A Lesson for the Country
Ron Placone
Apr 30, 2026
Despite overwhelming popularity, despite a public ready for Medicare-For-All, California has never brought this bill to a vote, and they take rotating turns being the villain. They’ve been doing this pretty much since Newsom’s been Governor, because at one point he campaigned on it, but would never dare sign such a thing into law.
Since I’ve been following it (i.e. a resident in California), the first villain was Anthony Rendon. He shelved the bill, claiming it was “incomplete.” When he was asked how it was incomplete, he babbled that he would need to look at it and then stared at the ground like a teenager who got caught stealing beer and was trying to deny it. It reminded me of all the times I’d ask former managers about what they thought of scripts that I know they hadn’t actually read. Most of the politicians in this state are just randos who failed in show business, so I guess it tracks.
He earned the nickname Single Payer Slayer, and then…nothing. No consequences. Dude kept getting re-elected, eventually being replaced as assembly speaker, but not until years after, and then he drifted into the background. Hell, you don’t even see that part of his history on his Wikipedia
It’s pretty much an annual occurrence here in California. Much like fire season, June gloom, and certain tourists from the midwest who regret not going to Florida upon seeing their first homeless person in Venice, a Californian can count on the Single Payer Healthcare Bill to be re-introduced and either pulled or not brought to the floor.
Continue reading: https://ronplacone.substack.com/p/universal-healthcare-killed-in-californiaagain
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