May 29, 2007

Healthcare Reform
We will report regularly on developments in the struggle for meaningful reform.

Kick-off for local healthcare reform coalition

CPI has joined a coalition of community, labor and faith organizations who are demanding that the reforms molded in Sacramento this year provide affordable, quality healthcare for everyone in California.

Join us next Friday at the kick-off event of the San Diego chapter of the statewide coalition, called It's OUR HealthCare!  We will share health insurance stories, hear about reform proposals and discuss priorities for change. Similar events across the state are building toward a united call for truly meaningful reform.

June 1, 2007, 12 - 2 pm
Tubman-Chavez Community Center
415 Euclid Ave., San Diego 92114 

Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Bet Lawrence at (619) 584-5744, ext. 60 or Bet@ICWJ.org or Richard Barrera at (619) 937-8619 or rbarrera@seiu-uhw.org. The statewide coalition’s position is summarized on this event flyer.

 
Employers’ fair share of healthcare costs disputed

Democratic leaders in Sacramento have released details of their plans for statewide healthcare reform. They would have employers pay almost twice as much as in Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal, although still less than the typical cost of providing employee health coverage. 

Both Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata would require employers to provide health benefits or pay a minimum of 7.5% of payroll into a health insurance fund, while the governor would let employers opt out of coverage for only 4% of payroll. Estimates of the actual cost of providing health benefits range from 8% to 14%.

Details vary, but both Democratic plans provide more cost relief for low-income families than the governor's plan. Throughout the summer, the legislature will be grappling with these and other proposals to reform the system that leaves an estimated 6 million Californians uninsured.

 
City Budget Watch

San Diego's chief budget watcher, Andrea Tevlin, shared the challenges of her job with a sold-out audience of 200 at a CPI speakers series luncheon last week. Tevlin, the City Council's Independent Budget Analyst, discussed the repercussions of Mayor Jerry Sanders making budget changes without public review, the dire need for the city to begin internal audits, and the difficulties in San Diego's experimental "strong mayor" form of government.

CPI’s analyses continue to raise concerns about Mayor Jerry Sanders’ use of "business process reengineering" to pave the way for privatization of city services.  CPI Research and Policy Director Murtaza Baxamusa discusses the issue on our website.