Without a substantial increase in revenues, these programs simply will be cut later in the progress.

More later about a response...

ATTACHED is yet again, an updated legislative scorecard.

ALSO ATTACHED is a list of 80+ organizations in support of upper tax bracket restoration. If your organization is not already on it, or doesn't have a # next to it, please sign on. In preparation for Monday's press conference, we are finalizing the list in the next day or so.

Peace,
Anthony

----

Additional notes from the last few days from Beth Capell, Health Access legislative advocate:

ACKERMAN'S PROPOSED CUTS: Monday, the conference committee adopted roughly $49.7 million of the cuts proposed by Sen. Ackerman, few in the health area. It is interesting that none of the health cuts he proposed included cuts in eligibility or benefits. (See yesterday for details.)

CAMPBELL'S CUTS? At the close of conference committee on Friday, Sen. Steve Peace, chair of the conference committee, challenged Assemblymember John Campbell, R-Irvine, to offer his lists of $5 billion in cuts needed to close the budget gap without revenue increases. Taken aback, Campbell said that cuts had been offered for months, the cuts were everywhere. Peace pressed him, saying: put together your list of $5 billion in cuts, score it (that is, put a dollar figure next to it), and we'll vote on it, item by item. It is be the first item of business on Monday morning, giving Campbell the weekend (a lifetime in the world of budget conference committee) to assemble the list. Campbell has presented no such list as yet. Will the Assembly Republicans actually propose $5 billion in specific cuts?

LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S $5 BILLION CUT LIST: The Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) offered $5 billion in options for cuts, without recommending those cuts but simply to provide the conference committee a list that closed the gap without raising taxes. Almost all of this was rejected and many of the big ticket cuts such as reducing the mortgage interest deduction or the dependent credit were not supported by either Republicans or Democrats. Also rejected on a party-line vote was a $10 million cut in clinic EAPC funding.

HOUSEKEEPING COUNTS: Although this is technically an open conference committee with every single budget item in conference, in practice, it had been hoped that a substantial number of the iterms where the Senate and the Assembly agreed could be voted on in a single motion and thus decided quickly. These include both those items where the Senate and the Assembly agreed with each other but not the Governor and those where all three (Assembly, Senate, Governor) agreed. This is probably 97% of the entire budget, including such basic stuff as the Highway Patrol, the Aqueduct, and every dime of K-12 funding, not the controversial stuff. Assemblymember Campbell withheld his consent. It is not clear whether this is deliberately dilatory, inexperience, or an attempt to review every item in the budget, redoing all the work of the subcommittees. But it will make an already arduous process even harder.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Director of Organizing
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

-------------------------------------------
HEALTH ACCESS
HEALTH CARE CUTS ALERT
Monday, June 10, 2002

* CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS REPUBLICAN CUTS: On Monday, June 10th, the Conference Committee considered scores of motions by Senator Ackerman to cut various programs. Even though the Republican Senator's recommended reductions only total about $1 billion, he did not come out for the additional $3-4 billion necessary in increased taxes that would still be needed to balance the budget. The list several health items, most of which were not accepted:

MEDI-CAL FRAUD: Senator Ackerman suggested an $100 million reduction by rooting out fraud in the Medi-Cal program. The Administration had already booked savings, and opposed the additional cut. After discussion, the Conference Committee unanimously booked an additional $50 million savings from preventing Medi-Cal fraud.

LA COUNTY HOSPITALS: Senator Ackerman recommended to "eliminate the state share of funding for the Los Angeles County Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver," saving $30 million a year for five years. The Administration suggested that the federal government would not look favorably on such an action, and could lead to "the collapse of the LA public health system." Ackerman moved it anyway, which failed with only Republican votes in favor.

MEDI-CAL CO-PAYMENTS: Once again, the Conference Committee had a lengthy discussion on Medi-Cal co-payments, especially the notion that the federal government requires providers to give care regardless if the patient pays the co-payment. Assemblymember Campbell was surprised that there was no data on how many patients, if any, actually paid co-pays in states and situations where they are imposed. His position was that he would oppose them if they are simply provider rate cuts. He agreed with Senator Peace's statement that "co-pays are good things." In other words, both Peace and Campbell would support the new Medi-Cal co-pays if they are actually paid by California's poorest families, but not if they are borne by doctors and hospitals. The issue was left open, as it has been after previous conversations.

