The California Assembly passed legislation to regulate skyrocketing health insurance premiums today in a bill, AB 1554 (Jones), modeled after California's successful system of regulation for auto, home and business insurance, Proposition 103.
Health insurance companies and HMOs have given the gov over $1 million. Arnold is afraid to rein in the profits of some of his most prolific donors, and, despite consumer outrage at double-digit premium increases year after year, he hasn't shown support for reining in the waste of health insurers. The gov's lackey attempted to pressure members of the Assembly to bury the bill today -- the most recent example of the Schwarzenegger administration bending over backwards for insurers.
The Los Angeles Times pointed out another incident yesterday, reporting that the confirmation hearing of a Schwarzenegger appointee was postponed because her bureau reversed itself on a decision to shut down unlicensed auto body shops run by Progressive Insurance.
Progressive gave the governor $10,000, according to the Times, and the insurance industry (not including health care companies) gave a whopping $3.7 million.
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