I don’t usually give Lou Correa grief for all the votes he casts along with the Republicans against sensible progressive measures, and in favor of his corporate donors… because his vote usually doesn’t kill the bills in question, and meanwhile he manages to bring much more money to Orange County from Sacramento than any of his Republican colleagues.
But today is a big one, he’s gotta change his vote. I remember the first time I heard Lou give a stump speech, and the second time as well, he always told heart-rending stories of people he’d met walking his district who couldn’t for the life of them afford health insurance. Well, what’s he done about that in his four years? I’m not sure. It seems he always votes to protect the profits of big insurance and Pharma.
Today – and this is an emergency because the legislature’s going out of session – Dave Jones is trying to pass his AB 2578, the Health Care Affordability Act. A quick bit about that, from here:
It’s Time to Regulate Health Insurance Rates just like we do with car, property and casualty insurance under Proposition 103 which has saved consumers billions of dollars.
That’s why Assemblymember Dave Jones re-introduced AB 2578 – the Health Care Affordability Act – to make sure that strong consumer protections are in place to prevent outrageous rate hikes for health insurance.
Under AB 2578, HMOs and health insurers would need to receive approval from the Department of Managed Health Care or the Department of Insurance before they could increase any rate premiums.
Without this new legislation, we will continue to see skyrocketing health insurance premiums, just like the recent one announced by Anthem Blue Cross which raised premiums on its individual plan product by as much as 75 percent.
Now Assemblyman & Insurance Commissioner candidate Dave Jones is letting us know that the bill is up for a final vote this afternoon, and he’s only four votes short of passing it. And our LOU is one of the no’s at this point. NO, LOU! This is not why we worked so hard to elect a Democrat here (and why we’re planning to work so hard to re-elect you.) Remember who you’re representing, remember your stump speeches.
Dave writes, “The insurance industry and their lobbyists are swarming the Capitol to kill this legislation as they have done twice in the past. Please contact your California State Senator today and ask them to vote for AB 2578. Click here to find their contact information. Once you get to the screen, click on “Find Your Senator” on the left hand side, enter your address and the system will find who your Senator is.
The bill came up for a vote last night and here is how the Senators voted. We need to convince four of the Senators who voted No or who didn’t vote to support AB 2578:
Senators Voting No:
Sam Aanestad : Tel: 916.651.4004 (Republican)
Roy Ashburn : Tel: 916.651.4018 (Republican)
Sam Blakeslee : Tel: 916.651.4015 (Republican)
Ron Calderon : Tel: 916.651.4030 (Democrat)
Dave Cogdill : Tel: 916.651.4014 (Republican)
Lou Correa : Tel: 916.651.4034 (Democrat)
Jeff Denham : Tel: 916.651.4012 (Republican)
Robert Dutton : Tel: 916.651.4031 (Republican)
Bill Emmerson : Tel: 916.651.4037 (Republican)
Tom Harman : Tel: 916.651.4035 (Republican)
Dennis Hollingsworth : Tel: 916.651.4036 (Republican)
Bob Huff : Tel: 916.651.4029 (Republican)
George Runner : Tel: 916.651.4017 (Republican)
Tony Strickland : Tel: 916.651.4019 (Republican)
Mimi Walters : Tel: 916.651.4033 (Republican)
Rod Wright : Tel: 916.651.4025 (Democrat)
Mark Wyland : Tel: 916.651.4038 (Republican)
Senators Not Voting:
Gloria Negrete McLeod : Tel: 916.651.4032 (Democrat)
Alex Padilla : Tel: 916.651.4020 (Democrat)
Lois Wolk : Tel: 916.651.4005 (Democrat)
We just need to convince four senators in order to pass this landmark legislation that will save California consumers billions of dollars.
If your Senator is not listed above, then they are supporting AB 2578. Please contact them to say thank you and ask them for their help in convincing the other Senators to vote yes.
It’s time to act – now.
Thanks for your help and support,
DAVE JONES
Assemblymember, 9th District
Candidate for Insurance Commissioner
PS. Or maybe it doesn’t really make that much difference if Lucille Kring wins.
Say it ain’t so.
Haven’t we had enough of this plunder by insurance companies? The outrageous increases hit individuals and small businesses with rate increases as high as 75% a year. This bill allows the insurance commissioner to review increases.
