Federal Decision Boosts Schwarzenegger’s Health Reform Prospects
Gov. Schwarzenegger won federal support for a critical piece of his $12 billion health care reform proposal to cover California’s uninsured population.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced on Wednesday, March 14, that the Bush administration would support $3.45 billion of the $3.7 billion request the governor has made for additional federal funds. This money would help to expand public insurance programs in California such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, offsetting the controversial new fees Schwarzenegger has proposed for doctors and hospitals. While this endorsement will help the governor’s plan and other health care reform proposals gain momentum, detailed legislative language is yet to be written.

Assembly Republicans Look to Free Market to Lower Health Costs
The California GOP jumped into the health care debate on Wednesday when Assembly Republicans revealed their health care reform proposal.  Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines (R-Clovis) criticized competing reform proposals as too expansive and argued for a free-market approach to the state’s health care problems that would avoid raising taxes or creating a large government system.  Villines’ plan would cut costs by encouraging individuals to use tax-free health savings accounts, deregulating insurers and expanding access by raising physician reimbursement in the Medi-Cal program. In light of the significant differences between the GOP legislative proposals and the governor’s plan, Gov. Schwarzenegger now has his work cut out for him as he attempts to gain his party’s support in the health care debate.

California Primary Set for Feb. 5, 2008
In a decision sure to change the dynamics of the 2008 presidential race, Gov. Schwarzenegger on Thursday signed legislation that will pull the California presidential primary back from June to February.  Since 1968, presidential candidates have usually locked up their parties’ nominations before the California primary in June. Moving the primary to an earlier date will increase the state’s political clout as presidential campaigns are sure to aggressively court California voters.  The move has led some two dozen other states to select or consider making the same move to Feb. 5, which would front-load the race and essentially establish a national primary.  Voters will be asked to go to the polls at least three times next year and the stage is now set for legislators or the governor to offer ballot initiatives such as term limits and redistricting.

California Life Sciences Day Registration Closes Today
Don’t miss your last opportunity to register for California Life Sciences Day.  Register now.  Join with leaders in biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biomedical research in Sacramento on Wednesday, March 28 to build support for the issues that matter most to California’s medical innovators.  Attendees will participate in face-to-face meetings with legislators and state government officials; network at a luncheon featuring a keynote address by a leading policy maker; and join legislators and their staffs at a closing reception at the historic Sutter Club.  CHI recognizes the sponsors of the event: AdvaMed, Allergan, Amgen, Amylin, BIO, Genentech, Gen-Probe, Gilead, MDMA, MedImmune, NVCA, Pfizer, PhRMA, and Schering-Plough.  For more information, visit www.lifesciencesday.org or contact Callie Robbins (858.551.6677 or robbins@chi.org).