By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings
Thanks to Brahm Resnick of Channel 12 for spotting this and pointing it out...
A few years ago, the Republicans in the Arizona legislature "balanced" the state's budget on the backs of Arizona's most vulnerable residents by radically cutting access to health care for Arizona's poor. The "balance the budget" subterfuge was used as an excuse for similar ends in other states.
With the advent of federal health care reform, known as Obamacare, many states, including AZ, must now expand or restore health care coverage for the poor to reap the full fiscal benefits of the federal law.
This past Tuesday, Governor Jan Brewer, to great fanfare, released her proposed legislation to restore eligibility for AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid program, to include those families who have an annual income level up to 133% of the federal property level.
This coming Wednesday, March 20, at 2 p.m,, the House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the proposal, including a presentation from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) and taking public testimony from the public.
While I expect that the witness list will be heavy with Goldwater Institute corporate shills, opposing Medicaid for their clients' fun and profit (the committee is chaired by Rep. John Kavanagh, after all), a healthy turnout of supporters is needed to demonstrate that there is strong support in Arizona for the restoration of Medicaid coverage to previous levels.
Details -
Where: HHR1, House of Representatives building, Arizona State Capitol, 1700 West Washington, Phoenix.
Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Time: 2 p.m. (seating is limited, so plan to arrive early)
Committees update
By Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings
...From the "familiar names not going away/trying to make a comeback" department:
- Republican former state rep. Terri Proud, fresh off getting fired from a state job even before she started the job, has formed a committee for another run for the legislature (House, LD11). She actually lives in LD9, but that area is too Democratic-leaning, so she is picking up her carpetbags and sliding over to LD11, where there is a distinct R advantage. There *will* be an R primary there, but the winners of that
- Republican Shawnna Bolick, a 2010 legislative candidate and wife of Goldwater Institute muckety-muck Clint Bolick, has formed a committee for another run at the lege (House LD28). Apparently, this time around she's trying to humanize her campaign, in an "aww, shucks" sort of way - her campaign's listed email address is "forphoenixkids@yahoo.com".
Awwww...From the "it's early, but it's already getting crowded" department:
- Republican state rep. Justin Pierce, son of former legislator, current corporation commissioner and possible future candidate for governor Gary Pierce, has formed a committee to "explore" a 2014 run for Secretary of State. He joins fellow Republican legislators Rep. Steve Montenegro and Sen. Michele Reagan in the race.
From the "speaking of Michele Reagan" department:
Continue reading "Committees update" »
Jul 20, 2013 1:52:49 PM | Commentary, CPMAZ Craig McDermott