Assemblymember Strickland updates Chamber on health insurance options, state prisons and water quality concerns

Some of the state's universal healthcare ideas can easily be compared to a cheap Las Vegas buffet, Assemblymember Audra Strickland (R-Thousand Oaks) recently told the Thousand OaksWestlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce Government Relations Committee.

"The low price means mediocre food. You can have all you want, but the low cost brings down the quality for everyone," Strickland said.

She prefers a system where people can comparison shop, she said. Also, she doesn't want healthcare to come with a high price tag for employers. Right now, proposed taxes on employers range from 4 to 11 percent, Strickland said.

Other concerns she has at this time are the state of prisons and getting water for Southern California.

Prison reform lawsuits nearly resulted in releasing many prisoners because of overcrowding, she said. A judge's order allowed the state to keep prisoners locked up while the overcrowding crisis is being worked on, she said.

A partisan split is the reason for no water bill this year, she said. Republicans and Democrats have different ideas as to how to provide water to Southern California, she said.

"Sacramento is very partisan. The Democrats in Sacramento are very different from my Democrat neighbors," she said

- Nancy Needham