February Capitol update
February 18, 2013
What’s happening at the Capitol? One thing is sure – since it is the final week for committees to hear Senate bills in the Senate, it will be a busy week for committees!
- The call for Medicaid expansion. Read Arizona should refuse Obamacare Medicaid bribe.
- HOA bill: SB 1278 unanimously passed Senate Public Safety Committee. Rather than falling short of success again, this bill clarifies authority over parking on public streets for new HOAs only – which Legislators seem to be good with. Progress!!
- Foster care: My bill aimed at improving counseling treatment for children in foster care, SB 1375, passed the Sen. Health & Human Services Committee on Wednesday 4-3.
- Board of Behavioral Health Examiners: SB 1374 -the bill significantly reforming this incredibly dysfunctional board, passed its first committee hurdle 7-0! Many thanks to all who attended this long hearing and sent e-mails in support of both SB 1374 & 1375. video testimony available here for both bills. [Read more]
Sen. Barto praises Gov’s postponement on exchange
November 27, 2012
Senator Barto praises Governor Brewer’s postponement on deciding whether to move forward on creation of health care exchange
Statement by Senator Nancy Barto
“I applaud Governor Brewer’s cautionary approach in deciding Arizona’s future and involvement with creating a state-based exchange. By postponing her declaration to the federal government, she will have more time to confer with leaders across this nation rejecting the pressures of Washington. Nineteen states have already determined it is not in their best interest financially or in principle, and seven more states are strongly considering it. [Read more]
Kids and learning – it’s not miraculous
August 28, 2012
“I have an 8-year old in third grade, and she’s doing great,” said an excited African-American mother whose child was a recipient of one of 2,666 education scholarships. “It’s miraculous the way she has changed.” It really wasn’t a miracle – it was opportunity.
When students in failing schools are given better options, guess what? They excel! Just last week, in fact, Brookings Institution researchers’ released a much-anticipated report proving the fact. The study tracked African-American kids in Albany, NY – chosen at random by lottery – from Kindergarten through college. The lucky kids chosen to receive education scholarships to attend a private school were 24% more likely to attend college than those who were not so fortunate. And at less than half the cost! They tracked 2,666 students out of 20,000. Read the study here.
Arizona, unlike New York, continues to expand students’ learning opportunities – especially for kids trapped in failing schools and other at-risk students.
But options alone are not enough! If we expect college-ready high school graduates, we must raise our standards beyond the requirement that students pass a minimum skills 10th grade aims test! Our 200 year old education model is leaving U.S. students in the dust – below the OECD average. Here’s how we’re changing that in Arizona: [Read more]
Budget stability & jobs dominate session
May 23, 2012
The 2012 session places Arizona on strong economic footing
- For the second year in a row the Legislature achieved a balanced budget, w/o gimmicks, sweeps & rollovers AND without additional cuts.
- Multi-year budgeting. Charting a new course of responsible fiscal management for the state, the 50th Legislature balanced budgets for Fiscal Years 2012, 2013 and 2014, even with the temporary one percent sales tax increase expiring.
- Saved $450 million in a rainy day fund for contingencies to prevent future cuts in an uncertain and slow economic recovery.
- Stability reaps results. 93,000 new jobs created in February, March and April
Economic/Jobs Initiatives [Read more]
Do we want a free health care market?
March 18, 2012
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 with 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 very clear. [Read more]
Protect your medical records
March 18, 2012
The main purpose of the latest Electronic Medical Records bill - signed into law this year - was to include electronic prescribing as an acceptable method for prescribing controlled substances as long as they follow all the DEA rules and regs.
That’s good. Federal ARRA legislation (the loathsome “stimulus” bill) rewards doctors for e-prescribing, expecting fewer medical errors and better use of up-to-date patient records will result in fewer diagnostics, better care and lower health care costs. This is a great goal. The jury is still out as to whether it will do these things, but it’s likely to improve patient care….as long as patients’ consent and privacy rights and information are protected in these systems. [Read more]
‘Wrongful Birth’ lawsuits simply wrong
March 18, 2012
Liberal bloggers from around the country caused needless hysteria over my sponsorship of Arizona’s SB 1359, wrongful birth; wrongful life tort reform, claiming it gives doctors license to lie to their patients. It doesn’t. That would be wrong.
The measure, signed into law by Governor Brewer, will protect physicians who have done nothing wrong from predatory lawsuits in cases where patients sue their doctors, arguing they would have aborted their child if the doctor had correctly diagnosed a birth defect or fetal anomaly while their baby was in utero. But ask yourself:
- Why should physicians who have done everything “by the book” – except know the unknowable – remain in legal crosshairs?
- Is life with a disability not a life worth living?
Wrongful life/wrongful birth lawsuits implicitly endorse the view that the life of a disabled child is worth less than the life of a healthy child. [Read more]
Students to ‘Move on When Ready’
August 20, 2011
The Center for the Future of Arizona reports about half of Arizona high school graduates require at least one non-credit, developmental math course. And forty-one percent of incoming community college students require at least one pre-college course in reading or English before they can advance to college-level courses.
On the other end of the spectrum, a significant number of high achieving students fail to graduate because they’re bored, adding to Arizona’s 30% graduation failure rate. [Read more]
School Choice Championed
July 15, 2011
“The most promising cost-effective strategies for improving education include healthy doses of competition and consumer choice, an approach championed by Nobel laureate Milton Friedman.” Investors Business Daily
Other states are catching up, but Arizona continues to lead the nation in offering parents plenty of educational choices for their kids – in April the courts confirming their rights to direct education dollars: Students Win in Court Ruling.
Here’s a summary of this session’s work undergirding school choice in Arizona: [Read more]
A 2011 Session Summary
May 8, 2011
