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Vote in favor of a bill on Monday to establish single-payer healthcare system for California residents or risk losing your endorsement from the state Democratic Party.
"Any Assembly member that thinks they can ignore the party, ignore labor, ignore people, vote against us, and then still get the endorsement might find they have a tougher reelection battle than they thought."
That was the message this week to Assembly members from the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party ahead of a Monday vote on AB 1400.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), would establish CalCare, a first-in-the-nation system to provide universal healthcare coverage to state residents.
Opposed by industry groups, it's supported by the California Nurses Association, which says that "by streamlining payments and lowering per-capita health care spending," the measure would guarantee "quality health care and long-term care without creating barriers to care or out-of-pocket costs."
Earlier this month, AB 1400 passed the Assembly's health and appropriations committees. It's now days away from a vote by the full Assembly, and has an end-of-the-month deadline to pass.
Sacramento's Fox40reported Thursday that the state progressive caucus "is preparing to take away party endorsements from Assembly members who reject the proposal."
Progressive Caucus Chairman and California Democratic Party executive board member Amar Shergill confirmed that stance, telling the outlet: "Any Assembly member that thinks they can ignore the party, ignore labor, ignore people, vote against us, and then still get the endorsement might find they have a tougher reelection battle than they thought."
Among the progressive voices welcoming the news was Bryant Odega, an organizer with Sunrise Movement LA. "You are either with the people or with the for-profit health insurance industry!" he tweeted.
Statements shared on social media by the executive board of the state Democratic Party Progressive Caucus frame the vote as a no-brainer, given that single-payer is part of the California Democratic Party's platform.
"This shouldn't be controversial," the caucus tweeted. "When you vote against the state party platform and bills we have endorsed we will simply vote to not endorse you. But if you vote for #AB1400 it's all love from us."
Related Content
The warning about losing an endorsement was made clear to members earlier this week. Shergill said in a message:
"On Tuesday morning," Shergill said in a public announcement, "the Progressive Caucus sent an email to all of our members and to every delegate in the party, including elected officials, calling for a challenge to the endorsement of any Assembly member that fails to vote 'Yes' for AB 1400 on Monday. That email described a basic function of democracy and party organizing: elected officials vote on bills, then we vote on their endorsement. It's that simple.
Ben Hauck, Southern California vice chair of the progressive caucus, also responded to the new reporting in a Twitter thread on Thursday in which he explained how the consequences of not voting in favor of AB 1400 follows a democratic process:
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean that the incumbent can\u2019t get the endorsement, it just means they have to go through a voting process with the party to EARN the endorsement. This is how it should be in the first place! Automatic endorsements are UNDEMOCRATIC!\u201d— Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39 (@Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39) 1643335981
\u201cNow let\u2019s get out there and win this vote for #AB1400! Please check out the toolkit and help make #CalCare a reality! The vote is MONDAY!!!\n\nhttps://t.co/iwbjMmNmnT\u201d— Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39 (@Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39) 1643335981
As Chuck Idelson, the senior communications strategist for National Nurses United, explained in a op-ed published Friday at Common Dreams, the backdrop of the vote should be "the very real people whose lives illustrate why CalCare is needed," people who face a "nightmare" of "financial catastrophe" as a result of no or insufficient healthcare coverage.
"The multi-trillion dollar-healthcare industry is in an all-out panic over the prospect" of a statewide single-payer system, he wrote, "bombarding legislators and the press with the sky is falling scenarios about the consequences of losing their golden goose."
Should the measure pass, it would still need to head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
His signature, however, is not guaranteed, as the Daily Posterreported Friday.
"Despite his campaign promise," the outlet reported, "the California governor has long been allied with insurance companies opposing the reform."
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. |
Vote in favor of a bill on Monday to establish single-payer healthcare system for California residents or risk losing your endorsement from the state Democratic Party.
"Any Assembly member that thinks they can ignore the party, ignore labor, ignore people, vote against us, and then still get the endorsement might find they have a tougher reelection battle than they thought."
That was the message this week to Assembly members from the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party ahead of a Monday vote on AB 1400.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), would establish CalCare, a first-in-the-nation system to provide universal healthcare coverage to state residents.
Opposed by industry groups, it's supported by the California Nurses Association, which says that "by streamlining payments and lowering per-capita health care spending," the measure would guarantee "quality health care and long-term care without creating barriers to care or out-of-pocket costs."
Earlier this month, AB 1400 passed the Assembly's health and appropriations committees. It's now days away from a vote by the full Assembly, and has an end-of-the-month deadline to pass.
Sacramento's Fox40reported Thursday that the state progressive caucus "is preparing to take away party endorsements from Assembly members who reject the proposal."
Progressive Caucus Chairman and California Democratic Party executive board member Amar Shergill confirmed that stance, telling the outlet: "Any Assembly member that thinks they can ignore the party, ignore labor, ignore people, vote against us, and then still get the endorsement might find they have a tougher reelection battle than they thought."
Among the progressive voices welcoming the news was Bryant Odega, an organizer with Sunrise Movement LA. "You are either with the people or with the for-profit health insurance industry!" he tweeted.
Statements shared on social media by the executive board of the state Democratic Party Progressive Caucus frame the vote as a no-brainer, given that single-payer is part of the California Democratic Party's platform.
"This shouldn't be controversial," the caucus tweeted. "When you vote against the state party platform and bills we have endorsed we will simply vote to not endorse you. But if you vote for #AB1400 it's all love from us."
