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

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Sep 08, 2014, 05:00 ET

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