State sentator discusses bill to reform health care
By Daily Bruin Staff
April 24, 2008 10:40 p.m.
State Sen. Sheila Kuehl spoke at the School of Public Health Thursday night, sharing her experiences as a legislator and advocate for health care reform.
In front of an audience composed of public health graduate students, Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) admitted to “falling in love” with Senate Bill 840 which she authored, breaking an informal rule to avoid getting attached.
The California Universal Health Care Act, she said, would help fix what she called a broken health care system by using one general fund to pay for health care services.
Introduced as one of the smartest politicians in the state senate by Professor Richard Brown of the School of Public Health, she said the legislature was like school, where one is constantly surrounded by information and learning new things.
She also discussed the busy life of a state senator, talking about the daily committee meetings and hectic schedule.
She encouraged the audience to consider going into politics, citing the lack of legislators with a specialized medical background.
With her term limit coming, Kuehl said she hopes to find someone who will continue to lobby for her bill.
Compiled by JJ Yang, Bruin contributor.
