Chairperson Jones Criticizes Governor’s Proposal to Cut Healthcare for Californians Assemblymember Dave Jones (D-Sacramento), Chairperson of the Assembly Health Committee, issued the following statement today in response to the Governor’s letter to Congress proposing cuts in healthcare for Californians: “It’s the day before Christmas and like Ebenezzer Scrooge, Governor Schwarzenegger wants to take poor Tiny Tim’s crutch away. And deny him any healthcare. Bah humbug, Governor!
The Governor has asked Congress to allow him to make cuts in healthcare for Californians. Here we are in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Record numbers of Californians have lost their jobs outright or had their income cut. Record numbers of Californians are without health insurance. They are not able to see a doctor or get treatment for themselves or their loved ones. And the Governor’s response is to look for ways to deprive even more Californians of healthcare, so more Californians will get sick and die.
The Governor, in writing to Congress, is not speaking for Californians or California. California needs Congress to expand healthcare coverage and to increase payments to California to help pay for it. But the answer is not, as Governor Scrooge requests, to turn our backs on those who rely on California for medical care or to cut the already too low reimbursements to our doctors, nurses, hospitals and other medical providers who provide that care. In a word, what the Governor proposes is worthy only of Scrooge.
Lets hope that the Governor is visited by several ghosts tonite who will cause him to see the error of his proposal to cut healthcare for Californians.” Chairperson Jones responded to Governor Schwarzenegger’s letter to Congress asking for authority to make cuts to Medi-Cal and Healthy Families eligibility, benefits and reimbursements to providers.