MEDI-CAL QUARTERLY STATUS REPORTS: Both the Assembly and Senate sides of the Conference Committee rejected this cut, to require quarterly status reports for Medi-Cal recipients, an $155 million savings which would remove a quarter-million people off Medi-Cal enrollment. Despite the fact that this was an issue that was reject by both the Assembly and Senate Subcommittees, the item was moved to the "re-open list," to be discussed in the future.

CANCER RESEARCH: Ackerman moved a $13 million cut to cancer research, on top of the previous reductions which cut the funding in half. Assemblymember Steinberg made it clear that with regard to cutting cancer research, "we shouldn't do it," and that this should be an important part of the coming conversations on increasing revenues. Senator Ackerman suggested he consider the "larger picture," including the funding coming from the "federal government" and "other states."


* SACRAMENTO BEE EDITORIAL: Below is a great editorial that puts starkly the contrast in the budget battle, between health care for working families, or a slight increase in taxes for the wealthiest. http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/editorials/story/3162252p-4205838c.html


* CAMPBELL COMMENTS ON HEALTH COVERAGE: Responding to outrageous comments made by Assemblymember Campbell last week in Conference Committee, the Orange County Congregation Community Organization, a member of the PICO California Project, issued a protest. Attached is the terrific press release.

---
A telling choice
Davis' budget sacrifices health of poor
Sacramento Bee - (Published June 9, 2002)
You can't close a $26.3 billion budget gap without making choices, and the choices Gov. Gray Davis has made are telling.


Among the $7.6 billion in spending cuts Davis proposes is one that will dump thousands of needy from the Medi-Cal rolls. Those who manage to keep their health benefits will face more paperwork. Hospitals that serve the millions without insurance will get less support. So will doctors willing to serve the poor.


Because the governor proposes to cut the amount of money the state gives to counties to administer health programs for the poor, Sacramento County would have to lay off 42 workers and close 12 Medi-Cal offices. So even those still eligible for health coverage would have to travel farther to sign up for it. The waiting period for those seeking services would increase to as much as six weeks. As one county official explained it to legislators, it means a poor pregnant woman would be all the way through her first trimester before she'd get her first pre-natal exam -- if she could find a physician willing to treat her at all.


The governor proposes to cut what the state pays for the most common Medi-Cal office visits from $24 currently to $18.18. The cut moves California from a dismal 42nd of the 50 states in physician reimbursement to a shameful 48th.


There's more, but the thrust of it all is the same. The poor, this budget seems to say, not only always will be with us but always will be without health care, too.


There are more equitable ways to close the budget gap, but all of them involve taxes. One proposal, from Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, would raise taxes on the wealthiest 2 percent of Californians, couples with taxable income of $260,000 or more a year. Given federal tax cuts, California's wealthy would still end up paying less in taxes overall than they paid last year. Apparently that's not politically tolerable; balancing the budget on the health of the needy is. As we said, the choices people make say a lot about them.

--
Anthony E. Wright
Director of Organizing
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 9:24 AM


 

Friday, June 07, 2002

HEALTH ACCESS
HEALTH CARE CUTS ALERT
June 6, 2002

* CONFERENCE COMMITTEE CONTINUES; HEALTH ITEMS ON CHOPPING BLOCK: The Conference Committee is scheduled to reconvene TOMORROW, FRIDAY, JUNE 7TH, at 4:00PM to look at ALL the Governor's budget cuts to health, including those which both the Assembly and Senate rejected. They are expected to meet through the weekend. Health Access legislative advocate Beth Capell reports that the committee staff has been directed to reconcile the two health budgets, and reduce health spending to the lower of the two proposed versions, the $930 million in spending approved by the Assembly. This is particurly troublesome since the houses in some cases chose different items to fund: such a staff proposal will have significant cuts. As always, Health Access will provide an updated legislative scorecard to show what happened to our 11-point list on Monday.

* UPPER TAX BRACKET PRESS CONFERENCE: Over 50 organizations are on record, in some form, in supporting the restoration of the upper tax brackets. We hope to have over 100 organizations, from the AARP to the League of Women Voters, when we jointly have a press conference on Monday, June 17th, at 11:15am at the Governor's Press Room 1190 in the State Capitol.

* WE NEED MORE ORGANIZATION SIGN-ONS. Attached is yet another version of the sign-on sheet, which can be faxed back, and has the current list of 50+ organizations. We need ALL organizations to send the permission form back, including those that have given their verbal support. We also would greatly appreciate organizations distributing this form to their networks and soliciting other allied organizations. Also attached is the California Budget Project's fact sheet on the outlines of the budget.

