Governor Shuns Plan to Finance Trauma Centers

Gov. George Deukmejian, who earlier this month vetoed nearly $30 million budgeted for trauma-care centers, said Wednesday that he would not favor any compromise proposal to provide more money for the financially strapped health care system.

If paying for the trauma-care network is a high priority for Los Angeles or other counties, Deukmejian said, they can finance the program from more than $80 million earmarked in the budget for the general use of all counties.

“I’m willing at this point only to consider information, not money,” Deukmejian said at a Capitol press conference.

By his statements, Deukmejian appeared to be laying to rest any chance that he would sign legislation proposed by Senate President Pro Tem David A. Roberti (D-Los Angeles) and other lawmakers who have vowed to work out an agreement to restore funds for the network.

Los Angeles County supervisors also have said they will mount a belated campaign to persuade Deukmejian that state funds are needed if the system of emergency care is to be saved.

But the governor noted that trauma centers have never been financed on a statewide basis. And in a pointed remark aimed at the supervisors, Deukmejian said: “Now, if trauma centers are a high priority in Los Angeles, I think that out of the $25 million or $30 million that they get from (the state), that they can continue to fund their trauma center program.”