Healthcare plan's death shows the system works

In that instance Monday, the system worked as it's supposed to -- protecting the public from well-intentioned but risky legislation that, until a few days earlier, had not been thoroughly vetted by any neutral expert.

Sure, universal healthcare would be terrific in California. Too bad we can't afford it, not with the state falling into a $14.5-billion budget crevasse and a governor who refuses to even consider partially filling the gap with tax hikes.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) contended their $14.9-billion healthcare plan was self-sustaining. Maybe. Probably not.

To give credit where specifically due, it was the Senate that functioned as the system was designed -- proving the value of a two-house Legislature with its awkward checks and balances. It shot down the occasional arguments of efficiency tinkerers who would merge the houses into a streamlined unicameral legislature.

Another thing this exercise showed is the value of legislative experience and the danger of term limits.

It was the relatively inexperienced Nuñez -- five years a legislator -- and his green Assembly Democratic followers who naively tried to rush the healthcare bill through the Legislature without careful scrutiny.

The veteran Senate paused, took a deep breath and buried the bill -- particularly Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Health Committee Chairwoman Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica), with 11 and 13 years' legislative experience respectively.

Let's quickly review the action:

All last year, Schwarzenegger, Democratic leaders and interest groups tried to negotiate a plan to provide medical insurance for roughly 5 million uncovered Californians. Finally in mid-December, the governor and speaker compromised on a strange deal. The Legislature would pass a plan providing the coverage benefits on a majority vote. But to raise the revenue -- hospital and employer fees, a stiff tobacco tax -- citizen signatures would be collected and an initiative placed on the November ballot. That was necessary because a two-thirds vote was required to pass a revenue bill. And Schwarzenegger couldn't deliver the needed Republicans.