CA legislature advances healthcare reform

California lawmakers advanced several bills Tuesday that would help the state implement national health care reform, over the objection of Republicans. The state Senate narrowly approved two bills to set up an insurance exchange that would allow people to shop for health insurance. The exchange would let people compare insurance plans and buy coverage through a consumer-friendly website. Republicans who opposed the bills said the measures could create unaccountable bureaucracy.Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, said California should leave it to the federal government to create its own exchange to let people compare and buy insurance coverage. He called the state-operated exchange "a scary proposition."