Democrats torpedo CalCare again

by Barry Hermanson

Although two previous universal healthcare bills (CalCare) had failed to advance out of the California State Assembly during the last four years, I had hopes that the 2026 version, AB 1900, would fare better. 

Democrats nationwide have expressed outrage at the massive cuts to healthcare spending by Republicans, who also gave enormous tax breaks to wealthy people. Not only will tens of millions of people lose access to healthcare, hundreds of hospitals all across the nation will be forced to close. By design, the full impact of the healthcare cuts will not be felt until after the mid-term congressional elections this November. 

I was encouraged by a new poll commissioned by the California Nurses Association (CNA) that found 86% of California Democrats support single payer universal healthcare. With such strong support, I expected AB 1900 would receive a fair hearing this year. I was wrong. It was never referred out of the Assembly Rules Committee for an initial hearing by the Health Committee. Once again, Democrats have killed any debate on how we might improve healthcare access and delivery to all Californians. 

In the past, President Trump has promised to introduce a replacement for Obamacare and has been mocked by Democrats because he has no plan. Now, it appears that Democrats don’t have a plan either other than to maintain the totally inadequate and deadly status quo. The main cause for this sad state of affairs is the reliance on campaign contributions to politicians from the for-profit healthcare industry.

In a press release, CNA members condemned “the California State Assembly’s failure to advance A.B. 1900, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act, also known as CalCare, at a time when health care is needed more urgently than ever before. The failure to advance A.B. 1900 shows a lack of leadership and a capitulation to corporate health care interests.” 

The nurses expressed appreciation “to the 25 legislators who are joint authors or coauthors of CalCare.” In a legislature of 80 members of the State Assembly and 40 members of the Senate where a supermajority are Democrats, 25 seems like a very small number. It is even smaller when you consider the following statement by the organization Health Care for US.

“HC4US questions the timing and sincerity of Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Rick Zbur, who both signed on as AB 1900 co-authors a few days before April 17th when the Speaker’s Office said CalCare wouldn’t be referred to the Rules Committee. Instead of signing on sooner after CalCare was introduced on Feb. 12, did they become co-authors, knowing the bill would crash a few days later? This gives Wiener and Zbur the appearance of supporting single-payer when they don’t have a track record of actually working to help it become law.”

I had a similar concern in 2022. All three of San Francisco’s representatives in Sacramento, Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblymen Phil Ting and David Chiu, were Principal Coauthors of the original CalCare bill (AB 2200). As a constituent, I never received information from my representatives announcing their support or asking for help in moving it through the Legislature. Phil Ting was my representative in the Assembly. Friends who were represented by David Chiu told me they also never heard anything. 

In March of this year, healthcare activists held a rally and lobby day in Sacramento. A fellow advocate from San Francisco and I stopped by the office of our current representative in the Assembly, Catherine Stefani. We were told by her staff that Stefani was supportive and would be waiting until the Assembly Health Committee hearing to ask to be added to the list of coauthors. At the time, we were encouraged. As I write this, I have serious doubts Stefani ever intended to become a coauthor. She has no history of advocacy for universal healthcare. In San Francisco, many consider her to be a “Corporate Democrat.” She may have known that AB 1900 would not be referred to the Healthcare Committee. 

How many of the 25 legislators who were authors or coauthors of AB 1900 actually worked to help it pass? How many supported the bill in name only? It seems clear that Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Rich Zbur signed on at the last minute just for show. How many more of their colleagues did nothing to help AB 1900 move forward?

With Democrats blocking any discussion of AB 1900, what is next in the long fight to achieve universal healthcare? Green Party candidate for governor, Butch Ware, who made universal healthcare a central issue in his campaign, will not appear on the ballot due to a disputed minor filing error identified by the California Secretary of State. Leading Democratic candidate Tom Steyer has been advertising his strong support for single payer universal healthcare and has been endorsed by the Nurses (CNA). But even if he is elected, I have serious doubts that members of the Senate and Assembly will pass a new version of CalCare. Next year, there is little evidence that a different outcome can be expected.

I’d like to suggest a different path forward. I’ve long thought that even if the Legislature did pass universal healthcare legislation, those who profit from the status quo would place an initiative on the ballot to repeal it. At some point, voter approval will be needed.

What is needed is a massive voter identification campaign. Since CNA’s poll showed 86% of Democrats support single payer universal healthcare, campaign staff should be hired to knock on doors of every registered Democrat in the state. A ballot initiative that is placed on the ballot by supporters or opponents will still require an extensive voter identification effort. The benefit of doing it before an initiative qualifies for the ballot is that we will be able to communicate with and organize supporters to counter the massive amount of campaign funds our opponents will spend. The potential of losing billions of dollars in profits will prompt unprecedented campaign spending in an effort to keep the profits flowing. Identifying voters and supporters throughout the state will also put pressure on legislators to become active supporters.

We need campaign organizers in each of the 80 Assembly districts in California. That will require a lot of money. If Tom Steyer really is a champion for universal healthcare, he should be asked to help fund this effort. A challenge grant from him could bring in financial contributions from universal healthcare advocates throughout the country. 

In the June 2^nd election this year, San Francisco voters will cast their ballots for a candidate to replace Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who is retiring at the end of the year after “representing” the City since 1987. A primary architect of Obamacare, she and most of the rest of the leadership of the Democratic Party have steadfastly opposed all universal healthcare bills. Since her constituents overwhelmingly support universal healthcare, she does not represent us on this issue. Unfortunately, it is possible that Pelosi’s opposition is partially responsible for the failure of AB 1900 to move forward. 

As a long-time advocate for universal healthcare, I will not be voting for Sen. Scott Wiener. I have seen nothing from him or his office during his time in Sacramento that indicates he is a champion of universal healthcare. I believe he is a supporter in name only. If I can’t trust him on what is, for me, a key issue, he does not deserve my vote.

I will also not be voting for Saikat Chakrabarti. He is a leading candidate for Congress even though he has no history of advocacy or involvement in San Francisco politics before becoming a candidate. He has spent millions of dollars of his personal wealth in an attempt, in my opinion, to buy a seat in Congress. It is difficult to trust what he says when he has not been involved in the community.

I am voting for Supervisor Connie Chan. As a member of the Green Party, there are few Democrats who have earned my support. San Francisco politics are currently dominated by Corporate Democrats. The mayor and a majority of the Board of Supervisors are prime examples of what it means to be a Corporate Democrat. Connie is not one of them. She has deep roots in the community and stands out as a champion for working people and for those who are poor. It is important to note that the Nurses (CNA) have endorsed Connie and not Sen. Wiener. Full disclosure: I have donated funds to and am volunteering on her campaign for Congress. 

Barry Hermanson is a member of the San Francisco Green Party County Council. Before he retired, he owned and operated a small business and was a leader in the small business community in San Francisco.

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