Los Angeles
Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this week offered a far-reaching plan to provide health insurance to all Californians, including illegal immigrants and their children. Schwarzenegger said the program would be financed by taxes on doctors and hospitals, as well as on businesses that don’t provide health insurance. Democrats, who control the state legislature, voiced enthusiasm for the initiative, but Schwarzenegger’s fellow Republicans vowed a fight. “Imposing a new tax on employers of any size and expanding costly government mandates is the wrong approach,” said Assemblyman Mike Villines. Nearly one in five Californians—6.5 million residents—have no health insurance.
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