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SB 840: Health Care For Dummies
The Republican Party of Orange County regularly solicits the views and news of the state and federal delegation. Please read this week's Op-Ed by California State Assemblymember Bob Huff.
Think of the lines at the DMV. Now imagine the same for kidney dialysis. Senator Sheila Kuehl is proposing as much in legislation that would radically change health care in California. SB 840 would require the government to hijack California's health care and administer services through the state bureaucracy. If you think the line for a driver's test is too long, just wait until you need emergency medical care.
Unfortunately the analogy isn't exaggerated. In other countries with socialized medicine, survival rates for patients with life-threatening illnesses are lower, taxes are higher and money spent on research and development in foreign countries is exponentially outpaced by the U.S. Yet, state legislators like Senator Kuehl want to mirror these mistakes by creating a government-run health care system.
The most common characteristic of socialized medicine is a shortage of services that creates long wait times for basic procedures. With almost 33 million people, Canada's population most closely parallels California (which means we can expect similar problems). A recent study found that more than 800,000 Canadians are waiting for medical care. In fact, heart patients are more likely to die on the waiting list than on the operating table. And Canadians have a greater risk of dying within five years after a common type of heart attack – a difference that represents thousands of lives.
Speaking of Canada, the average Canadian family pays about 48 percent of its income in taxes each year, partly to fund their health care system which is on pace to consume more than half of the total government revenue by the year 2020. California already spends half of its total budget on education. Public safety, transportation and other critical services will be compromised by socialized medicine. France has implemented skyrocketing taxes to fund their government-run health care and yet they have a $2.7 billion deficit for their program. Even the most optimistic projections would put California in an ominous financial position. To say that the state cannot afford this bureaucratic monstrosity is a severe understatement.
Finally, private enterprise, not government control, drives medical advancement. The development of vaccines, medical technology and innovative prescriptions can all be attributed to our private health care industry. For example, every year the United States spends more than $70 billion on health research and development for neglected diseases, creating the so-called "10/90" gap. That is, an estimated 10% of this is used for research into 90% of the world's health problems. A government seizure of our state's health care services will freeze technological progress and manifest a result suffered beyond our borders.
Regrettably, the Democrats in the State Senate passed SB 840 in spite of the irreparable harm it will inflict. Then the Democrats in the Assembly Health Committee agreed, waving the legislation through. After the Appropriations Committee gives its nod, the bill will be headed to the Assembly floor where members will decide whether coverage for the uninsured legal and illegal citizens of our state trumps protecting California's health care system. But, coverage does not mean care. Rather, mandatory coverage for all will result in substandard care for everyone. This year there is no greater threat to the quality of life for all Californians than SB 840. If you disagree, stop by your local DMV the next time you need an X-ray, and take a number.
Assemblyman Bob Huff is Chairman of the Assembly Republican Caucus. He represents the 60th Assembly District which includes portions of San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange counties. He is also a member of the Assembly Health Committee, in addition to the Transportation, Budget and Education committees. Any essays, opinion-editorials, press-releases or news item contained herein is the expressed view of the author and not necessarily of The Republican Party of Orange County (also known as OCGOP.org). OCGOP.org should not be held accountable or responsible for the content associated with these writings. The literature that is provided to you, the user, is for your convenience, entertainment and education and are not to be seen as endorsed by OCGOP.org for any products, services or views promoted by said author.
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