* MORE PRESS: Below is a good article about this growing coalition for a balanced solution to the budget crisis, from the San Jose Mercury News.

---

Posted on Thu, Jun. 06, 2002

Unlikely alliance pushes increase in income tax

By Karen de Sá
Mercury News

A push to increase taxes for the wealthiest 2 percent of Californians, rather than slashing social services for the poor, is gaining support among advocacy groups and some unlikely allies. A Republican county supervisor, groups of retirees and Consumers Union say it's the best alternative to Gov. Gray Davis' plan to balance the budget with deep cuts in health and human services.

``I'm basically against taxes, so it stretched me a lot,'' said Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage after voting this week to support a temporary tax increase on the rich. ``But from a logical point of view, for somebody making $600,000 a year to pay a few more grand is not going to hurt them. To take away from a lower-income person could mean the difference between being homeless or having food on the table.''

While recognizing the odds of such a hike in a gubernatorial election year, Bay Area city, county and labor leaders are demonstrating in favor of the increase and against the cuts this week, as state leaders wrangle over how to remedy a $23.6 billion budget shortfall.

Davis proposes raising cash through increased cigarette taxes and vehicle license fees. But he also is calling for more than $1 billion in cuts to county safety net programs serving the state's neediest families. For weeks, local leaders have warned of devastating impacts if the Davis budget goes through: working poor parents cut off from health insurance, longer waits for foster care placements and emergency room visits, thousands of social workers laid off.

But rather than complain, a growing number of advocates and elected officials are convening around an alternative solution. To varying degrees, they are supporting a bill sponsored by state Sen. John Burton of San Francisco, the state's top legislative Democrat. SB 1255 would temporarily reinstate higher taxes for individuals with incomes of more than $130,000 a year after deductions and for married couples who make more than $260,000. The tax rate would rise from 9.3 percent to 10 percent.

An 11 percent rate would apply to individuals making more than $260,000 a year and to married couples earning at least $520,000.

Gov. Ronald Reagan approved similar increases in 1967 and 1971. And Gov. Pete Wilson added 10 percent and 11 percent tax brackets in 1991, when the state faced a similar budget crisis.

According to the California Budget Project, 2.4 percent of California taxpayers would be affected by the proposed increase. Taxpayers with incomes in the top 1 percent of California households -- earning an average of more than $1 million a year -- would pay more than 95 percent of the increase.

Santa Clara County supervisors voted this week to support the Burton bill, joining the call for the wealthy to pitch in. The League of Women Voters, the California State Association of Counties, AARP California, Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the California Physicians Alliance and more than 30 other statewide organizations agree.

Union's top priority

The Service Employees International Union, which represents more than 5,000 social workers facing possible layoffs under the Davis plan, has made increasing income taxes its top legislative priority.

``What the governor's doing is trying to balance the budget on the backs of the poor, and there are a lot of wealthy people in this state who really enjoyed the boom times,'' said Rosemary Everett, who coordinates the California justice and peace ministry for Sisters of the Holy Names. ``It's fair to ask them to share some of the need right now.''

The tax strategy has plenty of detractors.

Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, said it's impractical. He contends tax increases have historically done nothing but drive rich people away from California to places like Nevada, where there's no income tax.

``It's common sense,'' McClintock said. ``You move your office to Las Vegas, spend a pleasant four nights at your penthouse on the Strip, and you're still right back at your beach house in Malibu or Palm Springs for the rest of the week. There's nothing more portable in this world than money and rich people.''

Plan criticized

Dianne Fisher, wife of an investment banker and an Atherton city councilwoman, said the proposal amounted to ``confiscation.'' Her high-income constituents would be among those most affected by a tax increase.

``Do we need all the programs we have?'' she said. ``I'm not insensitive to people who have social welfare needs, but I don't think the answer is, `Oh, just tax the top 2 percent some more.' The concept now is that if you succeed in this country, you are lucky enough to pay more taxes.''

It's rare for some of the groups signing on to the budget-solving solution to call for raised income taxes.

AARP California chose to endorse the Burton bill only because of ``the enormity of the budget deficit'' and the impact that cuts in health and social services would have on seniors and their children and grandchildren, said Lupe De La Cruz, the group's legislative director.

``We don't believe that cuts are going to get us through this very difficult budget,'' he said. ``We have to look at the other side of the ledger.''

