Featured

Do we WANT free market health care?

March 18, 2012 · 4 Comments 

Then why have common sense reforms that will produce one been opposed, defeated and/or vetoed at the Legislature for the last 2 years – even though we have a Republican Governor and Republican supermajority?

The short answer is swarms of  lobbyists.  The longer answer is Legislators succumbing to lobbyists on issues that should be rather plain. Read more »

Campaign 2012

The Lines are Drawn

January 8, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

…and they’re not pretty.

I’m referring to the so-called “Independent Redistricting Commission”, of course -whose five members are responsible for redrawing district boundaries based upon 2010 U.S. Census data.   The Commission system was initiated following approval of Prop. 106 in November of 2000.

Their work will profoundly influence the direction of Arizona’s and our nation’s policies.

This is the story so far:

• The Legislature and Governor intervened in Special Session in October to remove Chairwoman Mathis before the Commission could final vote their woeful work. 
• The AZ. Supreme Court reinstated her, violating separation of powers authority, by denying rights expressly provided to the Legislature and Executive in the voter-approved proposition for the purposes of oversight. 
• Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dean Fink ruled December 9th the Commission cannot be investigated for open meeting law violations , terminating an investigation initiated by Attorney General Tom Horne into two issues:  whether Commission Chairwoman Colleen Mathis violated state open meeting laws by making dramatic changes - in private and without the full Commission – to draft maps over the weekend of Sept. 24th and awarding  a mapping consultant contract to a partisan firm under a cloud of Open Meeting violations and alleged bid-rigging – effectively removing ANY oversight of the Commission.
• December 20th  and 21st the Commission votes on final Congressional and Legislative maps. Read more »

Media

Nancy in the News

March 18, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

• On Obamacare Health Benefit Exchanges: Sharp Divisions Persist Over Law’s Future  ; NCSL – (National Conference of State Legislators) magazine, March 2012 edition – Health Reform Turns Two.
• On HOA roadway bill – SB 1113:  Legislators want fewer HOA rules on streets; Arizona Republic, March 10, 2012.  Update: SB 1113 did not pass House Judiciary Committee, but Rep. Kavanagh’s amended HB 2030 has a good chance at passage in the Senate.
• On medical tort reform – SB 1359: Arizona Senate approves bill barring ‘wrongful birth’ lawsuits against doctors.  Arizona Republic, March 6, 2012.  Arizona Senate to consider preventing ‘wrongful birth’ lawsuits.  KTAR radio, February 9, 2012.
• On health care reform.  Price Transparency – SB 1384 and other consumer-directed reforms: National health care experts to speak at Healthcare Delivery Innovation Alliance forum.  March 1, 2012.
• Walking in the shoes of the aged – State Representatives Experience Effects of Aging During SCAN Health Plan Arizona “Trading Ages” Program. Business Wire, Dec. 2011.

Legislative Action

The People Deserve the Truth

April 10, 2012 · 2 Comments 

HB 2625 is ground zero in the latest battle to protect religious liberty and to fight back against intrusive government mandates. 

If you were to listen to the Democrats and groups like Planned Parenthood, you would be led to believe this bill was the end of civilization as we know it. They claim this bill wages “war on women” and if passed, would make Arizona the most hostile state in the nation for reproductive rights. 

While this hyperbole may help them fundraise, these distortions only serve to misinform the people. Read more »

Culture Watch

Obamacare at the Supreme Court

March 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

The Supreme Court begins oral arguments on this historic case Monday, March 26th.   View the hearing schedule below and follow the hearing online.

Read: What arguments will the defense use?

Now that we know what’s in the bill, read why Americans demand repeal: Read more »

Community News

Healthcare Delivery Innovation Alliance

March 18, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

Sen. Barto addresses the HDIA forum in Phoenix on March 1, 2012.

As employers and others intricately involved in health care, I don’t have to tell you about the challenges to providing affordable health care – you live it every day.  But just to set the stage,  RAND recently estimated that health care consumed 79% of the dollars that otherwise would have gone into paychecks for the average U.S. family during the 2000s.  Employer-sponsored health plan premiums climbed 9% in 2011, and they’re due to rise another 9.4% by 2014, according to Medicare’s actuaries. Read more »