Governor’s health-care plan gets no introduction

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger received international attention when he unveiled his plan for universal health-care coverage. The plan made the front page of the New York Times and the Washington Post, and landed on network evening news. But here at home, he still can’t find anyone in the Legislature to introduce his plan.
Schwarzenegger has outlined his proposals, but so far there is nothing in writing. And there may never be. Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Sabrina Lockhart says, as of now, there are no formal plans to introduce the governor’s health-care package.

Part of the problem may be finding someone willing to carry a health-care bill for the governor.

“The key thing is not to get caught up in … how you get there,” Schwarzenegger said Wednesday. “The key thing is, we’re going to get there.”

Assembly Republicans pre-empted the governor’s health-care announcement last month by holding a press conference attacking key tenets of the plan. And Senate Republicans this week unveiled a plan of their, own calling it more “reasonable” and “affordable” than the governor’s proposal.

“We frankly don’t believe the state of California has the ability or could afford universal coverage,” said Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, at a press conference this week.

Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, and Speaker Fabian N