League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA March 2, 2004 Election
	Lynne A. Plambeck Answers Questions Candidate for Board of Supervisors; County of Los Angeles; District 5

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. If it were entirely up to you, what measures would you take to address Los Angeles County's fiscal crisis?

Solving the County fiscal crisis will require the cooperation of diverse interests. Cooperation is achieved by inclusion and education. I would begin with facilitated strategy summit of representatives from the Sheriffs, firefighters, Unions, business, health care providers, the public county political leaders, and staff members from county departments. I will provide them with a detailed presentation on the budget and required cost reductions, and then listen to where they suggest cuts or find savings. I will incorporate their input into my decisions. I will look first to streamlining bureaucracy rather than eliminating such public benefits as hospitals and parks

2. SB 921, Senator Kuehl's Single-Payer health care proposal currently in the Legislature, would provide universal health coverage for all Californians. What impact would universal single-payer health coverage have on Los Angeles County's health care provision system?

I support SB 921. I believe our current method of providing health care is expensive, inefficient and misses many people. Those people then receive expensive emergency room care or none at all. It will not only help those that now work at low paying or part time jobs that do not provide benefits, but also those highly trained and productive members of our community that lose benefits due to downsizing or export of jobs. SB 921 could help the County solve some of its financial problems by providing health care to those who now must seek it at County expense.