Governor Schwarzenegger's healthcare reform package will face a tough test in the State Senate this week. The Senate health committee will hold a hearing on the proposal on Wednesday. And many committee members are skeptical of the plan. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
Governor Schwarzenegger wants to require everyone in the state to have insurance. He's offering state subsidies to people who can't afford coverage. To pay for his plan, he wants to raise taxes on employers, hospitals, and tobacco. The governor says his package would be revenue neutral. Democrat Sheila Kuehl chairs the Senate health committee.
Kuehl: The only thing that makes this revenue neutral is that you'll be required to buy a policy and there's no cap on your premiums. It's kind of like employers pay this much, hospitals pay this much, smokers pay this much, and frankly, you pay all the rest in premiums."
If Kuehl votes against the plan, the governor will need all of the other Democrats on the committee to vote for it. Some members say they're unsure at this point. Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
