Voters support Proposition 1 and reject physician tax hike

With ballots counted in the March 2024 Primary Election, the California Medical Association (CMA) and its Political Action Committee, CALPAC, are reporting major success.

Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa) is on track to become Senator Weber come November, and her physician colleagues, Assemblymembers Joaquin Arambula, M.D. (D-Fresno) and Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, M.D. (D-Bakersfield) saw similar successes in their re-election bids.

Additionally, CALPAC also reports major success in nearly all of the electoral races it engaged in across the state of California. These candidates, whose early victories are made possible in part by contributions from CALPAC, will now move to the November General Election.

Voters also passed Proposition 1 on the March ballot, which will expand mental health and addiction services for Californians.

“The California Medical Association pledges to work closely and diligently with the Governor and state agencies to realize our goal of improved mental health for all our people,” said CMA President Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D. 

Also on the ballot for some in the Sacramento region was Measure C, a surprise ballot measure that would have significantly raised taxes on physician practices in Sacramento. In response to Sacramento’s failure to provide proper notice of the measure to the public, CMA quickly built a coalition alongside the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society (SSVMS); the California Dental Association, The Doctors Company; and others to get the word out to voters with over 168,000 phone calls, over 94,000 text messages and multiple pieces of mail.

"This victory is a testament to the power of organized medicine in protecting physician practices and ensuring access to quality health care for all," said SSVMS President Vanessa Walker, D.O.

The efforts of CMA and CALPAC now shift to the November General Election, and support of the upcoming ballot proposition co-sponsored by CMA to dedicate additional funding for the Medi-Cal program to ensure the accessibility and affordability of health care services for all Californians. 

“Our electoral success is proof that direct political engagement is a critical component of the overall advocacy approach which CMA effectuates,” said CALPAC Chair Damodara Rajasekhar, M.D. “However, our success is reliant on each and every member of CMA donating what they can to our political action committee, so we have what it takes to win.”

Physicians can donate to CALPAC on a monthly basis for as little as $12.50/month at CALPAC.org/donate.