No. 46: Capitol Weekly’s Top 100

46. RoseAnn DeMoro

Once called “The Most Influential Woman You’ve Never Heard Of” by More magazine, RoseAnn DeMoro has now been heard of – and from. DeMoro generated headlines across the country for her clashes with Democrats as she spearheads an as-yet unsuccessful effort to establish single-payer health care in California. As executive director of National Nurses United and the California Nurses Association, DeMoro heads a confederation of nurses with considerable state and national influence. DeMoro also serves as national vice president and executive board member of the AFL-CIO. But despite her union clout – and the $528,228 CNA spent to influence officials during the second quarter of this year – DeMoro’s hoped-for single-payer legislation stalled in the Assembly when Speaker Anthony Rendon shelved the bill, calling it “woefully incomplete.” DeMoro promptly tweeted a version of the California bear flag, with a knife marked “Rendon” sticking out of the bear’s back. It’s a safe bet that we’ll be hearing more from DeMoro, not less.