SACRAMENTO—Bolstered by a broad coalition of health care workers, union members, insurance representatives and the Governor, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today vowed to continue working with California’s leaders and stakeholders to bring health care reform to all Californians.

“We are not going to give up,” Speaker Núñez said during an afternoon news conference with the Governor. “We are going to take this roadmap and we’re going to continue to move forward until such a time when every one of those 800,000 children who don’t have health care have access to it. And I got to tell you, we’re going to be looking at other plans.”

SACRAMENTO – Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today challenged the State Senate to propose workable solutions to California’s health care crisis going forward.

“I would challenge the members of the Senate to come up with a plan that’s doable, that can withstand the same type of scrutiny that AB 1X was put through in this committee, the same kind of analysis by the Legislative Analyst, and that is going to respond to the needs of those poor families who have absolutely no health care today,” Speaker Núñez said at the hearing.

A full transcript of the Speaker’s remarks and a link to audio of the Speaker’s remarks are found below.

SACRAMENTO—Single-payer advocate Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa sent a letter to Senator Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), chair of the Senate Health Committee, and other committee members, urging them to vote in favor of AB 1X, the comprehensive health care bill co-authored by Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland).

“As a strong supporter of a truly universal health care system, I write to urge you to support AB1x (Nunez) as a significant strategic step toward our shared goal,” Villaraigosa said in the letter. “I strongly believe that health reform need not be an “either/or” situation, and that supporting the reforms of AB1x is not inconsistent at all with being a whole-hearted supporter of SB 840 and single-payer health care.”

SACRAMENTO– Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) presented AB 1X before the Senate Health Committee today. AB 1X, co-authored by Speaker Núñez and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), is the result of over a year of negotiations between legislative leaders, the Governor, and leading labor, business, health care, and community groups. It requires most Californians to acquire insurance but includes extensive affordability and cost-containment language and allows exemptions for those with a financial hardship. The bill also covers all children. Speaker Núñez told the Senate Health Committee. “AB 1X vastly improves the state of health care in California.” The Senate Health Committee is expected to vote on AB1X on Monday the 28th.

SACRAMENTO – Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) presented AB 1X before the Senate Health Committee today.

“I believe that AB 1X is more than an effort at redefining our purpose in health care. AB 1X is a declaration that everybody must have access to affordable and comprehensive health care coverage, and if made affordable, everybody should have the responsibility to carry health care insurance,” Speaker Núñez told the Senate Health Committee. “AB 1X vastly improves the state of health care in California.”

SACRAMENTO—Steve Maviglio, Deputy Chief of Staff to Speaker Fabian Núñez today made the following comment in response to the report released by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office regarding the health care reform proposal negotiated by Speaker Núñez, Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:

“The LAO report reflects the massive effort and many moving parts required to fix California’s broken health care system. The Speaker thanks Ms. Hill and her team for their typically thorough effort, and while we differ on some of the findings, we believe this report reinforces the overall soundness of the approach and financing for health care reform. The report also serves an important purpose in identifying every potential risk that’s in the realm of possibility, regardless of any particular assumption's grounding in probability.  Any plan, including single payer and doing nothing, contains major risks. Just as insurers shouldn't cherry pick who they cover, opponents of health care reform shouldn't cherry pick comments from the LAO report to help make their case for maintaining the status quo. Our job now is to move forward with bringing California closer to the goal of universal coverage and to work hard to avoid, contain and manage any realistic fiscal risks associated with the plan. The best tool we have for doing that continues to be the plan's explicit provision that if funds aren't available, the plan doesn't take effect.”

SACRAMENTO—Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today told children’s advocates and families he predicts Assembly Bill 1x1 providing comprehensive health care coverage for all children will likely be passed by the California Senate and ultimately signed by the Governor.

The Senate Health Committee will hold a hearing on AB 1x1 Wednesday at the Capitol. Speaker Núñez said the health care reform legislation will likely make it out of the Senate Health Committee tomorrow, out of the Senate and on to the Governor’s desk.

* Pending CA Health Reform Would Go Well Beyond MA Measure
* Fundamentally Different in Financing, Cost Containment, and Other Concepts
* Broader Benefit in Providing Premium Subsidies, Insurer Oversight, etc.
* California's Proposals Learns Some of the Lessons from Massachusetts

A comparative analysis by Health Access shows that the California Health Security and Cost Reduction Act, AB x1 1 (Nunez), takes major steps in health reform far beyond themuch-discussed Massachusetts reform of 2006.  Click below to learn more about the comparative analysis done by Health Access.

