Open Letter to California Dems: ‘Why did you block healthcare bill?’

Editor: Hugh Moore is the Chair of the San Diego Green Party.

An Open Letter to the California Democratic Party:

By Hugh Moore, RN, / June 13, 2011

I’m a registered nurse who works in a hospital that serves the disenfranchised and sees every day the damage that the lack of a healthcare system causes. So when I heard that the California Democratic Party had added the principle of healthcare as a right rather than an option of all people I was ecstatic.

However, [June 13th] I learned that the California Assembly managed to block SB 810 from moving forward to being passed this year. I don’t understand. Doesn’t the Democratic Party control the Assembly? Did I not understand the Platform?

California Democratic Party Health Care Platform:

California Democrats believe that health care is a human right not a privilege. The CDP recognizes that the health and well-being of Californians cannot continue to be based on arbitrary private and public financial decisions, and therefore advocates legislation to create and implement a publicly funded (single-payer), privately delivered, fiscally tractable, affordable, comprehensive, secure, high-quality, efficient, and sustainable health care for all Californians.

To build a healthy future for all Californians, Democrats will:

• Support and implement universal comprehensive health care for all Californians that includes medical and dental care, full reproductive health services that respects a woman’s right to choose, preventive services, prescription drugs, and mental health and substance abuse counseling and treatment;

http://www.kintera.org/site/c.jrLZK2PyHmF/b.1193731/k.80F8/Health_Care.htm

Assuming I understood the above part of your Platform how do you explain the Assembly blocking this important piece of legislation that was the embodiment of your Platform?

Sincerely,

Hugh Moore, RN

I hope everyone who cares about healthcare in our state will also ask the party for an explanation. The party may be contacted at:

California Democratic Party

1401 21st Street, Suite 200

Sacramento, CA 95811

Fax: 916 442-5715