Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  • Health Care
  •  

Capitol Roundup: Single-Payer's Cost, Equal Pay, Guns In Schools

  •  Ben Adler 
Monday, May 22, 2017 | Sacramento, CA
  

Four hundred billion dollars. That’s the first estimate of how much it could cost to create a single-payer health care system in California. Meanwhile, the Assembly has passed bills that would ban guns on school campuses and address the gender pay gap.

Here's a roundup of the big stories from the state Capitol Monday:

California Single-Payer Health Care Cost Pegged At $400 Billion

We now have our first estimate of how much it would cost for California to create a statewide, single-payer health care system.

A legislative staff report says half the $400 billion cost could be covered by existing federal, state and local funds. The remaining $200 billion, it says, could be raised through a 15 percent employer payroll tax.

The report adds that after subtracting the money that employers and employees already spend on health insurance, new spending under the bill would range from $50 billion to $100 billion a year.

Still, despite passion and momentum among Democratic activists, a $200 billion payroll tax would be a heavy lift at the state Capitol. Several lawmakers who say they support single-payer health care in theory worry about the state’s ability to pay for it. Gov. Jerry Brown has also raised cost concerns.

Backers are studying funding sources and savings they say would allow California to reach universal coverage.

But opponents argue it’s simply not realistic to create a new program more than twice as large as the state budget.

Assembly Backs End To Gun-Free Schools Law Exemption

The California Assembly has voted to eliminate the authority of school districts to allow guns on campuses. Currently, a superintendent can issue written permission to “concealed carry” permit holders on a case-by-case basis.

Asm. Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) says her 30 years as a teacher have shown her the importance of eliminating guns from schools.

“Being on a campus every day with students, I can tell you: Having a gun is not an additional protection,” she says.

But Asm. Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), who spent 28 years working for the California Highway Patrol, says lawmakers should let district leaders decide whether to allow guns into schools.

“I believe that we’re losing the vision of what really threatens children on campus,“ he says. “It isn’t guns; it’s behavior.”

The measure passed the Assembly Monday with two votes to spare and now moves to the state Senate.

Latest "Equal Pay" Bill Bans Employers From Seeking Salary History

The California Assembly has voted to prohibit employers from asking for salary histories from job applicants. It’s the latest effort in the state Legislature to address the gender pay gap.

Asm. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton) is the bill’s author. She says employers often base a worker’s pay on his or her salary history – and women have historically worked in jobs that pay less than predominantly male professions.

“Teaching, social work, dietary things – women shouldn’t be able to go from that profession to something else and be inherently underpaid,” Eggman said Monday during Assembly floor debate.

“The job pays what it’s paid; it’s worth what it’s worth. And it shouldn’t be used as a moving target to pay qualified women less due to their past history,” added Asm. Marie Waldron (R-Escondido).

But the California Chamber of Commerce opposes the bill, arguing lawmakers should first give two newly-enacted equal pay laws a chance to work.

Asm. Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach) argued employers should be able to use as much information as possible when evaluating potential employees.

“All this bill simply does is reduce transparency and reduce information in terms of what employers have to be able to be help making good hiring decisions,” he said.

The measure would also require an employer to provide the pay scale for an open position upon an applicant’s request.

It passed the Assembly Monday by a bipartisan vote of 54-6, although several moderate Democrats joined Republicans in abstaining. The bill now moves to the Senate.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    Single-Payer Is Lone Contrast In First Meeting Of Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates

    Sunday, October 22, 2017
    When the four Democratic candidates in next year’s California governor’s race debated for the first time Sunday, they really only disagreed over one thing: single-payer health care.
  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    Rendon Sparks Uproar By Shelving Single-Payer Bill

    Tuesday, June 27, 2017
    When California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced late Friday he would hold the single-payer health care bill for the year, he set off a firestorm of reactions that showcase the split in the Democratic Party.

Ben Adler

Director of Programming and Audience Development

Director of Programming and Audience Development Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool — though not necessarily by choice.  Read Full Bio 

Coronavirus Newsletter

Get answers to your questions, the latest updates and easy access to the resources you need, delivered to your inbox.

 

Want to know what to expect? Here's a recent newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

We'll send you weekly emails so you can stay informed about the coronavirus in California.

Browse all newsletters

More State Government Stories

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

May 19, 2022

California 2022 primary voter FAQ

May 19, 2022

A Sacramento voter guide for the 2022 primary elections

May 19, 2022

Most Viewed

Eva, the hero dog, beats back a mountain lion that attacked her owner on a hike

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

California coronavirus updates: Nevada ends COVID-19 emergency declarations

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Eva, the hero dog, beats back a mountain lion that attacked her owner on a hike

Top California Democrats in a stalemate over gas rebates

U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla will appear on California’s June primary ballot twice. Here’s why.

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

California coronavirus updates: Nevada ends COVID-19 emergency declarations

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.