Dan Walters' Capitol Q&A

Question: The LAO has projected a $10 billion shortfall for next fiscal year. How might this affect the Governor's health care proposal? Is universal health coverage attainable for state governments, or do you think this is an issue best left for our next President?
-- Joy, Newcastle

Answer: In theory, it doesn't affect health care, which Schwarzenegger and legslative leaders said would be fully financed unto itself without direct subsidies from the budget. But if revenues envisioned for health care were to fall short, the state general fund might be on the hook - although even if adopted, a new universal health care system wouldn't go into effect next year. Whether the issue should be left to the federal government is another issue.
--Dan Walters

Question: Would it be possible for the state to pay its bills on time to local small business owners? Why is it that the state never pays interest on late payments to businesses but demands that the same business pay late fees on state taxes?
-- Delyse Gannaway, Sacramento

Answer: They do it because they can. The state exempts itself from many of the requirements that it imposes on other governments and the private sector.
--Dan Walters

Question: If the Democrats want to allow illegal aliens to have drivers licenses, then what kind of argument can they have against having a valid ID to vote since everyone will have one?
-- Victor S. Curiel, Los Angeles

Answer: It would be possible to place special markings on drivers licenses held by illegal immigrants to prevent their being used for voting and other official purposes, such as airline boarding.
--Dan Walters

Question: Regarding the cost of providing health care to uninsured illegal immigrants, would it be possible to invoice the government of the country they came from to cover the costs?

-- Terry B., Roseville

Answer: It probably would be possible to invoice immigrants' governments if hospitals were willing to determine immigration status of patients, which they are unlikely to be. But it probably would be impossible to collect on those invoices.

-- Dan Walters