The Affordable Care Act will fine large employers next year if their workers qualify for federal subsidies through the new health insurance exchanges.
But Democratic State Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez says there’s a loophole when it comes to the publically-funded Medi-Cal program.
“We have to ask the question, do we allow the largest and most profitable companies continue to skirt their responsibility and shift the cost to the backs of the taxpayers,” asked Gomez, while making a plea to lawmakers to support the measure.
Republican Assemblymember Tim Donnelly says it’s the individual’s responsibility to pay for their own health care.
“We are killing jobs with bills like this, so if you want to increase the number of jobs, if you want to raise the level of hope in this state, you need to vote against this bill,” said Donnelly on the Assembly floor.
The measure fell several votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority.
It could still come back for another vote this year.
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