SACRAMENTO—Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today issued the following statement after the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that San Francisco’s citywide health care plan does not violate federal ERISA restrictions:

“I applaud the court’s sensible decision in this matter. Opponents of health care reform now have one less rubber arrow in their quiver as they try to stop our historic effort to fix the broken system and make health care more affordable and accessible to the people of California.”

The Court’s decision can be found here.

SAN DIEGO – As part of a statewide tour, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) made a stop at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center today spotlighting the Assembly-approved bill expanding health care coverage to millions of Californians, including all children.

The Speaker was joined by doctors, hospital workers, union and consumer representatives, and Assemblymember Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista). The Governor was delayed getting to San Diego to do a joint appearance with Speaker Núñez.

LOS ANGELES – Accompanied by some of the state’s most influential labor, business, and health care leaders, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today lauded yesterday’s historic Assembly vote to expand health care coverage to millions of Californians, including all children.

“We have come to an agreement on fundamental health care reform unlike anything the state of California has ever seen and unlike anything this country has ever achieved in its history,” Speaker Núñez said during the visit to the California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles.

SACRAMENTO - Historic health care legislation extending coverage to millions of California’s uninsured, including all children, was approved by the state Assembly today by a 46-31 vote.

“We’ve crafted an amazing and historic bill that expands health coverage for those without it and improves health insurance for those already covered,” Speaker Núñez said. “This brings us one step closer to making health care a right afforded to everybody in this state, and not just a privilege afforded to those with deep pockets.”

SACRAMENTO - The Democratic comprehensive health care bill, Assembly Bill 1X1, authored by Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), today cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee by a party line vote.

“This bill is going to cure an illness California currently faces, with a health care system that is teetering on collapse,” Speaker Núñez said at the hearing. “And it is going to replace our failing health care system with one that provides dignity, hope, and respect for most Californians.”

SACRAMENTO - Speaker Fabian Núñez conducted several interviews this morning before he went to the Assembly Appropriations Committee to present the Democratic health care reform legislation. Below are links to a few of his comments to the media. You can expect additional audio from the Speaker later today after the final vote on the historic health care reform plan. 

(Sacramento) – After more than a year of debate and negotiations the historic Democratic health care reform proposal is scheduled for a vote in the State Assembly on Monday (December 17, 2007). Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) says AB1X will fundamentally alter the way health care is delivered, result in millions of uninsured Californians receiving health care coverage and bring the skyrocketing cost of health care under control which will benefit all Californians, including those who currently have health insurance. The Speaker says approving health care reform will not adversely impact the state’s General Fund budget because the proposed reforms include a dedicated revenue stream. In fact, Speaker Núñez says letting health care get worse by doing nothing won’t make the state’s structural budget imbalance get better. The legislature and the governor can work to address both problems now. Ignoring one over the other means problems down the road for both.  

SACRAMENTO - Three more statewide labor unions today endorsed the Democratic health care bill scheduled for a vote on Monday in the State Assembly.

The Service Employees International Union, California State Council of Laborers, and California Conference of Carpenters announced their support of AB 1X1, the historic compromise health care reform bill co-authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland).

SACRAMENTO - Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today issued the following statement after meeting with the Governor and Senate President Pro Tem on a groundbreaking proposal to provide comprehensive health care reform in California.

“After a solid year of hard work and negotiation, we are now only inches away from finalizing the framework for an historic agreement to deliver universal health care for the people of California. I am so confident that we will be successful in reaching agreement that I have called for the Assembly to meet on Monday, December 17 in order to take up and pass AB 1X. With only a little more work and cooperation, California can once again show the nation how it’s done.”

LOS ANGELES – Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today renewed his push for comprehensive health care reform after a tour of the Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center in Los Angeles.

“We want to make sure whether you are a high income earner, a middle income, working class person or a homeless person, you can go to this facility or any other facility in California and get the quality care every human being deserves,” Speaker Núñez said.

SACRAMENTO – By an 11-4 vote, the Assembly Health Committee today approved Speaker Fabian Núñez’s (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata’s (D-Oakland) comprehensive health care reform, Assembly Bill 1X.

“California is one step closer toward being a national leader in fixing our broken health care system,” Speaker Núñez said. “This legislation is based on the principle of shared responsibility between government, individuals, hospitals and employers.”

SACRAMENTO— Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) today issued the following statement regarding the Governor’s movement on health care reform employer fee and affordability issues:

“We are pleased that the governor is engaging and moving in the right direction. It is time to settle our remaining differences and get the job done.”

