6) A Lesson from California?

Summary: Press Release from the office of former Senator Sheila Kuehl after her health care reform bill was vetoed.

Topic: Should the Obama administration atttempt a massive reform of the current health care system?
Category: Institutional. Non-profit.
What is it? A non-profit website advocating for health care reform in California.

Title: Governor Vetoes Universal Health Care
Publication Information: Sept. 30, 2008
Author: The Office of former Senator Sheila Kuehl
Location: http://www.onecarenow.org/images/vetokuehl.pdf
Accessed: Feb. 3, 2009. 4:10 pm.

Support:

Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Sheila Kuehl, former Senator of California (2000-2008)
Mark Leno, Senator of California (3rd District)
E. Richard Brown, Ph. – Director, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

The press release states that Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed Senate Bill 840, which called for an implementation of a single-payer health care system. The bill was penned by former Senator Sheila Kuehl over the course of a six-year period. The statement issued by Kuehl’s office thanked Mark Leno (current Californian Senator) for his support of the bill, and his promise to continue on her attempt to reform health care in California.

Audience and Agenda:
This press release was made available on onecarenow.org, which is the promotional website for Senate Bill 840. The vast majority of people vistiting this site are Americans living in California because it is an attempt to pass state legislation; not national. Those viewing the press release put out by former Senator Kuehl were supporters of health care reform in California, and advocates of the single-payer system. Those in support of the reform in California visit the press release for further instruction; they are asking themselves “where can we go from here?” The tone of the press release addresses loyal supporters, and passes the torch from Kuehl to Senator Leno.

Usefulness:
The press release subtly condemns Governor Schwarzenegger for vetoing the health care reform bill, but does not go into his reasons for the veto. His reasons may have been justified, and they did not address it. However, in 2006 the bill passed both houses of California legislature and just needed the Governor’s okay, but instead he vetoed. This situation can be used as a microcosm for the nation. What worked? What didn’t work? Is reform worth the effort? This event in California sheds a little light on these questions.

Works cited:
onecarenow.org
Video introducing the bill — http://youtube.com/watch?v=gAWZrfYXs-c
wikipedia.org

For other Institutional posts check out…
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14) The Status of H.R. 676 and the Healthy Americans Act
12) “Perspective Roundtable”
10) Political Cartoon on Bush and Healthcare
8) John Conyer’s Bill H.R. 676

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