July 8, 2011 - The California Senate Committee on Health voted (5-3) to pass AB 52, a bill that would require health insurance plans and rate increases to be approved by a state board. Accident & health insurance groups, HMOs, and hospitals were joined by Chambers of commerce and Pro-business organizations in opposing the bill. Other interest groups such as physicians and health care institutions were split between support and opposition. The bill was supported by a large collection of unions as well as social welfare and health policy groups. Click here to see a list of all recorded support and opposition by industry. Five Democrats voted in favor of passage, all three Republicans voted against passage and one lawmaker not voting, Democrat Michael Rubio.
Based on Contributions to the Members of California Senate Committee on Health
- Interest groups that opposed this motion gave on average 130% more to senators who voted 'NO' ($104,083) than to senators who voted 'YES' ($45,253).
- Interest groups that supported this motion gave on average 157% more to senators who voted 'YES' ($285,280) than to senators who voted 'NO' ($110,881).
- Accident & health insurance and General insurance company interest groups, which both opposed this motion, gave on average 137% more to senators who voted 'NO' ($46,383) than to senators who voted 'YES' ($19,556).
Methodology: A MapLight analysis of reported campaign contributions to members of the California Senate Committee on Health on day of vote, from interest groups invested in the vote according to MapLight, January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010. Campaign contributions data source: FollowTheMoney.org.
