VOTER GUIDE
NO ON PROP 29
SEIU Dialysis Measure (Again)
This measure would place a series of regulations on dialysis clinics throughout the state. If it sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW) has tried and failed to persuade voters to support new dialysis center regulations twice before, in 2018 and 2020, over vehement and very costly industry opposition. SEIU-UHW’s argument in 2022 is that dialysis corporations are making too much money. That’s about it. This is an example of a union, which is supposed to protect industry workers, trying to manipulate voters for its own political gain. Dave Regan (the union’s president) and his “aggressive” strategy have been criticized by Sal Rosselli, head of the National Union of Healthcare Workers. We’re voting no because this measure relies on weak logic and will not solve a real problem that the state faces.
The Context
Regan has been engaging in these tactics since 2012 and has wasted tens of millions of dollars in member dues on these pointless fights. The fact that voters continue to sign a petition to put this measure on the ballot and then reject the measure for three years in a row just demonstrates how badly California’s ballot measure process is in need of reform.
The PAC Stop Yet Another Dangerous Dialysis Proposition’s argument against this ballot measure is that the union has spent almost $700 in dues per member since 2012, and that voters rejected their 2018 and 2020 measures by over 60 percent each time.
The Money
SEIU-UHW has spent over $6 million so far on this measure this year—and a combined $43 million since 2012 on failed policy initiatives at the California voter box. Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection, a PAC registered to support the ballot initiative, has raised millions from SEIU-UHW.
Stop Yet Another Dangerous Dialysis Proposition is poised to spend over $30 million on this fight again.
Support & Opposition
This measure is supported primarily by SEIU-UHW. Opponents of this measure include DaVita, Fresenius Medical Care, California Chamber of Commerce, and the California Medical Association.
Paid for by TogetherSF Action. Not authorized by any candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate. Financial disclosures are available at sfethics.org.
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