Sunday, April 12, 2009

April Meeting: Sen Mark Leno on SB 810 & Single-Payer Health Care

Please Join City Democratic Club, District 3 Democratic Club, Portrero Hill Democratic Club, Bernal Heights Democratic Club and Democracy Action in welcoming Senator Mark Leno. (please note special time and meeting place)

Sen. Leno will speak on SB 810, his legislation to create single-payer health care.

Date/Time: Thurs., Apr 23, 7 pm mingle; 7:30 speaker program
Location: Schroeder’s Restaurant, 240 Front St. at California St.


Elected to the Senate in 2008, Sen. Mark Leno represents the 3rd District, which includes Marin, and portions of San Francisco and Sonoma Counties. Prior to his election to the Senate, he served six years in the State Assembly and four and a half years on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

While in the Assembly, Leno fought for better schools and access to higher education, a cleaner and sustainable environment, improved transportation, renewable energy, safer streets and equal rights for all Californians. He introduced the first two marriage equality bills allowing LGBT couples to marry. More recently, he has introduced SB 810 that would create single-payer universal health care.

Gov. Schwarzenegger previously vetoed single-payer health care legislation, noting high costs to the state.

Leno hopes to pass his bill by August, taking health care out of the hands of insurance companies. Refuting critics, he said, "It is not socialized medicine. Your doctor doesn't change. Your hospital doesn't change. Your clinic doesn't change. The only thing that changes is who pays.”

PLEASE NOTE: City Democratic Club will resume voting for officers and for the (one word) bylaw amendment as noted in the March newsletter at our next regularly scheduled meeting on May 21, 2009.

Stay tuned for S.F. Public Defender Jeff Adachi, next month.