On April 8 and 9, Tarzana RNs, lobbied in Sacramento at the Capitol, talking to State Senators and Assembly members about bills on which they soon would vote.
On Wed., April 9, the Senate Health Committee heard both SB 1688 (Ridley - Thomas) and SB 1734 (Kuehl). These bills help to address the impact on the community of reductions in hospital services. Karen Pelone, RN, along with Wayne Kleinman, MD and Lee Alpert, Chair, Board of Directors, addressed the Senate Health Committee.
 Karen Pelone, 121RN member, said “Tarzana has numerous awards for the excellent patient care we provide. If our hospital were to close no other hospital could pick up the slack and it would put a burden on the county health system.” She then presented them with hundreds of postcards Tarzana and Encino employees had signed in support of the legislation.
Before calling for the vote, Sheila Kuehl, the bill’s author and Senator for the wider Tarzana area explained that her bill would assign someone to help Tenet and the Real Estate Investment Trust reach agreement if the parties could not do so themselves. In response to a question about whether this was “political arm twisting?” Kuehl responded in words to the effect: “These are two bad children out of control. They need parental supervision.”
Whereas SB 1734 passed out of Senate Health with bi-partisan support, SB 1688 was a cliff hanger. It is authored by Senator Mark Ridley Thomas who had watched hospital after hospital close in South Los Angeles, including Daniel Freeman Memorial, a former Tenet hospital.
His bill needed one additional vote to pass out of the committee. Elaine Alquist, Senator, San Jose, was a critical vote. An HCA lobbyist from San Jose had spoken against the measure and the Senator was weighing concerns of her constituents. 121RN members, together with Wayne Kleinman and Lee Alpert stormed her office, requesting an immediate appointment. Blackberries were churning, cell phones were buzzing -- all in an attempt to provide her with pertinent information. Ultimately she had to answer one question - what would she do if another hospital closed in San Jose? She voted for the bill.
Next Stop: Senate Appropriations Committee
 The bills will now go before the Senate Appropriations Committee chaired by Senator Tom Torlakson, Democrat, Contra Costa County. The Appropriations Committee’s primary jurisdiction is fiscal bills; that is, how much will the bill cost.
Chairman Tom Torlakson, Appropriations Committee Members and Senate President pro Tem Don Perata will weigh policy benefits against the fiscal costs. This Committee will debate, vote, and decide if the Encino-Tarzana bills will go to the full Senate for a vote. Both Senators Kuehl and Ridley-Thomas sit on the Appropriations Committee. |
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Julia Claire, RN
Sheila Harry, RN
Arezoo Makiri, RN
Jane Pennock, RN
Local 121RN Member
“It was an interesting day. We met with a lot of the Senators and they were in shock that this was going down. They were very supportive of us and believed that there needed to be legislative protections for our patients against big business and corporate greed. ”
Jim Owen, RN
Members are Speaking Out!
"As a children’s social worker, our primary responsibility is to protect children and make sure they have safe, permanent homes. We’re fighting for the children and families we serve. The children aren’t voters. They have no voice. They’re the most vulnerable members of our society. That’s why I became a social worker, and that’s why I’m fighting the budget cuts."
SEIU Local 721 David Green - Adoption Social Worker, County of LA
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