Bay Area Council Releases Statement on California Labor Group's Declared War against Governor's Healthcare Reform.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Today, the Bay Area Council released the following statement attributable to Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council:

"It is said that to a hammer, everything looks like a nail. California labor groups are acting like a hammer in healthcare reform efforts that require compromise. It's the wrong strategic approach. Rather than engage in negotiations where they may not get everything they want, the California Labor Federation and its allies have started swinging their hammer against Governor Schwarzenegger's healthcare reform efforts, possibly shattering the last great hope for healthcare reform in California and perhaps nationwide.

"No one is happy with all elements of the plan. As a business group, supporting taxes on business and hospitals is a bitter pill for the Bay Area Council to swallow, but we are willing to do it to get all Californians covered and bring down the overall cost of healthcare.

"We strongly urge the California Labor Federation and its allies to similarly embrace a spirit of compromise. They must immediately call off their attack dogs and return to the respectful and intense negotiations in Sacramento. Fertile middle ground still exists. But, if the deliberations currently underway in Sacramento do fall apart - and the various interests race to the ramparts with sacks of money to battle it out through the initiative process - the result will be paralysis, which is the worst result of all.

"Millions of Californians have no coverage and others are breaking under the crushing weight of escalating healthcare costs. We have a profound responsibility to compromise for the common good on healthcare reform because this opportunity will not come again for a long time."

Bay Area Council

Founded in 1945, the Bay Area Council (www.bayareacouncil.org) is business-backed public policy organization for more than 275 of the largest Bay Area employers. Led by its CEO members, the Bay Area Council presents a strong, united voice for hundreds of major employers throughout the Bay Area region who employ more than 501,000 workers, or 1 of every six private sector employees in the Bay Area.