The Democrat-dominated California state legislature has once again rejected a proposal to create a single-payer health care system — socialized medicine, or so-called “Medicare for All” — due to the high cost amid budget deficits.
The idea of a government-run, publicly-funded health care system has tempted left-wing Democrats for decades. In 2016 and 2020, it was the centerpiece of the presidential campaigns of socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). And elements of that socialist ideal have, in fact, become part of the American health care system under Obamacare.
But despite the Democratic supermajority in both houses of the California state legislature, the idea failed — again.
The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday:
The latest attempt to bring a single-payer healthcare system to California failed in the state Legislature on Thursday, undercut by its steep price tag as lawmakers struggle with a mounting budget shortfall.
Assembly Bill 2200, named Guaranteed Health Care for All — or CalCare — hoped to set up a universal single-payer healthcare system for all residents of California, but it died on Thursday in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San José) said he was “deeply disappointed” that it died so early on.
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CalCare was projected to annually cost the state $392 billion. Meanwhile, California is grappling with a $45-billion deficit.
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