Outgoing Insurance Commissioner — and incoming Lieutenant Governor — John Garamendi spoke before the Capitol press corps today about his successes as Insurance Commissioner and what he hopes to continue in his new role.
Among his top four priorities: health reform.
Garamendi has been advocating for universal health since before I was born.
I actually watched him speak before a diverse group of small businesses in Contra Costa County a couple months ago on this topic, where he remembered speaking on the same issue in the same conference room 20 years ago.
In 2005, Garamendi published a paper called “Priced Out: Health Care in California” spelling out 43 recommendations to fix the health care crisis, including expansion of public programs, use of evidence-based medicine and improving the use of technology.
As Lieutenant Governor, Garamendi doesn’t have as much direct oversight — as he did as Insurance Commissioner — over aspects of the health care market. But we love the fact that he’s continuing to use his position as a bully pulpit.