The Los Angeles County Medical Association held a fundraiser for new Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) on Nov. 20 at the Santa Monica home of Howard Krauss, MD. Attendees included Arthur E. Auer, LACMA CEO, David Pruitt, LACMA vice president of government relations, LACMA President Ralph Di Libero, MD, and a host of local physicians. The reception was designed to raise contributions for Brownley's re-election campaign in 2008.

In her remarks to the group, Brownley expressed concern that nearly 800,000 children in California lack health insurance. "As a legislator, I need the help and advice of physicians to ensure that every child has access to high-quality healthcare," she says. "California should be a leader in fixing the healthcare crisis in America."

As a member of the school board, Brownley convinced the Santa Monica-Malibu School Board to create a health clinic at Santa Monica High School with the Venice Family Clinic and Blue Cross. She is currently serving her third term on Santa Monica-Malibu School Board and is board president for the third time.

LACMA physicians Thomas Horowitz, DO, and Jeffrey Penso, MD, asked Brownley to address challenges that physicians face. "With your help, we want the Legislature to work with LACMA on encouraging the development of the emergency department support network and increasing public-private healthcare partnerships," Dr. Horowitz says.