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.”

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.

“Voting against this bill preserves the status quo, and voting for the status quo does people harm,” Speaker Núñez added. “It tells the chronically sick and the poor that they will have to wait. It tells 800,000 children in California that they will have to wait too. We can't ask them to wait any longer. We can't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

Dozens of organizations have embraced the bill, including the Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AARP, California Hospital Association, Safeway, March of Dimes, Children Now, Mental Health Association of California, American Nurses Association of California, California Association of Nurse Practitioners, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield, and Small Business California.

The Senate Health Committee is expected to vote on AB 1X this afternoon.

Links to audio of the Speaker are below.

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.

Dozens of organizations have embraced the bill, including the Service Employees International Union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AARP, California Hospital Association, Safeway, March of Dimes, Children Now, Mental Health Association of California, American Nurses Association of California, California Association of Nurse Practitioners, Kaiser Permanente, Blue Shield, and Small Business California.

Speaker Fabian Núñez explains his concerns with the LAO report on his health care reform legislation.

Speaker Fabian Núñez says the health care reform legislation has its own revenue source and will NOT impact the state’s deficit.

Speaker Fabian Núñez says focusing on the worst case scenarios will not produce progress.

Speaker Fabian Núñez says the status quo leaves millions of Californians with no health care coverage.

Speaker Fabian Núñez says AB 1X will require health insurers to spend 85 cents of every dollar on patient care.