Healthcare Issues now has its own page.

MAY 16, 2011

Statement: Jean Ross on the Release of Governor Jerry Brown's May Revision

The California Budget Project, a nonpartisan public policy research group,
released the following statement from Executive Director Jean Ross today in
response to the release of Governor Jerry Brown's May Revision to his
2011-12 Proposed Budget:

"After a long and painful recession that battered state revenue collections,
the higher-than-previously-anticipated tax collections are good news for
California. These dollars, however, represent just a fraction of the amount
needed to close the state's remaining budget gap.

"The balanced approach presented by Governor Brown in January remains the
only credible path to a balanced budget that protects the critical public
structures and systems, including our public schools, colleges, and
universities, needed to support a healthy economy.

"We regret the Governor's decision to retain the Enterprise Zone Program - a
program that has been proven ineffective by rigorous, independent economic
research - while closing gems of the state park system and maintaining the
deep cuts that endanger many vulnerable families, children, and seniors.
Keeping programs that do not work, while scaling back those that do - such
as our highly successful welfare-to-work program - does not reflect
Californians' values and priorities.

"More than ever, California needs our leaders to make critical choices that
move us to long-term stability, not temporary, patchwork fixes. We call on
Governor Brown and lawmakers to move expeditiously toward a plan that is not
only balanced, but that provides a multi-year approach to resolving the
state's budget crisis so that California can move forward to address the
critical challenges that lie ahead."

2011 California Legislation -- OWL-CA Bills (Word) (PDF)
The 2011 CA Legislature Bill Season is now in full swing. We chose bills to support based on recommendations from members, from other organiations, and requests from legislators. The more our members participate the better.

Bill Number	Author	Topic	OWL-CA Position	Hearings
AB 52	Feuer/Huffman	Insurance Rate Regulation	Support	Gives regulators explicit ability to approve or deny rates. A bill to institute rate regulation over health insurance, AB52(Feuer), which is supported by a range of consumer advocacy organizations, including Health Access California, is currently pending/Hearing: ASM HEALTH, 04/26/2011, 1:30 pm., 4202
AB 138	Beall	Elder Economic Index	Support	Referred to Approps.
SB 21	Liu	Discharge Planning practices in hospitals	Support	SEN APPROPRIATIONS; HEARING DATE: 04/11/2011
SB 561	Corbett	Homeowner Association – debt collection	Support	Tues. Hearing 1-5 April 5 room 121 (passed out of committee)
SB 810	Leno	CA Health Security Act	Support	May 27, Hearing 1:00, room 4203
SB 411	Price	Home Care Services Act	Support	Hearing: SEN HEALTH, HEARING DATE: 04/13/2011, 1:30, rm. 4203
SB 33	Simitian	Mandated Elder Abuse reporting in nursing homes. Deletes sunset date in current law.	Support	SEN BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS HEARING DATE: 04/06/2011, 1:30 pm, room 112
AB 568	Skinner	Ending the use of shackles on pregnant women	Support	Hearing 04/12/2011
SB 558	Simitian	Elder abuse: preponderance of evidence standard rather than clear and convincing	Support	Hearing: April 12, 2010

Rally in support of Wisconsin Union members, Tues. Feb. 22, 2011, Capitol:

Rally in support of Wisconsin Union members, Sat. Feb. 26, 2011, Capitol:

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