It’s time that these crony capitalists were reined in so that they are required to spend a minimum amount of their income on actually providing health care, and cut back on their bloated bonuses and administrative staffs that spend a fortune second guessing our doctors over their medical decisions.
This jerk lied. He’s dishonest. He’s a lying liar who lied about not raising taxes after taking the Pledge. If he gets re-elected you libs and democrats deserve everything this puke does to you.
Very mature buddy, So you would prefer he not raise taxes even if it would mean cutting education programs, police/ fire departments and other community services? Oh wait, none of that tax money is going to help the community according to you! It’s not like he negotiated to have 20 million dollars to return to Orange County for education and other community programs!!!!!! (Sarcasm) But sure lets elect Lucille Kring, the council woman with no experience and no commitment or dedication to the community!! (Some more sarcasm)
Who do you think allowed the rate increase?
” Correa grief for all the votes he casts along with the Republicans against sensible progressive measures,”
MQ says:
That is a complete joke!
Look at this state! It is a disaster because of “Sensible progressive measures”. Some times the Republicans actually do their jobs and step up to the plate. I can’t believe Correa’s one brain cell kicked in!
Vern, your ideology is scary and completely irrational… I really think you need to stay off the weed!
Quimby,
Take a look at the 4 billion it took to create a left wing mess called: California endowment!
Who do you think is paying back the 4 billion and who do you think is paying back the insurance companies for the Walk in’s from Cartel heaven!
OMG…. Please can we get rid of the liberals and take in more Mexicans/central Americans….Anyone but the socialist left wing nuts!
I swear, its a disease!
Provides affordable coverage. The state will create a new purchasing pool that will provide access to subsidized, affordable coverage to individuals and families with incomes between 100-250 percent of the poverty level. As a result, low-and-middle income people will be able to buy an affordable health insurance plan. The Act limits how much Californians will contribute toward the cost of their premium based on income.
100-150 percent of poverty: No contribution
151-250 percent of poverty: Premium limited to no more than 5 percent of income
Protects middle-income Californians. The Act protects working families with higher incomes as well.
It provides a tax credit: Those earning between 250-400 percent of poverty will receive a tax credit if the cost of buying insurance exceeds 5.5 percent of income. The Act also calls for an additional tax credit to make health care more affordable for early retirees.
It helps people pay their premiums: Anyone with an income above 250 percent of poverty who works for an employer who doesn’t offer coverage will get a contribution toward their premium.
Expands Medi-Cal. This legislation makes Medi-Cal available to childless adults with incomes up to 100 percent of the poverty level.
Expands the Healthy Families Program. The legislation expands Medi-Cal and the Healthy Families Program to provide no/low-cost comprehensive health coverage to all children with family incomes below 300 percent of the federal poverty level. This means that more low-income children will be able to go to the doctor instead of going to an emergency room.
Provides a strong community clinic safety net. The Act increases funding for the Early Access to Primary Care Program to provide cost-effective clinic services to low-income Californians who aren’t eligible for other state subsidized coverage.
Allows affordability and limited hardship exemptions. The Act recognizes that some lower income people who aren’t eligible for state subsidized coverage (coverage through the pool, Healthy Families, Medi-Cal) may not be able to afford to buy insurance.
So, to ensure that these people are getting primary care but not misusing our emergency rooms, the Act provides them with low-cost ways to get care through clinics and county-based services. Specifically, the legislation:
Provides an exemption to people with incomes below 250 percent of poverty, whose cost for the required coverage exceeds 5 percent of their income, to opt out of the individual requirement to purchase insurance.
Allows Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) to grant limited temporary or permanent exemptions to people who demonstrate that they are facing significant financial hardship or otherwise cannot afford coverage.
The Health Care Security and Cost Reduction Act gives working Californians and employers tax breaks.
MQ says:
Please look at the scam above!
What this really means is that you are getting stiffed to pay for illegal immigrants and their children’s health insurance and making a lot of Americans rich!
All the non-profits are in for a wind fall!
YOU ARE BEING SCREWD!
Primary Care Program to provide cost-effective clinic services to low-income Californians who aren’t eligible for other state subsidized coverage.
MQ says:
If you do not know what this means…… IT MEANS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT!
These bastards know that YOU the middle class will not come to all their low income clinics! They know YOU the middle class pay for health insurance!
For them to make money they need illegal Aliens to fill their hospitals and clinics and have a flow of MEDICAL money on hand!
CALOPTIMA!