Related Content
The warning about losing an endorsement was made clear to members earlier this week. Shergill said in a message:
"On Tuesday morning," Shergill said in a public announcement, "the Progressive Caucus sent an email to all of our members and to every delegate in the party, including elected officials, calling for a challenge to the endorsement of any Assembly member that fails to vote 'Yes' for AB 1400 on Monday. That email described a basic function of democracy and party organizing: elected officials vote on bills, then we vote on their endorsement. It's that simple.
Ben Hauck, Southern California vice chair of the progressive caucus, also responded to the new reporting in a Twitter thread on Thursday in which he explained how the consequences of not voting in favor of AB 1400 follows a democratic process:
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean that the incumbent can\u2019t get the endorsement, it just means they have to go through a voting process with the party to EARN the endorsement. This is how it should be in the first place! Automatic endorsements are UNDEMOCRATIC!\u201d— Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39 (@Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39) 1643335981
\u201cNow let\u2019s get out there and win this vote for #AB1400! Please check out the toolkit and help make #CalCare a reality! The vote is MONDAY!!!\n\nhttps://t.co/iwbjMmNmnT\u201d— Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39 (@Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39) 1643335981
As Chuck Idelson, the senior communications strategist for National Nurses United, explained in a op-ed published Friday at Common Dreams, the backdrop of the vote should be "the very real people whose lives illustrate why CalCare is needed," people who face a "nightmare" of "financial catastrophe" as a result of no or insufficient healthcare coverage.
"The multi-trillion dollar-healthcare industry is in an all-out panic over the prospect" of a statewide single-payer system, he wrote, "bombarding legislators and the press with the sky is falling scenarios about the consequences of losing their golden goose."
Should the measure pass, it would still need to head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
His signature, however, is not guaranteed, as the Daily Posterreported Friday.
"Despite his campaign promise," the outlet reported, "the California governor has long been allied with insurance companies opposing the reform."
Vote in favor of a bill on Monday to establish single-payer healthcare system for California residents or risk losing your endorsement from the state Democratic Party.
"Any Assembly member that thinks they can ignore the party, ignore labor, ignore people, vote against us, and then still get the endorsement might find they have a tougher reelection battle than they thought."
That was the message this week to Assembly members from the Progressive Caucus of the California Democratic Party ahead of a Monday vote on AB 1400.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose), would establish CalCare, a first-in-the-nation system to provide universal healthcare coverage to state residents.
Opposed by industry groups, it's supported by the California Nurses Association, which says that "by streamlining payments and lowering per-capita health care spending," the measure would guarantee "quality health care and long-term care without creating barriers to care or out-of-pocket costs."
Earlier this month, AB 1400 passed the Assembly's health and appropriations committees. It's now days away from a vote by the full Assembly, and has an end-of-the-month deadline to pass.
Sacramento's Fox40reported Thursday that the state progressive caucus "is preparing to take away party endorsements from Assembly members who reject the proposal."
Progressive Caucus Chairman and California Democratic Party executive board member Amar Shergill confirmed that stance, telling the outlet: "Any Assembly member that thinks they can ignore the party, ignore labor, ignore people, vote against us, and then still get the endorsement might find they have a tougher reelection battle than they thought."
Among the progressive voices welcoming the news was Bryant Odega, an organizer with Sunrise Movement LA. "You are either with the people or with the for-profit health insurance industry!" he tweeted.
Statements shared on social media by the executive board of the state Democratic Party Progressive Caucus frame the vote as a no-brainer, given that single-payer is part of the California Democratic Party's platform.
"This shouldn't be controversial," the caucus tweeted. "When you vote against the state party platform and bills we have endorsed we will simply vote to not endorse you. But if you vote for #AB1400 it's all love from us."
Related Content
The warning about losing an endorsement was made clear to members earlier this week. Shergill said in a message:
"On Tuesday morning," Shergill said in a public announcement, "the Progressive Caucus sent an email to all of our members and to every delegate in the party, including elected officials, calling for a challenge to the endorsement of any Assembly member that fails to vote 'Yes' for AB 1400 on Monday. That email described a basic function of democracy and party organizing: elected officials vote on bills, then we vote on their endorsement. It's that simple.
Ben Hauck, Southern California vice chair of the progressive caucus, also responded to the new reporting in a Twitter thread on Thursday in which he explained how the consequences of not voting in favor of AB 1400 follows a democratic process:
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean that the incumbent can\u2019t get the endorsement, it just means they have to go through a voting process with the party to EARN the endorsement. This is how it should be in the first place! Automatic endorsements are UNDEMOCRATIC!\u201d— Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39 (@Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39) 1643335981
\u201cNow let\u2019s get out there and win this vote for #AB1400! Please check out the toolkit and help make #CalCare a reality! The vote is MONDAY!!!\n\nhttps://t.co/iwbjMmNmnT\u201d— Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39 (@Ben Hauck \ud83c\udf39) 1643335981
As Chuck Idelson, the senior communications strategist for National Nurses United, explained in a op-ed published Friday at Common Dreams, the backdrop of the vote should be "the very real people whose lives illustrate why CalCare is needed," people who face a "nightmare" of "financial catastrophe" as a result of no or insufficient healthcare coverage.
"The multi-trillion dollar-healthcare industry is in an all-out panic over the prospect" of a statewide single-payer system, he wrote, "bombarding legislators and the press with the sky is falling scenarios about the consequences of losing their golden goose."
Should the measure pass, it would still need to head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
His signature, however, is not guaranteed, as the Daily Posterreported Friday.
"Despite his campaign promise," the outlet reported, "the California governor has long been allied with insurance companies opposing the reform."