The Most Important Blog... Ever

Total Recall: The Courage Campaign Governor Watch, a new series here at the blog, will examine a simple question. How well has the governor kept his word and delivered on his promises? As Mr. Schwarzenegger begins his first full term as governor - and perhaps prepares to launch a campaign for the US Senate - rest assured that we're watching Arnold like a time-traveler. In this effort, we join the great bloggers on Tracking Arnold over at PowerPAC and at the Arnold Watch blog.

This first installment will focus on health care. We'll talk about prisons, education, the environment, electoral reform, and more in the coming weeks. As news breaks, Total Recall: Governor Watch will be there.

Let’s start by looking at Arnold’s promises about health care. Then, we’ll look at the last few years since Arnold became governor – what’s he done so far? Finally, we’ll look into the future, discussing some prospects for reform in 2007 and beyond.

In his campaigns – both the recall election and in 2006 – Arnold promised to extend health insurance and quality care to as many Californians as possible. Arnold has changed his message on health care depending on his audience – he told his conservative base that he doesn’t believe in universal health care while at other times he insisted that he plans to use government to insure as many Californians as possible. But, overall, there’s no doubt that extending health insurance has been a central feature of Arnold’s promises. In fact, just last Sunday, during an interview broadcast on national television, Arnold reiterated that providing universal health care is one of this top priorities. “We’ve got to insure everybody,” he told NBC’s “Meet The Press.”

What Arnold Has Done So Far

The need is extremely dire in California for better health coverage. There are more than 6.5 million Californians who have no health insurance at all. This issue is complex, obviously. Many powerful interests are in conflict here – big pharmaceutical companies, insurance providers, doctors and nurses, taxpayer organizations, and more. Health care has become one of the most watched and debated problems here and all around the country. Arnold’s leadership, negotiating these competing interests and forging a path ahead, is desperately required if we’re going to provide a basic need for human life -- health care – to every Californian.

Unfortunately, Arnold’s leadership so far has been anything but confident and effective. Arnold has been presented with two opportunities to provide health care to nearly all Californians – once back in 2003 and again just this past August. Both times, Arnold pulled out all the stops to torpedo the reforms rather than work to negotiate a compromise.

Democratic leaders in Sacramento passed a law in 2003 which would have required most employers (except very small businesses) to offer health insurance to their employees. Arnold and his Republican allies spent millions to repeal this law in 2004.

Then, Democratic leaders passed a law in August 2006 which would have provided universal health care – for every Californian – and it would have saved the State of California money over the current, broken system. In one fell swoop, this plan would have “terminated” the system which leaves over 6 million with no health insurance, and would have replaced it with an innovative health care system that would have led the nation. Instead, Arnold threatened a veto, and the program has gone nowhere because Arnold is protecting his special interests friends from the world of HMO’s and drug companies.

The Future: Prospects for Change

Recently, Arnold has started backtracking from his promises to provide health insurance for all 6 million uninsured Californians. After his promise to insure everyone on “Meet The Press,” his aides immediately said that this was only a long term goal. What’s most likely to happen? Well, Arnold previously floated “piecemeal” reform ideas which will at best partly fulfill his promise of universal coverage.

His plan, which he promises to unveil during his State of the State address on January 9, will probably include a modest proposal to open more clinics in public schools. There’s also a chance that Arnold will follow Massachusetts and simply require that you have health insurance by law, similar to the way drivers are required to have automobile insurance. The efficacy of these reforms is a matter of vigorous debate, but neither of them will live up to Arnold’s promise to provide basic health care to every Californian.

Truly fixing this problem requires bold leadership and innovative ideas. He promises to cover everyone in California without raising taxes, all while balancing the state budget at the same time. So far he hasn’t lived up to his promises. Here’s hoping that changes, and fast.

From The Courage Campaign

Labels: From The Courage Campaign, Politics