--
Anthony E. Wright
Director of Organizing
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

--------------------------------------
From the California Budget Project:
What Would Be The Impact Of Reinstating The 10 And 11 Percent Personal Income Tax Rates?

One option for helping to bridge the state's budget gap would be to reinstate the 10 percent and 11 percent tax rates for high-income Californians. This approach was used in 1991 when the state faced a budget crisis of similar magnitude. The higher rates would add a 10 percent tax rate for single taxpayers with taxable incomes in excess of $130,000 and married taxpayers with taxable incomes in excess of $260,000. The 11 percent rate would apply to single taxpayers with taxable incomes of more than $260,000 and married taxpayers with taxable incomes in excess of $520,000. The state's alternative minimum tax rate, a rate that applies to taxpayers that claim certain preference items, would also be increased proportionately to 8.5 percent. The state's current top income tax bracket of 9.3 percent applies to taxpayers with taxable incomes in excess of $37,725 (single) and $75,450 (married). Reinstatement of the top rates would raise $3.1 billion in 2002-03, $3.2 billion in 2003-04, and $3.5 billion in 2004-05.

How Many Californians Would Be Affected?

Only 2.4 percent of California taxpayers would be affected by the proposed increase. Taxpayers with incomes in the top one percent of California households - with average incomes of $1,341,700 - would pay more than 95 percent of the increase. The average increase for this group, after taking into account the deductibility of state income taxes for federal tax purposes, would be $7,674. The average increase for taxpayers in the next 4 percent, with average incomes of $253,200, would be just $115 after adjusting for the deductibility of state income taxes.

Top Brackets Have Been Used To Bridge Prior Deficits

The state's top tax rate has exceeded the current maximum for nearly half (33 years) of the years since the state instituted the personal income tax. Former Governor Ronald Reagan signed into law two increases in the top brackets, one in 1967 and again in 1971. Governor Pete Wilson signed a measure adding 10 and 11 percent tax brackets in 1991.

Taxpayers Affected By Top Brackets Received Big Savings From The Federal Tax Package

When fully phased in, last year's federal tax package will provide substantial savings to high-income earners that far exceed the increased state taxes they would pay under the proposed top brackets. The top one percent of California taxpayers will receive a federal tax cut of $51,717, once the federal reduction is fully phased in. In contrast, reinstating the top tax brackets would increase the average tax bill of the top one percent by $7,674, after taking into account the deductibility of state income taxes for federal tax purposes. More than a third of the cost of Californian's higher income taxes would be paid by the federal government in the form of higher deductions.
---------------------------------------
SUPPORT RESTORING THE TOP INCOME TAX BRACKETS
Endorsement Form

To raise the needed revenues to prevent severe state budget cuts to health and other important services, our organization supports restoring the upper income tax brackets to their 1995 levels.

We give permission for our organization's name to be used in press materials as a supporter of increasing the top income tax brackets.

Organization:

Signature

Contact Name

Title

Address

Phone/Fax

E-Mail

Please return to Anthony Wright, Health Access, Phone: 916-442-2308. Fax: 916-497-0921. E-mail: awright@health-access.org or Rebecca Gonzales, California Budget Project, Phone: 916-444-0500. Fax:(916) 444-0172 E-mail: rgonzales@cbp.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 7:51 AM


 

Thursday, June 06, 2002

HEALTH ACCESS
HEALTH CARE CUTS ALERT
June 5, 2002

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE: The Conference Committee started Wednesday, June 5th, considering health care issues. Long story short: the committee left open most of the items of greatest concern to health care advocates. SEE the UPDATED LEGISLATIVE SCORECARD off the link from our homepage. The discussion did give some clues as to the committee's direction.

In this first stage of their deliberations, they are going through the differences between the Assembly and Senate versions of the budget, as is traditional. But given this is an "open" conference, they will go over ALL items, including those where the Assembly and Senate agree (1931b eligibility, county administration, quarterly status reports, etc.). We expect those conversations on those cuts to come up in the future. There will also be a "Member's Day" on Friday where legislators can advocate for additional cuts and/or additional ways to raise revenues. The committee is expected to meet on the weekend.

The Conference Committee includes: Senate Budget Chair Steve Peace (D), Senate Budget Vice Chair Dick Ackerman (R), Senator Wes Chesbro (D), Assembly Budget Chair Jenny Oropeza (D), Assembly Budget Vice Chair John Campbell (R), and Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg (D).

