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WOLF BLITZER, CNN: ... It's a bold and controversial move. The California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, calling for universal health insurance in his state. Is it, though, part of a national trend? Let's turn to CNN's Mary Snow. She's joining us from New York with the story -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, with no clear solutions in sight, health experts say many states will be looking to California for answers on how to fix healthcare.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SNOW (voice-over): Will California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's universal healthcare plan be a prescription filled by the rest of the country?

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: If you can't afford it, the state will help you buy it. But you must be insured. SNOW: The tab, an estimated $12 billion. Part of the plan would require employers, doctors and hospitals to contribute toward cost. Whether or not it can be executed is another question, especially since California has about 6.5 million uninsured residents.

PETER HARBAGE, NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION: If California can pull it off, it's a model for other state where those issues really aren't quite so high. SNOW: Healthcare experts say the key word is "states."

LAURA TOBLER, NATIONAL CONF. OF STATE LEGISLATURES: I think states are taking the leadership on healthcare reform. There has not been a consensus at the national level to reform healthcare in any significant way. SNOW: The last significant healthcare reform push came in the early 1990s, proposed by then first lady Hillary Clinton.

HILLARY CLINTON, FMR. FIRST LADY: I'm here as a an American citizen. Concerned about the health of her family and the health of her nation. SNOW: The health care plan never got off the ground, but it did leave a mark.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it did become somewhat taboo at the federal level, and we haven't actually seen a real break in that taboo yet at the federal level. And there's been a lot more action at the state level. SNOW: What's also gaining notice, Schwarzenegger is the second Republican governor in two years at the center of healthcare reform. Last year, former Massachusetts governor and now potential Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney signed the most comprehensive plan of its kind, mandating state residents to have health insurance coverage.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Massachusetts trick on that was to go with this idea of an individual mandate. So we're going to put some money out there, but we're basically going to say to people, you have to have health insurance. And if you don't get it, we're going to penalize you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: And in Massachusetts, residents are required to enroll for health insurance by July 1st or face a penalty. The California plan does not call for a penalty -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you for that.

For the complete transcript or more information please CNN's Situation Room web site.