Sacramento — Senate Democrats today voted down an effort by Senator Jeff Denham (R-Merced) to hear Assembly Bill 207 which would have allowed the State to make payments to nursing homes, health clinics and other vital facilities during the budget impasse.
“It is hypocritical for Senate Democrats to talk about the suffering of California’s most vulnerable citizens and then play partisan politics and not vote to fund the vital services on which they depend,” Denham said.
Specifically, AB 207, authored by Denham, would have provided a $12 billion emergency appropriation to ensure that hospitals and nursing homes received the necessary funding to keep their doors open.”
“Healthcare for those in need should not be interrupted while the Legislature is late on passing a balanced budget,” said Denham
Ironically, on Friday, Senate Democrat Leader Don Perata claimed to be concerned for those at risk because of the budget stalemate:
“The list is long, characterized in common by innocence, helplessness and anonymity,” said Perata. “Special education children, physically-disabled adults, elderly residents in long-term care facilities, rural hospitals, home-to-school transportation, food service to state hospitals and state prisons, financial aid to hundreds of thousands of students at UC and CSU, thousands of small businesses employing thousands of our constituents that supply every community with essentials such as sanitation, cleaning, security and rehabilitation…This is a game of political roulette we will not play.”
“Apparently Senator Perata is willing to play political roulette with the most innocent and helpless among us,” said Denham.
Audio Clips:
Denham Floor Comments [174kb mp3]
Perata Floor Comments #1 [318kb mp3]
Perate Floor Comments #2 [36kb mp3]
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