Nia Johnson’s Statement on Governor Newsom Vetoing Key Health Care Oversight Bill
N100 policy entrepreneur Nia Johnson responds to Governor Newsom's veto of California’s AB 3129.
This week, Governor Newsom vetoed California’s AB 3129, a landmark bill aimed at increasing oversight of health care consolidation and price gouging in the state. AB 3129’s opposition was well funded by powerful private equity firms and hedge fund investors—the very same people the bill would increase oversight of. After passing both chambers of the legislature, the bill was returned to the legislature by the Governor’s veto on September 28.
In response to that veto, Next100 policy entrepreneur Nia Johnson, who worked to help pass the bill in her home state, issued the following statement:
“As more than half of low-income residents fight to survive crushing medical debt, this move protects some of the most profit-driven entities notorious for cutting life-saving staff and services in communities chronically underserved by our health care systems. Health care systems should be accountable to patients especially in communities of color, not the for-profit shareholders.”
For-profit companies like Hospital Corporation of America and Tenet Healthcare have leveraged mergers and acquisitions to expand their influence over health care services in the Bay Area, directly affecting the patients, taxpayers, and health care workers fighting for safe, affordable, and accessible care.
Read more about the legislation here.