California Online Voter Guide

11th Edition, November 2004 General Election

Proposition 72: Health Care Coverage Requirements. Referendum. Failed

Official Summary

Provides for individual and dependent health care coverage for employees, as specified, working for large and medium employers. Requires that employers pay at least 80% of coverage cost; maximum 20% employee contribution. Requires employers to pay for health coverage or pay fee to medical insurance board that purchases primarily private health coverage. Applies to employers with 200 or more employees beginning 1/1/06. Applies to employers with 50 to 199 employees beginning 1/1/07. Applies to employers with 20 to 49 employees if tax credit enacted.

Proposition 72 is a referendum submitting Senate Bill 2 to voter approval. SB2 was passed in the state assembly with a 46-32 vote and in the state senate with a 25-15 vote. History of SB2 - Full Text of Proposition (PDF)

Campaign Web Sites and Contact Information

Yes on Proposition 72
Anthony E. Wright
Health Access
1127 11th St., #234, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 442-2308 or awright@health-access.org
No on Proposition 72
Jessica Spitz
Californians Against Government Run Healthcare
1215 K Street, Suite 2100, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 443-3354 or info@stopthehealthtax.org

Who Signed the Ballot Arguments

Yes on Proposition 72:

Richard Holober, Executive Director, Consumer Federation of California
Deborah Burger, RN, President, California Nurses Association
Richard F. Corlin, MD, Past President, California Medical Association & American Medical Association
Paul Kivela, MD, President, California Chapter, American College of Emergency Physicians
Barbara E. Kerr, President, California Teachers Association
Tom Porter, California State Director, AARP

No on Proposition 72:

Allan Zaremberg, President, California Chamber of Commerce
Sandra Cartsen, President, Association of California School Administrators
James G. Knight, MD, 2003 President, San Diego Medical Society
Thomas LaGrelius, MD, President, California Chapter, Association of American Physicians and Surgeons
Gloria Rios, Director, California Association of School Business Officials
Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Follow the Money

Supporters of Proposition 72 have raised approximately $7 million as of October 16, 2004. Major contributors as of October 27th include food and service industry workers (California State Council of Service Employees; Service Employees International Union; United Food and Commercial Workers International Union), teachers (California Teachers Association; California Federation of Teachers), hospitals and healthcare providers (California Healthcare Association) and labor organizations (AFL-CIO; American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees).

Opponents of Proposition 72 have raised approximately $13 million as of October 16, 2004. Major contributors as of October 27th include the California Restaurant Association and a host of large retailers and restaurants, (McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Yum! Brands, Sears Roebuck & Co., Macy’s West, and Robinson May.)

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Prop 72 is available through Cal-Access, the Secretary of State's campaign finance website.

For More Information, CVF Recommends...

The California Secretary of State publishes the Official Voter Information Guide with both a Quick Summary and Detailed Information about Proposition 72.

Other good nonpartisan resources include the League of Women Voters' Pro/Con Analysis and In-Depth Analysis of Proposition 72, the California Journal, the McGeorge School of Law California Initiative Review and the Easy Voter Guide.

Was this guide helpful?

We are interested in hearing your feedback about CVF's California Online Voter Guide. If you have suggestions, complaints, requests, or questions, please contact us. If you found this guide helpful, please consider making a contribution to help support CVF's nonpartisan voter education work.