CHDP: In approving language to approve an evaluation of the new CHDP gateway, Assemblymember Campbell (R), in a surprise move, made a motion to eliminate the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program entirely. (The Governor originally proposed CHDP elimination in the January budget, but after soliciting input from a range of organizations, providers, and advocates, the May Revise instead recommended developing CHDP into a "gateway" to get children enrolled in the more comprehensive Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs.) The motion failed, but Assemblymember Campbell continued to suggest elimination of CHDP as a way to generate savings to preserve other items.

CHDP PERIODICITY: The committee considered the Senate proposal to include another $2 million into the CHDP program to increase the number of "comprehensive health assessments" a child could get under the program, to make it consistent with Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. After Senator Chesbro's presentation that it was simply an equity issue, Assemblymember Steinberg moved the Senate proposal, which also got support from Assemblymember Oropeza. Senator Peace, who had the vote to carry the motion, placed the measure on call, saying that he would have "an argument with myself" and vote later. Depending on his decision, the issue will either be approved, or left open.

DSH: Assemblymembers Campbell and Steinberg wanted more information about the individual impact on hospitals, and how this would affect those folks who depend on safety-net hospitals. Senator Peace also stated that he was inclined to support the Assembly proposal to reject the Governor's additional $31 million cut to Medi-Cal Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH). The committee left the item open.

TRAUMA: The committee left the item open, after not getting enough votes to either renew or not renew the $25 million for trauma centers.

EXPRESS LANE ELIGIBILITY: The committee requested more information on what school districts would start the program under the Assembly version. The item was left open.

PROVIDER RATE REDUCTIONS: Senator Peace made clear that he believed that provider rates are "ridiculously low," but that since there was no money, he was inclined to support the rate reductions, and even seek additional cuts in this area if necessary. Assemblymember Campbell expressed concerns, including on the size of the cut, which would be 33% for California Children's Services, 10% for Home Health Services, etc. Assemblymember Steinberg talked about the specialists needed for certain areas. Senator Ackerman suggested a proposal to cut all the proposed provider cuts except those to California Children's Services. Attempts to pass either the Senate or Assembly version failed. The item was left open.

DENTAL SERVICES: In a discussion that was ostensibly about limiting Medi-Cal adults to one dental visit per year, Assemblymember Campbell attacked all Medi-Cal dental coverage. He was "outraged" that there are a "vast number of employees" who "don't get anywhere near the benefits" than those on Medi-Cal. These families who "pay taxes and work for a living and are buying Chevrolets," while others "are getting Cadillacs on the dole." He made a motion to agree with the Governor's proposal to eliminate adult dental coverage in Medi-Cal, which would save $210 million. (This full item was not on the agenda, since both house subcommittees rejected the proposal.) This engendered a broad conversion about the state of the health care system today, and the value of covering the uninsured, and the associated costs and opportunities. Senator Peace sarcastically suggested that he might agree with the notion, to further the deterioration of a health care system gone wrong. Senator Chesbro offered that the health care system didn't need the extra push. Assemblymember Oropeza and Senator Peace offered that the uninsured get the care and we pay for it in more expensive ways, in our taxes and premiums, if maybe not directly in this year's budget. Assemblymember Steinberg stated that in fact some people simply don't get care, but there are other costs. One fact that was not raised was that a majority of Medi-Cal recipients are in working families.

CO-PAYS: After some discussion on who bears the burden of the co-payments, including that it ends up being another cut to providers to care for Medi-Cal patients, the committee left the item open.

OUTREACH: Assemblymember Oropeza gave a spirited defense of the money for school and community based outreach programs, stating the goal of enrolling as many children as possible in the Medi-Cal and Healthy Families programs. Assemblymember Campbell questioned the outreach program's effectiveness. Senator Chesbro defended the Senate subcommittee's action in cutting the programs, putting his priority on core services. Senator Peace expressed his skepticism at "professional outreachers" and questioned where the money would come from, also preferring direct services. The item was left open.

HEALTHY FAMILIES PARENT EXPANSION: The committee had some discussion on the preferred date of the Healthy Families expansion, with the Administration, Assembly and Senate agreeing on the expansion as a priority, but having different notions of when to start it. While the Administration proposed a start date of July 2003, it pointed out that it could not start any expansion before a budget was approved, and so a July 2002 start date as proposed by some might be optimistic. This and related items were left open.

