Editor:

Senate Bill 562, the single payer health care bill that was passed by the California Senate, has been shelved for the year by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon ("My Selfish Lens," June 22). Our own Assemblymember Jim Wood, who is chairman of the Health Committee, is on board with that.

The stated purpose is to take time to fix problems with the bill. But the vague allusions about what happens from here, and that Wood and Rendon have received more than $200,000 from the healthcare sector, according to votesmart.org, makes one wonder if this is not a way to softly kill the bill.

It would feel a lot better if Mr. Wood at least posted monthly updates on what has been accomplished to move a bill forward that so many Californians need.

Charles Minton, Arcata