Legislation introduced in California would require employers of 20 or more workers to buy health coverage for their employees. Advocates of the plan say it would relieve the state from having to care for uninsured patients. It is estimated that the cost would be at least $4 billion and critics point out that this would force businesses to lay off employees, or move elsewhere.
See "Measure Calls for Health Benefits", Carl Ingram, Los Angeles Times, September 8, 2003