Events
January 6, 2013
Prayer-Walk at the Capitol – 1st Day of the Legislative Session – January 14th. 7:00 – 8:30 a.m. Join Center for AZ Policy for prayer for the session.
Remembering Roe Rally – 40th Anniversary. January 22nd. Noon-1:00 p.m. – U.S. District Court Bldg. 401 W. Washington
Legislative District 15 GOP meeting. 4th Tuesdays. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Deer Valley Airport Restaurant. 702 W. Deer Valley Rd. All Republicans welcome.
Keep up with Sen. Nancy Barto on Twitter and Facebook. Schedule Nancy to speak: nbarto@azleg.gov or 602-926-5766. [Read more]
They’re trying to say “I love you”
August 28, 2012
…but government RULES keep getting in the way. State agency rules.
More than 13,000 children await permanent homes in Arizona. At the same time, willing parents are turned away because they have not immunized their own children - many for medical reasons. What’s wrong with this picture? [Read more]
Verify the “Jungle Primary” Vote
August 18, 2012
You may have heard of the shenanigans the “Top -2 Primary” ballot initiative would cause if it becomes law in Arizona. It’s an incumbent protection plan primarily (no pun intended) and virtually guarantees that no third party candidates would ever make it to a general election ballot. And that’s just the beginning of sorrows.
So why the push now for an Open Primary system in Arizona? The short answer is, promoters believe the current Legislature is too conservative and this will moderate the candidates. Will it? Doubtful. Read Robert Robb’s “Top – 2 Primary: No Magic Pill for Moderation.” [Read more]
Doctor Wrong on Health-Care Law
July 11, 2012
Most Americans would agree with Dr. Leonard Kirschner that the federal health- care law is not perfect; they’d likely say it’s a disaster (“Health-care law does good,” Letters, Thursday).
Because insurers were forced to allow individuals under 26 to stay on their parents’ policies and implement no-exclusions for children with pre-existing conditions, at least 34 states are no longer offering child-only policies, leaving many without affordable coverage at all and families with higher premiums. [Read more]
Obamacare upheld – still bad law
June 28, 2012
Stopping Obamacare is now up to the American people. The Court’s decision to uphold the mandate forcing Americans to purchase government-approved insurance based on its being a tax is deceptively disappointing - as it was sold to us expressly as NOT being a tax.
It said now the government can tax you for not purchasing something you don’t want! Even for not buying broccoli? Read Forbes’ analysis. [Read more]
“Stand up for Religious Freedom” rally press release
June 7, 2012
Arizona legislators to attend “Stand up for Religious Freedom” rally
STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX (June 7, 2012) – Tomorrow afternoon, Representative Debbie Lesko (R-Dist 9) will be addressing Arizona advocates of religious liberty to coincide with the this year’s second national Stand up for Religious Freedom Rally. Representative Lesko will be joined by Representative J.D. Mesnard (R-Dist. 21), State Senators Nancy Barto (R-Dist. 7) and Steve Yarbrough (R-Dist 21).
The event will build off of the success enjoyed by the first rally held earlier this year
in which 63,000 Americans in over 145 cities came together to publicly denounce
the regulatory over-reach and usurpation of religious freedom by the Obama Administration.
The rally will be held at noon tomorrow in front of:
Sandra Day O’Connor Federal Building East Plaza
401 W. Washington Street
In reflection of the efforts expended to counter the HHS mandate, Representative Lesko stated, “I am proud how we responded to the threat to our religious liberties posed by the Obama HHS mandate. HB 2625 made its way to the Governor’s desk because of the efforts of legislators such as Representatives Mesnard, Senators Barto, Yarbrough and many others whom recognized the detrimental effects this mandate will have on our religious freedoms.”
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Rey Torres
Arizona House of Representatives
(602) 926-3233
Whose Mandating Whom?
April 10, 2012
HB 2625 is ground zero in the battle for religious liberty in Arizona - pushing back against the Obamacare mandate forcing employers to provide contraceptives even if it violates their religious beliefs. HB 2625 exempts religiously affiliated organizations from the insurance mandate.
Liberal Democrats and Planned Parenthood claim it wages “war on women” and makes Arizona the most hostile state in the nation for reproductive rights. Really?
While the hyperbole may drive their fundraising efforts, it not only denies the source of the controversy but distorts the bill itself. [Read more]
Healthcare Delivery Innovation Alliance
March 18, 2012
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]
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]
Regulators Win – Arizonans Lose
March 18, 2012
People need health care.
The good news is volunteer physicians are prepared to deliver it – for free. Not only across the ocean in Uganda and south of the border, but in the inner cities and on the Indian reservations across the United States, including Arizona.
The bad news is our regulations make it more difficult for them to serve their fellow man here i Arizona than across the world. So they don’t come here.
Enter a solution: SB 1189. This bill would remove the chief obstacle standing between Arizonans in need of health care and the health care professionals ready, willing and duly licensed from other states – to serve them: an Arizona-specific license. [Read more]