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 9:46 AM


 

Wednesday, June 05, 2002

HEALTH ACCESS
HEALTH CARE CUTS ALERT
June 4, 2002


CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ACTION BEGINS: After starting their deliberations today, the Conference Committee is scheduled to begin looking at the proposed health care cuts tomorrow, Wednesday, June 5, at 10:00am, in Room 4203 of the Capitol in Sacramento. they are expected to move quickly through the agenda. They have copies of their agenda (with the budget items and the differences in the Assembly and Senate version) at www.assembly.ca.gov.

The Conference Committee includes: Senate Budget Chair Steve Peace (D), Senate Budget Vice Chair Dick Ackerman (R), Senator Wes Chesbro (D), Assembly Budget Chair Jenny Oropeza (D), Assembly Budget Vice Chair John Campbell (R), and Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg (D).

We'll update our Legislative Scorecard (attached) with any actions from the committee tomorrow.

PRESS CONFERENCE: Due to scheduling, the press conference to highlight the 100+ organizations in support of upper tax bracket increases is now scheduled for MONDAY, JUNE 17TH, at 10:00AM, at ROOM 1190 (the Governor's Press Room.) We continue to seek your participation, and your assistance in reaching out to a wider network of organizations. More information (and an updated list of signatories) shortly.
--
Anthony E. Wright
Director of Organizing
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
Ph: 916-442-2308, Fx: 916-497-0921
awright@health-access.org

Labels: Updates

posted by Kristin | Permalink | 9:19 AM


 

Tuesday, June 04, 2002

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
Two openings for regional organizers at Health Access: one in LA, the other in the Bay Area.

In particular, we are seeking someone to fill the large shoes of Eileen Ma, the bright, dynamic, trusted, and hardworking organizer who has run our Los Angeles office. She is leaving us this summer, moving to New York State. If you know of anyone that might be interested in such an exciting position, or could help us spread the word, please let me know.

We would greatly appreciate if you could post this, and distribute it on your lists and networks. Thanks!

Peace,
Anthony

-------------

HEALTH ACCESS
POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Regional Organizers Wanted
(1) Bay Area Office, Oakland, CA
(1) Southern California Office, Los Angeles, CA

Positions posted May 17, 2002; Available immediately

Health Access seeks experienced community and political organizers to coordinate regional coalitions, campaigns, actions, and events in fighting to defend and expand access to health care. Health Access is seeking one energetic Bay Area organizer to be based out of our Oakland headquarters, and another to run our Los Angeles office.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving quality, affordable health care for all California residents, Health Access is statewide coalition of over 200 member organizations representing seniors, children, people with disabilities, immigrants, communities of color, health care professionals, people of faith, labor, and working families. For fifteen years, Health Access has helped lead the movement for health care reform in California. We have promoted universal health care solutions, and have won specific and important victories. Most recently, Health Access was the leading sponsor of the California HMO Patient Bill of Rights, and worked to expand Medi-Cal and Healthy Families health coverage to low-income working families.

We seek regional organizers, one each at our Northern and Southern California offices, to:
· Coordinate regional health coalitions, including maintaining relationships with key members and informing them of developments in Sacramento and Washington, DC;
· Organize press conferences, actions, and events to support statewide issue campaigns;
· Serve as a regional spokesperson for the organization, including giving presentations to groups, and testimony at public hearings;
· Outreach to community leaders and key organizations;
· Formulate and execute strategy and tactics in political issue campaigns;
· Recruit new members and affiliates to the coalition;
· Identifying and working with uninsured families, immigrants, seniors, and patients;
· Developing grassroots leaders to be active on health care issues;
· Assist in research, fundraising, and other organizational operations;

Our ideal candidate is bright, creative, and energetic, and has:
· at least three years of experience in community and/or political organizing;
· the ability to work independently;
· good organization, writing, public speaking, and computer skills; and
· general familiarity with health care issues and California state politics.
· bi-lingual skills a plus.

Health Access offers a competitive salary with good benefits. As an equal opportunity employer, Health Access actively seeks an even more diverse staff, so women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply. Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to:

Anthony Wright, Director of Organizing
Health Access
1127 11th Street, Suite 234, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916)442-2308; Fax: (916)497-0921
awright@health-access.org



posted by Kristin | Permalink | 1:34 PM


 

Digging a bigger whole for reform...

 

Scoring at home...

 

We are hiring, to make a difference...

 

Field Poll: strong opposition to the health cuts.....

 

An Unhealthy Trend

 

Dressing up the Individual (Market)

 

A great debate on the great divide...

 

Jones to be chair of Health Committee...

 

Bass on the budget...

 

Pretty soon, the insureable will be a pretty exclu...