's visit stirs up California capital

[Guest guest]

's visit stirs up California capital

MOORE'S `SICKO' SPOTLIGHTS DEBATE OVER UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE

By Mike Zapler

SACRAMENTO - came to the Capitol on Tuesday and seemed

to succeed on two fronts: promoting his new documentary on the ills of

the American health care system, and rallying for a proposal to do

away with health insurance companies and create a system in which

government pays all medical bills, no questions asked.

But much less certain after his testimony in the Legislature and

first-in-the-nation screening of his latest movie, " Sicko, " was

whether the award-winning but polarizing filmmaker will succeed in

moving along the debate over health care reform in California. That

debate is nearing a critical phase this summer.

blames insurance companies for many of the problems with

America's health care system. He sees them, in short, as greedy,

profit-driven enterprises that would rather save a dollar than

someone's life.

" Their primary goal is to make as much money as possible, " said

at a briefing with Democratic lawmakers. " They have to be removed from

the process. "

But the filmmaker's prescription - creating a so-called single-payer

universal health system like those in Canada, Britain and France - is

far to the left of what Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and

Democratic leaders here have in mind. Rather than eliminate insurers

from the system, they would regulate them more aggressively.

Appearing together at a news conference Tuesday morning, and

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nu`ñez, D-Los Angeles,

papered over those differences. Nu`ñez has supported SB 840, a

single-payer health care bill, in the past but realizes it will almost

certainly be vetoed, as it was last year.

" We're not going to let the perfect get in the way of the possible, "

Nu`ñez said, after lavishing praise on .

But those details took a back seat Tuesday to . Dressed in his

trademark jeans and tennis shoes but donning a sportscoat for the

occasion, the creator of " and Me " and -winner " Bowling for

Columbine " drew a gaggle of TV cameras and reporters throughout the

day. His film was shown twice at a downtown theater - once for an

adoring assembly of nurses, mostly members of the California Nurses

Association, and then later in the evening for lawmakers.

Schwarzenegger did not attend either screening - a spokeswoman said he

was not invited and had " no immediate plans " to see it.

In the film, set to open June 29, strays somewhat from the

confrontational storytelling style of some of his earlier

documentaries. Instead of chasing down HMO and pharmaceutical company

CEOs, makes his point telling the stories of people who watched

loved ones die or were forced into bankruptcy because health insurers

and hospitals denied care.

In one anecdote, a Los Angeles woman recounts how her 18-month-old

daughter came down with a high fever one night in 1993. The baby was

rushed to a hospital that was not part of the mother's insurance

network. The girl was denied treatment and died before she reached a

different hospital.

interviews another man who had the top of two fingers severed in

an accident. His insurance company tells him it will cost $60,000 to

reattach his middle finger, and $12,000 for the other finger. Unable

to afford both fingers, he decides to go without his middle finger.

then travels to four countries with universal,

government-provided health care - Canada, Britain, France and finally

Cuba.

In perhaps the movie's most controversial part, highlights

several rescue workers who contracted ailments volunteering at ground

zero after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The workers can't get treatment in the United States. So takes

them on a boat to Cuba, where they get full medical attention.

's films have galvanized liberals while rankling conservatives,

who accuse him of distorting facts and omitting those that don't serve

his purpose.

" `I believe it's simply liberal propaganda, " said Assemblywoman Audra

Strickland, R-Westlake Village, who has not seen the movie and doesn't

intend to.

hopes the movie will prod the public to demand an overhaul of

America's health care system. Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Los Angeles, the

author of the bill to create a single-payer system in California, said

's movie comes at a time of mounting dissatisfaction with the

current health system.

" Your work, " Kuehl told , " is going to be extremely important to

this whole movement. "