On Wednesday in the California State Assembly Rules Committee, Democrats defeated a bill that would have dropped state legislators from their taxpayer-funded premium healthcare plans and prodded them into Covered California, the state Obamacare exchange. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), was defeated on a party-line vote–even though it would have reimbursed them for the cost of their new California Health Benefit Exchange plans.

All seven of the committee’s Democrats opposed the bill, and all four Republicans supported it.

Breitbart News spoke with Assemblyman Wilk, who said, “I have heard from many of my constituents, having problems with Covered California–ranging from enrollment problems to actual difficulties with use of the plan.

“It seems to me that if we all, as legislators, were on a Covered California plan, we would have a better perspective and stronger interest in figuring out how to help those having trouble.”

“I was disappointed today that my Democratic colleagues rejected this common-sense bill,” he said.

After being voted down in committee, AB 1109 is effectively dead for this legislative session.

Wilk’s legislation was very simple, reading:

SECTION 1.

Section 8910 is added to the Government Code, to read:

8910.

Notwithstanding any other law, the only health benefit plans available to a Member of the Legislature who is elected to or serving in office on or after January 1, 2016, with respect to his or her service as a Member of the Legislature, shall be health benefit plans that are offered through the California Health Benefit Exchange. The state shall reimburse the Member of the Legislature for the cost of coverage in an amount not to exceed the amount of the state employer’s contribution for coverage for a Member as of December 31, 2015.

SEC. 2.

Section 22810 of the Government Code is repealed.

22810.

A Member of the Legislature may enroll in a health benefit plan. The contributions of the member shall be the total cost of his or her coverage and the coverage of any family members, less the amount contributed pursuant to Section 8901.6 by the state.