California State Association Of Counties Joins Fight To Defeat Proposition 46
Local Government Organization Cites Concerns that Proposition 46 is "Fiscally Irresponsible" and Would Hurt Taxpayers
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the growing campaign to defeat November's budget-busting Proposition 46 announced that the California State Association of Counties opposes the costly initiative because it would ratchet up health care costs for consumers, taxpayers and local governments.
CSAC is the unified voice in Sacramento for California's diverse 58 counties. It is the latest respected local government organization to oppose Proposition 46, joining the League of California Cities, California Special Districts Association, California School Boards Association, Urban Counties Caucus and Rural County Representatives Association of California. In fact, every local government association in California that has taken a position on Prop 46 opposes the measure.
"Proposition 46 would make it much harder for California counties to deliver vital care to millions of patients and will increase costs for local governments and taxpayers by hundreds of millions of dollars a year," said Matt Cate, the executive director of the California State Association of Counties. "This fiscally irresponsible measure must be defeated to protect patients and taxpayers."
According to California's independent Legislative Analyst, Prop. 46 could increase state and local government costs by up to "hundreds of millions of dollars annually."
Proposition 46 would quadruple the limit on non-economic damages in medical lawsuits, making it easier and more profitable to sue doctors and hospitals. Counties would be hit hard by this change because they run hospitals and clinics. Many of these hospitals would have to pay higher medical malpractice premiums if Proposition 46 were to pass. The hospitals that are self-insured would have to wholly cover the costs of higher payouts in medical lawsuits. What's more, counties would see higher health care costs for employees and retirees.
The California State Association of Counties joins the growing list of California public entities and private organizations that have announced their formal opposition to the high cost of Proposition 46, including (partial list):
- California Teachers Association
- California School Boards Association
- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California
- State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
- AFSCME California PEOPLE
- IBEW Ninth District
- California Medical Association
- California Dental Association
- California Hospital Association
- California Pharmacists Association
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- American College of Emergency Physicians, California Chapter
- California Association of Physician Groups
- California Association for Nurse Practitioners
- Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
- Community Clinics Association of Los Angeles County
- La Clínica de La Raza
- California Association of Rural Health Clinics
- Central Valley Health Network
- NAACP California
- California Chamber of Commerce
- California Black Chamber of Commerce
- California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- American Civil Liberties Union of California International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
- SEIU United Long Term Care Workers (ULTCW)
- SEIU-USWW (United Security Workers West)
- SEIU Local 1000
- Committee of Interns and Residents-SEIU
- Union of American Physicians and Dentists (AFSCME Local 206)
- Boilermakers Local 92
- Boilermakers Local 1998
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, California
- Plumbers & Pipefitters UA Local 442
- Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 447
- Plumbers, Pipe & Refrigeration Fitters UA Local 246
- Sheet Metal, Air, Rail & Transportation Workers (SMART), Sheet Metal Workers Local 104
To learn more, visit www.NoOn46.com
SOURCE No On 46
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