Sacramento Democrats push government run healthcare system

On Jan. 12, the Assembly Committee on Health passed Assembly Bill 1400, a measure that imposes an estimated $163 billion in new taxes each year to create a government-run single payer healthcare system. Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Budget, Vince Fong (R-Kern County) issued the following statement:

"Even with a $21 billion budget surplus, Sacramento Democrats could not resist pushing $163 billion in new taxes to pay for a government-run health care system. In addition to the eye popping price tag, this proposal imposes more state bureaucracy in health care decisions.

"Given the incompetence of EDD, it is difficult to understand why anyone would want a state government takeover for such critical services.

"More state bureaucracy is not the answer to ensuring innovative health care treatments for families.

"Californians and small businesses are overtaxed, and they are struggling. It is time to focus on relieving their tax burdens, not imposing more taxes with an untested government-run health care system.

"Californians and small businesses are being crushed by an ever worsening affordability crisis, and this questionable proposal only makes it worse."

Assemblyman Vince Fong represents the 34th Assembly District, encompassing most of Kern County including the communities of Bakersfield, Bear Valley Springs, China Lake, Frazier Park, Golden Hills, Inyokern, Lebec, Oildale, Ridgecrest, Taft and Tehachapi.