Organized labor strongly supports Proposition 52, the Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act, which ensures the protection of state and federal funding for the more than 13 million California residents who rely on Medi-Cal for vital health care services.
Proposition 52 not only helps ensure access to care, it also protects union members who have private insurance from facing an increase in the premiums they pay.
The California Labor Federation, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, the California Teachers Association, the Teamsters, the California State Association of Electrical Workers, and United Food and Commercial Workers are among major labor organizations who have endorsed Proposition 52.
“Passing Proposition 52 in November is a priority for labor organizations like ours,” said Robert Hunter, President, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. “It ensures that more than 4.5 million working families, nearly 7 million children, and 1.6 million seniors have access to the health care services provided by the state’s Medi-Cal program, at no additional cost to California taxpayers.”
Proposition 52 extends a partnership between the state and hospitals, currently set to expire in 2017, which brings more than $3 billion a year in federal funds to California to pay for Medi-Cal services. Since the program began in 2009, it has brought more than $18 billion in federal matching funds, which has been put to good use on behalf of those enrolled in Medi-Cal. Without that partnership, California would leave that money unclaimed in Washington, D.C.
Proposition 52 also strengthens accountability, since it prohibits state lawmakers from diverting these dollars to spend on programs other than their intended purpose; to pay for Medi-Cal programs and services.
Organized labor is just part of a diverse list of nearly 1,000 organizations which include business leaders, health care providers, community organizations and elected leaders from both major political parties.
