We looked high and low for an article that exposed the poison pill buried in Section 100610 of AB 1400, a single-payer measure recently proposed and withdrawn in the California State Assembly, but found none. That’s worrisome. Typical single-payer systems are not governed by boards dominated by providers as called for by Section 100610, which … Continue reading Burying The Lede
Author: David Crane
President of Govern For California and Lecturer in Public Policy at Stanford University
Manichean Mischief
It's that time of year when California state legislators rush to introduce bills before a February deadline. Because it's also an election year, many — including some to whom we give support from time to time — support bad bills that are good for them politically. We will work to defeat those bills but not … Continue reading Manichean Mischief
Mispriced Political Security
The quality of government services in California declined because for decades there was little resistance in the legislature to special interests who profit from providing those services. That started to change in 2011 with the launch of GFC to support legislators who serve the general interest. Money plays an important role but is of little … Continue reading Mispriced Political Security
Shocking Increase In Corrections Salary Spending
Dear Legislators, At $7.3 billion, current year salary spending on Corrections employees is 33% higher than forecast by last year’s budget and nearly 50% more than the prior year. This isn’t small change. $7.3 billion is more than twice the $3 billion you awarded the entire Judicial Branch. Even before you and the governor granted … Continue reading Shocking Increase In Corrections Salary Spending
AB 1400
Dear Legislators, >90 percent of Californians have health insurance. To reach 100 percent, Governor Newsom proposes expanding Medi-Cal to all income-eligible residents, which would turn California into a multi-payer universal coverage system not unlike the systems of Netherlands and most of Europe.* In contrast, three state legislators have introduced AB 1400, a bill to establish … Continue reading AB 1400
Our View Of Governor’s Proposed 2022-23 Budget
Earlier this week DOF released the Governor’s Proposed Budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. At 400 pages it takes time, a process we have now completed. Some initial thoughts follow:There’s a good deal to like, including: A proposal to extend preventative Medi-Cal coverage to all income-eligible residents that would make CA a multi-payer … Continue reading Our View Of Governor’s Proposed 2022-23 Budget
Governor’s Proposed Budget
Tomorrow the CA Department of Finance will release the “Governor’s Proposed Budget” for the 2022-23 fiscal year that commences July 1. At nearly 300 pages, it is one of two documents providing deep insight into the state government.* I’ve been reading them for nearly two decades now and offer a few tips: Pay little attention … Continue reading Governor’s Proposed Budget
GFC’s 2022 Agenda
The CA Legislature reconvened this week and will spend the next nine months deliberating over thousands of bills and more than $300 billion of spending. GFC's 11-person Sacramento team is: Pressing for sufficient budget reserves and better value for spending on K-12, Medi-Cal, Corrections and Homelessness;Resisting tax increases and new privileges for special interests;Seeking a … Continue reading GFC’s 2022 Agenda
Flexing Our Political Muscle In 2022
For decades, public employee unions and crony capitalists faced no resistance when using the CA Legislature to obtain financial and legal privileges at the expense of residents and taxpayers. That started to change in 2011 when we launched GFC. In 2021, we blocked nine bills, including bills to raise taxes and expand collective bargaining rights … Continue reading Flexing Our Political Muscle In 2022
A Medicare Approach For CA Schools
Whenever I use Medicare, the government pays a health provider of my choice even if the provider is not operated by the government. The same goes for Medicaid, which uses public funds to pay for the care of 15 million Californians. Likewise, anyone obtaining premium support through Covered California gets to choose among insurance providers. … Continue reading A Medicare Approach For CA Schools