Rohrabacher introduces health care bill

Paul Clinton

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher says a bill he introduced would make health

care “more affordable, increase the privacy surrounding health care

records and speed up the availability of crucial medical treatments.”

He dropped the health care reform bill -- known as the Medical

Independence, Privacy and Innovation Act -- on Friday.

The bill would implement a number of changes, including creating

tax-exempt medical checking accounts, making insurance payments tax

deductible, requiring patient consent to release records and

modifying drug-approval procedures.

“This legislation combines a creative mix of market-oriented

reforms that will encourage independence and, hence, wise personal

medical care choices,” Rohrabacher said during a speech on the House

floor.

Costa Mesa’s congressman also threw a birthday bash this weekend.

Rohrabacher held the party in Surf City at the home of political

allies and friends Scott Baugh, a former assemblyman representing

that city, and his wife, Wendy.

A host of Republicans attended the party and several bands cranked

up the music. Jeffrey ‘Skunk’ Baxter, an original member of the

Doobie Brothers, played at the event, which ran from 1 to 4 p.m.

Saturday. A few surf bands also played.

Rohrabacher, who turned 56 years old, doubled the event as a

$200-a-head fund-raiser.

Simon lends support to Van Tran

Assembly candidate Van Tran won a double-edged-sword endorsement

earlier this month when gubernatorial nominee Bill Simon lent his

support.

Simon, who lost to Gov. Gray Davis in November, is supporting the

conservative Tran to replace Assemblyman Ken Maddox and represent

Costa Mesa.

Tran, an attorney, sits on the Garden Grove City Council. He made

history in November 2000 by becoming the first Asian American to hold

elected office in Orange County.

“Californians need Van Tran in the Legislature to continue the

fight against Gray Davis and the free-spending Sacramento liberals,”

Simon said. “Van Tran is a proven fiscal conservative and a champion

of small business.”

Rohrabacher has also endorsed Tran for the seat. Garden Grove

Councilman Mark Leyes is also running for the GOP nomination.

Cox tours Long Beach ports

Homeland Security Chairman and Rep. Chris Cox led a delegation of

House members on a tour of the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports on

Saturday.

Cox, who represents Newport Beach, and the delegation took a

helicopter tour of the ports and then discussed the importance of

security at Southern California’s largest trading hub.

Cristich fund-raising is on a roll

Assembly candidate Cristi Cristich’s fund-raising effort has hit

full-tilt nine months before she’ll face three other candidates in

the March 2004 primary.

Cristich will have held three events in a week after today.

Starting off her whirlwind week, Cristich held a reception at the

Balboa Bay Club & Resort last Thursday. Former Assemblywoman Marilyn

Brewer, who held the seat Cristich is seeking, and former state Sen.

Marian Bergeson attended.

Cristich also had a reception at the Northern Trust Bank in

Fashion Island on Monday.

Her third event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today at the Palm

Restaurant in downtown Los Angeles.

“Momentum is building,” Cristich said in a statement. “Our

fund-raising schedule is strong, and our support is building daily.”

Cristich is running against Republican activist Chuck DeVore,

former Newport Beach City Council candidate Marianne Zippi and Irvine

businessman Don Wagner to replace John Campbell, who is running for

state Senate.