HAPPY THANKSGIVING

BOMA California would like to wish all of its member a very Happy Thanksgiving. California is a great state, we live in a wonderful country, and we really do have a lot to be thankful for. We hope you get to spend some quality time with loved ones next week. And take the time to reflect about the men and women in uniform who are serving our country at this time.

WEEKLY ALERT ON HIATUS

Please note, the Weekly Alert will be on hiatus from now until the new year. But don’t worry, if anything major happens, we’ll be sure to let you know. We will return to our regular schedule on Friday, January 11, to bring you all the news, gossip, and inside-information from Sacramento. In the meantime, if you have any questions, comments, or need information, please email Matthew Hargrove mhargrove@cbpa.com.

DEMOCRAT UNIVERSAL HEALTH PLAN ADVANCES – YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!

The Assembly Health Committee passed the Democrat Health proposal this week on a straight party line vote. The committee is “stacked” with members of the opposing party, so the 11-4 vote appears more lopsided than it actually is.

According to a press release from Assembly Speaker Nunez (D-Los Angeles) the bill includes the many provisions of Assembly Bill 8, the Democratic plan vetoed by the Governor earlier this year. Specifically the health care plan:

• Establishes an individual mandate for most Californians but exempts people who cannot afford to purchase insurance. Affordability is met when the total cost of health insurance is 6.5% or less of a family income.
• Covers all children and parents up to 300% of the federal poverty line.
• Covers all single adults through Medi-Cal up to 250% of the federal poverty line.
• Provides individuals with incomes 250-450% of the federal poverty line not eligible for public programs with an advanceable, refundable tax subsidy to help purchase coverage.
• Ensures that nobody earning between 0-150% of the federal poverty line will be required to pay premiums, co-payments, or deductibles.
• Requires the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) to establish the minimum benefits package suitable for coverage in California.
• Contains significant cost-containment measures, including allowing the state to pursue bulk purchasing of pharmaceuticals and requiring transparency from hospitals.

In addition to cost-containment measures, the bill is financed through a combination of fees and taxes to be approved by voters, including:
• A $2 per pack increase in the tobacco tax.
• An employer fee assessed on a sliding scale. Employers with payrolls up to $100,000 would be expected to contribute at least 2% of payroll. Employers with payrolls from $100,000 to $250,000 would be expected to contribute at least 4% of payroll. Employers with payrolls above $250,000 would be expected to contribute at least 6.5% of payroll. In addition, employers would be expected to either offer insurance to part-time employees or contribute to the public purchasing pool for those employees.
• A hospital fee assessed at 4% of revenue.

The bill, AB 1x will next be heard on the Assembly Floor.

Click here to read the CalChamber’s press release regarding this bill.

BOMA CALENDAR 2008

January 15 – BOMA Cal Board Meeting
Los Angeles
In conjunction with IREM/BOMA GLA Forecast Breakfast

March/April (date TBD) – BOMA Cal Board Meeting
Location TBD

June 10-11 – CA Commercial Real Estate Summit – BOMA Cal Board Meeting
Sacramento (Hyatt Regency)

October/November (date TBD) - BOMA Cal Annual Meeting/20th Anniversary Event
Location TBD