Health Care for All--Santa Cruz Chapter

3/10/2007

February 27, 2007 Senator Kuehl reintroduced SB840 at the press conference in Sacramento with dozens of lawmakers at her side. Hundreds of supporters of the bill filled up the hearing rooms and hallways in the Capitol. "Senator Kuehl's Bill would create a single, universal, health insurance pool. Every Californian resident would receive a card and be allowed to see a doctor." Click on the following links to read more about the re-launch of the proposal and the questions that the assembly members held about the bill. [CAprogressreport] [singlepayer]

6/25/2006

Health Care for All--California has announced its OneCareNow! 365-city campaign. This yearlong campaign will generate awareness and public support of universal health insurance. Beginning this August, teams in more than 365 cities will be conducting educational and public awareness activities, including one action event on a designated day to demand passage of the landmark legislation for universal health insurance.

10/2/2005

Senator Kuehl to Discuss Universal Health Insurance at the Santa Cruz Louden-Nelson Center on Nov. 28.

7/16/2005

Although it is important to keep expressing your support to your lawmakers, right now we need to grow our network of supporters. If you haven't become a member yet, please call (831) 423-0846 to do so. If you are part of a community group, small business, or trade union, have them endorse SB-840.

7/7/2005

SB-840 has just passed the Health Committee of the California Assembly. Please write a letter of thanks to Assemblyman Laird of Santa Cruz, who voted yes on that committee and who is also a co-author of the bill.

5/31/2005

SB-840 has just passed the floor of the state senate. This is a direct result of all your hard work and letter writing. Please take a moment to send a brief thank-you note to senators that voted YES.

Stay posted for more updates, which will come as soon as we know the next step.

5/28/2005

SB-840 has just passed the Senate Appropriations Committee. The next stop is a vote on the senate floor, which will happen sometime on or before June third. It's too late to write letters. Everyone needs to call their state senator and tell them to vote yes on SB-840. If you're unsure who your senator is, click here to find out.

Health Care for All is planning a huge rally at the Palo Alto office of Senator Joe Simitian, who has expressed hesitance about voting for SB-840. We need a huge turnout to send an emphatic message. Click here for more info.

5/19/2005

SB-840 is rapidly approaching a vote on the Senate Floor. Everyone should focus on writing or calling their state senator and asking them to support and co-author SB-840.

For most people in Santa Cruz County, their Senator is Joe Simitian or Abel Maldonado. If you're unsure who your senator is, click here to find out.

A simple message to them can be:

Dear Senator: I support SB-840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act. It's secure, affordable, comprehensive, and accountable. Please become a co-author.

It takes less than five minutes to send a letter, and it's one of the most effective ways you can help!

5/1/2005

Having passed the Senate Health Committee, SB-840 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee late May. We need to send thousands of letters to our state senators before then.

Most importantly, everyone should write or call their state senator and ask them to co-author SB-840.

Then everyone should write Senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco), who chairs the Appropriations committee. She is a co-author of SB 840. A simple message can be:

Thank you Senator Migden for co-authoring SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act. Please work hard to see that it becomes law.

The following Democratic Senators on the committee are not yet co-authors:

Senator Debra Bowen (D-Redondo Beach)

Senator Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco)

They should be written and asked to co-author. A simple message to them can be:

I support SB-840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act. It's secure, affordable, comprehensive, and accountable. Please become a co-author.

The following Democratic Senators are already co-authors:

Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose)

Senator Martha Escutia (D-Montebello)

Senator Dean Florez (D-Fresno)

Senator Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles)

Senator Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento)

They should be written and thanked. A message to them can be:

Thank you for co-authoring SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act. Please work hard to see that it becomes law.

The following Republican Senators

Senator Samuel Aanestad (R-Northern California)

Senator Roy Ashburn (R-San Bernadino)

Senator Jim Battin (R-Riverside County)

Senator Robert Dutton (R-Big Bear)

Senator Charles Poochigian (R-Mariposa)

They should be written and asked to support SB-840. A message to them can be:

I support SB-840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act. It's secure, affordable, comprehensive, and accountable. It also saves money and reduces bureaucracy for families, businesses, and local government. Please work to make sure it becomes law.

4/28/2005

The Capitola City Council votes 4-1 to endorse SB-840.

4/27/2005

SB-840 passes the Senate Health Committee by a 7-4 vote. Thank you to those who contacted their lawmakers. Health Care for All-Santa Cruz collected and sent over 600 letters from local residents to our senators in the weeks leading up to this vote.

The bill is now referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. A hearing date has yet to be announced. Check back here shortly to see what our next actions will be.

4/26/2005

Santa Cruz City Council votes unanimously (7-0) to endorse a resolution in support of SB-840. Though symbolic, this vote speaks to the community's overwhelming support.

4/16/2005

SB-840 will be heard in the California Senate Committee on Health on 4/27/2004. Everyone should write Senator Deborah Ortiz (D-6) who chairs the Health committee. She is a co-author of SB 840. A simple message can be:

Thank you Senator Ortiz for co-authoring SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act. Please work hard to see that it becomes law.

If your senator is on the committee, please also write them. The more senators we talk to, the better.

Other co-authors on the committee are:

(D-13) Elaine Alquist - San Jose
(D-2) Wes Chesbro - Santa Rosa
(D-23) Sheila Kuehl - Santa Monica - principle author
((D-24) Gloria Romero - SE Los Angeles

Other senators on the committee are:

(D-10) Liz Figueroa - Fremont - she voted yes in Insurance Committee
(D-25) Edward Vincent - Inglewood
(R-17) George Runner - Lancaster
((R-4) Sam Aanestad - Nevada City
(R-1) Dave Cox - NE California
(R-15) Abel Maldonado - Santa Cruz

They all need to be talked to. A simple message to them can be:

Dear Senator:

Please co-author SB 840, the California Health Insurance Reliability Act. It insures everyone, is comprehensive, saves us money, and is publicly accountable.

Personalized letters sent by regular mail are the most effective. Or you can send an automated email, which is quicker, but less effective.

4/6/2005

SB-840 passes the California Senate Committee on Banking, Finance and Insurance by a vote of 7-4.