SACRAMENTO— Only hours after Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) unveiled a bill to create the largest health care expansion in the country in decades, the plan has been well-received from many of the state’s leading health, labor, and consumer groups.

SACRAMENTO—Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today unveiled a new Democratic health care plan.

“I think this is a bill that all Californians can be proud of because it provides universal health care; it has the right affordability provisions in it; and it once again sets a gold standard for California,” Speaker Núñez said.

SACRAMENTO—Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today appointed 18 Assemblymembers to the Assembly Health Committee for the 2007-08 first extraordinary session.

“I am optimistic that a deal can be reached to provide almost all Californians with quality health care, but time is of the essence,” Speaker Núñez said. “I have complete confidence that the Assembly Health Committee will approach this issue with the determination and expediency necessary to get our proposal on the Governor’s desk in a timely manner.”

SACRAMENTO—At an informational hearing today on Governor Schwarzenegger's health care plan, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) said he and his Democratic colleagues continue to be committed to working with the Governor and Republican legislators to pass comprehensive health care legislation this year to provide affordable, quality health care to millions of Californians.

SACRAMENTO—Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today issued the following statement after the governor announced that his health care proposals are going to be put into a special session bill for consideration by the legislature:

“I am pleased the governor will be putting his health care proposals into a bill that can be properly studied and evaluated. Throughout the negotiations on health care reform, I have been strongly committed to ensuring affordability, and I will be examining the governor’s bill in that light, along with how it addresses prescription drugs for Californians and fair participation by employers. I urge others to join me in comparing the governor’s bill with the plan put forward by the legislature. A careful review of the governor’s bill will be a valuable tool in moving health care reform forward.”

SACRAMENTO – Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today said a new poll released by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) should send a message to anyone who would stand in the way of health care reform that they are on the wrong side of the people of California.

“This poll sends a message to those of us who are working hard to achieve health care reform to keep on going, that we’re on the right track, and that the people want a health care system with shared responsibility and increased accessibility and affordability, said Speaker Núñez. “I’m optimistic we can win agreement on a proposal to do just that.”

SACRAMENTO - Historic health care reform legislation extending coverage to millions of California's uninsured, including all children, was approved by the state Senate and Assembly today by votes of 22-17 and 45-31, respectively.

Assembly Bill 8, co-authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), now heads to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for consideration.

SACRAMENTO – Bolstered by labor, the AARP, and other health advocates, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) joined Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) today urging the Governor to support Assembly Bill 8, their comprehensive health care legislation. AB 8 is expected to clear the Assembly and Senate today and head to the Governor’s office for consideration.

“This compromise took a look at the Governor’s proposal, took aspects from his proposal, and put them into this bill as a means to extend goodwill to the Governor in the hope he can finally put his signature on what we believe is going to set California apart from every other state in this nation,” Speaker Núñez said, who introduced AB 8 last December.

On August 30, 2007, Speaker Nunez (D-Los Angeles) provides an update on health care negotiations in the Capitol, focusing on the status of AB 8 and why the Governor's plan was not subject to a vote in the Assembly.

SACRAMENTO – Supported by children’s advocates, pediatricians, children and community and faith-based leaders during a Capitol press conference, Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today urged the Governor and Legislature to continue working toward comprehensive health reform.

“As a kid who grew up without healthcare, I know that reality – and I want it to be non-existent for the children of California,” said Speaker Núñez. “As a dad, to me that means all children. I’ve said before when it comes to kids, the only document I care about is a clean bill of health.”

SACRAMENTO – Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) today issued the following statement in response to a new Census Bureau report showing that 47 million Americans have no health insurance, an increase of over 2 million people:

“This report on the rise of the uninsured in California is a disturbing new reason why we need to keep working to pass AB 8 and increase access to health coverage. The fact that poverty is going down but the number of uninsured is going up is a reminder that health care is out of reach for a lot of working families. These families deserve our attention and action to pass serious, affordable health care reform before the legislature adjourns.”

SACRAMENTO – Responding to California’s growing health care crisis, the California Assembly today passed Speaker Fabian Núñez’s (D-Los Angeles) Assembly Bill 8 by a vote of 47-32.

“Covering the uninsured isn’t just the right thing to do for the uninsured – it’s the right thing to do for all of us,” Speaker Núñez said on the Assembly floor. “Assembly Bill 8 is based on the principle of shared responsibility between government, individuals and employers.”