Republicans and small-business owners have joined forces to fight the plan because it would require all employers to either provide health insurance to their workers or pay into a state pool that will then provide insurance for employees. The proposal detailed today can be passed without republican votes, although Nunez and Perata said they will do their best to accommodate some of their concerns. Perata agrees with Governor Schwarzenegger and also seeks to require individuals to buy insurance but that proposal was not included in the revised AB 8.

The combined bill contains provisions that state * Insurance companies will be required to cover anyone who does not have a "serious" medical condition. Which conditions will be exempt remains to be determined. Customers who do have a serious prior condition would be able to get insurance through a high-risk pool subsidized by the state.* Doctors and hospitals will not have to pay a percentage of their income into a state pool, as Schwarzenegger has proposed. This will no doubt be negotiated this summer. The legislation will be first debated next month, but a final deal isn't expected until September.