The 2007 Legislative Session was intended, by all parties, to be the year of ?Healthcare Reform.? While there was agreement on the goal of creating a healthcare system to address the approximately 6.5 million uninsured in the state of California, there was very little agreement on how to accomplish that goal. As a result, the majority of insurance legislation introduced was health-related. Governor Schwarzenegger started the effort with a call for a mandate on all Californians to have health insurance, which was quickly answered by a universal health care plan sponsored by the California Nurses Association. After being unable to come up with a proposal during the Regular Legislative Session, Governor Schwarzenegger called a special session to address the issue and in the final days of the Extraordinary Session on Healthcare, the Governor reached a deal with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. However, an expected $14 billion budget deficit resulted in Senate President Don Perata deferring a vote on the agreement. Senator Perata felt a vote would not be fiscally prudent. As a result, the year of Healthcare Reform came and went without final action. Senator Perata has recently stated that the Senate Health Committee will vote on the measure on January 16.

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