Burd Praises Schwarzenegger's Proposed Health Care Reforms

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Steve Burd, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Safeway, Pleasanton, Calif., praised Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday for his leadership in trying to reform California's health care system. Burd made his remarks during a panel discussion that included the governor and leaders from business, labor, government and health care -- a panel that served as the forum in which Schwarzenegger unveiled his proposals to revamp the state's health care system. His plan encompasses market-based solutions, incentives to encourage healthy behavior, an emphasis on preventive care and shared responsibility among individuals, employers, government and health care providers, Safeway said in a statement about the panel. "With the combined leadership of the governor and the legislature, California can enact a bold and innovative reform measure this year [and] lead the national debate on health care reform and drive the federal government to finally take action in solving this national crisis," Burd said. Burd has been an advocate of market-based health care reforms for several years, and two years ago Safeway instituted a plan for its non-union workforce that aligns personal incentives with healthy choices -- a plan that will encompass more than 70% of eligible employees this year and that has decreased health care costs at the chain by 30% over the two-year period, Safeway said. -- Elliot Zwiebach