Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/854923
C alling all or nurses! California legislators are in desper- ate need of backbone transplants, stat! That's the conclusion California's registered nurses quickly drew as they witnessed the California Assembly, of which Democrats hold a super-majority (more than two-thirds) of the seats, completely wimp out of passing S.B. 562, single-payer legislation sponsored by the California Nurses Association that would have provid- ed healthcare security and peace of mind for all state residents, cut insurance industry bean counting and waste out of the healthcare sys- tem, and saved the state and residents billions of dollars in the long run. Despite passing the California State Senate on June 1, California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon announced June 23, at 5 p.m. on a Friday, that he was not allowing the bill to continue the legislative process of incorporating amendments and being considered for debate and vote. Rendon's actions are viewed by progressive activists as a way to shield members of the "corporate Democrats" in the Leg- islature from actually having to take a stand on the single-payer issue and risk being held accountable to their constituents and the public, of which polls show the vast majority are in support of single-payer, Medicare-style healthcare. Time still remains in the current legislative session, which con- tinues through mid September, to move the bill and S.B. 562 sup- porters will be escalating the campaign through district meetings, town halls, and other actions. "I think we need to turn up the heat on Speaker Rendon," said Sandy Reding, RN and a CNA board member. "I'm an operating room nurse in Bakersfield and I've looked into the eyes of the patients on my operating room table who are facing amputation because they didn't get adequate preventive care for their diabetes, STAFF REPORT Under Pressure When California lawmakers put profits over people by refusing to pass single payer, nurses and activists step up the fight.