Governor Takes on Democrats on Health Care Reform

By Kenny Goldberg / Health Reporter, KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published August 23, 2007 at 1:58 PM PDT

This story was published more than 17 years ago.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to kill the Democrats' plan for health reform. The governor says he'll veto a bill moving through the legislature, if it relies only on employers to foot the

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is threatening to kill the Democrats' plan for health reform. The governor says he'll veto a bill moving through the legislature, if it relies only on employers to foot the bill for expanded health coverage. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.

Democratic lawmakers want to require employers to spend 7.5 percent of payroll on employee health coverage.

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Gov.Schwarzenegger says employers shouldn't be the only ones paying in. He also wants doctors and hospitals to kick in a portion of their gross revenue.

Jerry Flanagan is with the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights . He says there's something missing from both plans.

Flanagan: What's not on the table, is the issue that voters care about most, which is affordability. Neither the governor nor the Democrat's plan has any provision in it that would regulate how much a health insurer can charge.

Time is running out for lawmakers to reform California's healthcare system this year. The legislature's last day is September 14th.

Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.