The Senate Health Committee on Monday rejected Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambitious effort to reform the state's health care system, voting it down 7-1.His plan was based on onerous and expensive mandates, much like the troubled Massachusetts plan which is already costing far more than previously estimated. Becuase these types of state-run plans divorce health insurance from the normal free market mechanisms, they will only lead to rising costs, rationing, or some combination of both.
Only one of the committee's seven Democrats supported the bill. All four Republicans opposed it.
Even Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, a co-author of the bill, came out against it.
The Democrats who voted against the bill or failed to vote said they were afraid the cost of the program would be too great, especially as California faces a $14.5 billion budget shortfall.
(Via Instapundit.)
