Socialism Comes to California

Single-payer health care may sound like a page from “How to destroy the economy, the beginners’ guide” written by AOC, but for California residents, it just got closer to becoming a reality. California bill AB -1400, also known as “guaranteed health care for all,” was introduced in February of last year. The bill promises “to provide comprehensive universal single-payer health care coverage” for all residents of the state.

Included in the bill:

• Establish the California Guaranteed Health Care for All program to provide universal health coverage for every Californian, funded by broad-based revenue.
• Prohibit law enforcement agencies from using CalCare’s funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of a criminal, civil, or administrative violation or warrant for a violation of any requirement that individuals register with the federal government (read: prohibit health care providers from cooperating with law enforcement on investigation of rape, child molestation, drug offenses, or other crimes that they may have uncovered during treatment.)
• All residents of this state, no matter what their … immigration status, are entitled to full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all health care providers participating in CalCare.”

Among services covered by CalCare are dental care, mental health care, dietary and nutritional therapies, home health care, chiropractic care and acupuncture, prescription drugs, and biological products (read: marijuana.)

In his California Blueprint released on Monday, Governor Newsom expressed support for the bill.

“Governor Newsom’s Blueprint will make California the first state in the nation to offer universal access to healthcare coverage for all state residents, regardless of immigration status.”

What is that broad-based revenue that the most populous state in the union will use to pay for universal health care coverage for almost 40 million residents, and untold (and growing) number of illegal aliens?

From a non-profit advocating for AB-1400:

“CalCare would be financed by a public Trust Fund, which would be funded by monies from federal and state government agencies along with additional revenue sources, like a wealth tax, to be determined by the California State Legislature.”

Determined by the California State Legislature:

On Thursday, the Constitutional Amendment was introduced to impose various taxes in order to pay for universal health care coverage. That includes an annual tax of 2.3% on businesses that have at least $2 million in annual revenue, plus a 1.25% payroll tax for companies with at least 50 employees and a 1% tax for those employers who pay employees at least $49,900.

The plan also includes a “wealth tax,” from 0.5% for people who earn $150,000 a year (not a large salary for California) to 2.5% for people who make more than $2.48 million per year.

Money from federal government agencies:

Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan sent California a whopping $26 billion in March of last year. Every American taxpayer is contributing to Gavin Newsom’s “budget surplus” that he is spending on a myriad of far-left fantasies, including free health care for illegal immigrants.