A LETTER OF SUPPORT for AB2200

The San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party Central Committee hereby adopts the following letter of support, titled:

IN SUPPORT OF AB 2200, THE CALIFORNIA GUARANTEED HEALTH CARE FOR ALL ACT (CALCARE).

WHEREAS the 2022 California Democratic Party platform declares that “health care is a human right, not a privilege,” and that Democrats will “support and implement universal comprehensive health care and health coverage for all Californians;” and

WHEREAS currently 3.2 million Californians have no form of health insurance, and 12 million Californians can’t afford to use their insurance because of costly co-pays or deductibles; and

WHEREAS lack of affordable and accessible health care has had a disproportionate impact on communities of color; and

WHEREAS on February  7, 2024, Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) introduced AB 2200, the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act (CalCare), to guarantee accessible, affordable, equitable, and high-quality health care for all Californians through a comprehensive, universal, single-payer health care program that benefits every resident of the state; and

WHEREAS a universal, single-payer healthcare system would garner huge cost savings through reduced bureaucracy; and

WHEREAS the AFL-CIO, SEIU, and many other major unions support a move to single-payer healthcare because union-negotiated health care plans are not exempt from skyrocketing costs and diminishing plan benefits, and a universal, single-payer system would put workers in a better position to negotiate for higher wages, higher pension and retirement contributions, optimal staffing, longer breaks, better workplace protections, workplace violence policies, and other benefits and improvements in working conditions; and

WHEREAS the California Nurses Association and National Nurses United have put forth seven principles to guide development of a single-payer system that would ensure comprehensive, high-quality health care for all California residents;

NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE KNOWN that the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party supports the California Guaranteed Health Care for All Act (CalCare) and will work with the California Nurses Association and other groups in an organized and coordinated effort to educate voters and lobby elected representatives to the California State Assembly and State Senate regarding AB 2200.

Resolution approved by the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party at its Central Committee meeting on March 13, 2024.