SACRAMENTO — Antonio Villaraigosa, former Los Angeles mayor and present candidate for California governor, on Friday stated he opposed the creation of a state-level single payer healthcare system.
Villaraigosa’s stance separated him from three rival Democrats who appeared on stage with him at a candidate discussion board at UC Riverside.
Candidates, who have been requested a couple of single-payer healthcare system throughout a question-and-answer session that solely concerned elevating their palms, didn’t present explanations for his or her stances. However throughout earlier remarks, Villaraigosa had stated he had no real interest in promoting “snake oil” options to voters on advanced issues like healthcare.
The divide stood out as a result of the 4 Democrats have been in any other case intently aligned on prioritizing healthcare if elected within the 2026 race.
Other than Villaraigosa, the candidates included: former state Controller Betty Yee, former U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Xavier Becerra and California Supt. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
Throughout the occasion, candidates have been requested how they might strategy a spread of points that affect a person’s well being, together with getting older, vitamin and psychological sickness.
The 4 contenders have been largely on the identical web page, with all promising to work on eradicating obstacles to care by increasing healthcare protection and supporting applications that improve entry to recent meals and psychological well being companies. All of them voiced assist for creating pathways and incentives for college kids to review healthcare to assist with trade staffing shortages.
Every additionally supplied barely completely different insights when requested a query about greatest assist the “sandwich technology,” or those that are caring for each youngsters and getting older mother and father.
Becerra recalled how he and his siblings took turns caring for his or her getting older father, which allowed him to spend his remaining years at dwelling.
“There may be nothing higher as a result of they’re being cared for by those that love them,” Becerra stated. “If I’m governor, dwelling care will likely be compensated.”
Yee stated earnings tax credit might assist and defined she would work with employers to enhance worker depart choices.
Thurmond stated California ought to create a long-term care system for seniors just like the system the state developed to assist householders unable to entry householders insurance coverage.
The occasion was organized by Well being Issues, a nonpartisan discussion board on well being and fairness that’s organized by 11 health-focused foundations in California.
