December 13, 2007

Perata: Budget first, health care second

Noting the progress in health care negotiations, Senate leader Don Perata issued a statement late Thursday saying "it would be imprudent and impolitic to support an expansion of health care" before addressing the state's budget deficit and its impact on existing programs.

“The real issue now is the deficit and how this squares with everything else that we are going to do,” said Perata, the Senate president pro tem, in the statement.

Despite Perata's statement, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez has called Assembly members back to the Capitol on Monday for a floor session, presumably to vote on health care.

Núñez issued a statement saying that “after a solid year of hard work and negotiation, we are now only inches away from finalizing the framework for an historic agreement to deliver universal health care for the people of California."

"I am so confident that we will be successful in reaching agreement that I have called for the Assembly to meet on Monday, December 17 in order to take up and pass AB 1X. With only a little more work and cooperation, California can once again show the nation how it’s done,” Núñez said.

But that doesn't mean that even if a deal is struck, the Senate, under Perata's leadership, will go along.

“While I still strongly favor the concept," Perata said in his statement, "I have been shocked by the recent revelation that next year’s budget is facing a $14 billion deficit and what that could mean."

Here's Perata's statment in full:

“I am encouraged by the progress the Governor, the Assembly Speaker and I have made this year developing a plan for extending health care insurance to the many Californians who do not have it.”

“While I still strongly favor the concept, I have been shocked by the recent revelation that next year’s budget is facing a $14 billion deficit and what that could mean.”

“It would be imprudent and impolitic to support an expansion of health care coverage without knowing how we’re going to pay for vital health programs the state now provides for poor children, their families and the aged, blind and disabled.”

“The real issue now is the deficit and how this squares with everything else that we are going to do.”

Posted by Shane Goldmacher on December 13, 2007 4:43 PM