March 29, 2007

PPIC re health care

The PPIC poll that's out today has numbers on the presidential race in California and the public's view on term limits and redistricting reform. It's also got some interesting numbers on health care and how voters feel about the governor's proposals.

Among all adults, 71 percent say the health care system needs "major changes." That includes 70 percent of those who have insurance now. The party breakdown:

82 percent of Democrats
74 percent of independents
58 percent of Republicans

Given a general description of the governor's plan -- require everybody to have coverage with the costs shared by employers, providers and individuals -- 71 percent say they like it.

79 percent of Democrats
70 percent of independents
52 percent of Republicans

Breaking it down, 76 percent support the individual mandate, with subsidies for the poor.

83 percent of Democrats
77 percent of independents
54 percent of Republicans

75 percent of all adults support the employer mandate

82 percent of Democrats
75 percent of independents
56 percent of Republicans

As usual, people start to bail when the money talk gets specific. Just 41 percent say fees on doctors and hospitals are a good idea, with 53 percent saying they are a bad idea.

42 percent of Democrats support the fees
38 percent of independents
24 percent of Republicans

So there is broad support for the individual mandate and the employer requirement, even among independents and Republicans, but not for the fees that are a crucial part of the governor's plan.

I still think the only way to make this kind of reform happen in this political climate is to include a broad-based tax that won't draw opposition from interest groups and then put it on the ballot with the support of a diverse, bipartisan coalition.

Posted by dweintraub on March 29, 2007 6:20 AM