A newly introduced healthcare proposal in California has sparked widespread backlash after lawmakers revealed it was named after Luigi Mangione, the man currently facing charges for the brutal killing of a UnitedHealthCare executive.
Mangione, who remains in custody awaiting trial, is accused of fatally stabbing a high-ranking health insurance executive in what authorities have described as a premeditated attack. Despite the ongoing criminal proceedings, a progressive bloc in the California legislature moved forward with a bill bearing Mangione’s name, framing him as a symbol of frustration with the state’s healthcare system.
The proposal, titled the “Mangione Act,” aims to overhaul the private insurance landscape in California by expanding access to public healthcare options and imposing tighter regulations on private insurance providers. Supporters of the bill claim the naming was meant to reflect the desperation and rage felt by those who believe they have been failed by corporate health insurers.
However, the move has drawn fierce criticism from across the political spectrum. Victims’ advocacy groups, medical professionals, and law enforcement officials have condemned the decision as disrespectful to the victim’s family and deeply inappropriate given the circumstances.
Governor Gavin Newsom has not commented directly on the naming controversy but expressed concerns about the tone and timing of the proposal. Several state lawmakers are now calling for the bill to be renamed or withdrawn entirely, arguing that it undermines the seriousness of the crime and could set a dangerous precedent.
The author of the bill has defended the choice, saying it was never intended to glorify Mangione, but rather to draw attention to the extreme consequences that can arise from systemic healthcare failures. Still, as outrage continues to mount, the future of the legislation—and its title—remains uncertain.
A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for next month, but public outcry may force revisions before it reaches the state assembly floor. The case continues to evolve alongside the ongoing criminal proceedings involving Mangione, whose trial has yet to begin.