Jul 2009
Rep. Montenegro on Horizonte
July 23 2009 10:57 Filed in: Budget
Representative Steve Montenegro (District 12) talks about his first year in the Legislature, why he ran for office, the issues that are important to him and his family on Channel 8’s Horizonte.
Please click on this link or click on the picture below to go to the Horizon website to view the video in it’s entirety.
Please click on this link or click on the picture below to go to the Horizon website to view the video in it’s entirety.
Robb: "Dems Should Come Clean On Health Care"
July 22 2009 10:59 Filed in: Healthcare
Arizona Republic columnist Bob Robb says Democrats need to be honest when it comes to the actual health care proposals that are being considered. He says:
“On health care, Democrats would do the country a big favor if they could muster the courage of their convictions.
Everyone knows that, in their heart of hearts, Democrats believe that health care should be a public good for which government is responsible.
And everyone knows that, in their heart of hearts, Democrats believe that the best and most effective and efficient way for government to discharge this responsibility is through a government health service such as exists in Western Europe and
Canada.
Politically, however, Democrats fear that is a step too far for the American people. Most people feel that health care can be improved but are generally satisfied with the employer-based coverage they currently have. The Clinton administration's health care reforms are widely believed to have failed because they put the health care coverage people already had at risk...”
To read the rest of the article, click on this link.
“On health care, Democrats would do the country a big favor if they could muster the courage of their convictions.
Everyone knows that, in their heart of hearts, Democrats believe that health care should be a public good for which government is responsible.
And everyone knows that, in their heart of hearts, Democrats believe that the best and most effective and efficient way for government to discharge this responsibility is through a government health service such as exists in Western Europe and
Canada.
Politically, however, Democrats fear that is a step too far for the American people. Most people feel that health care can be improved but are generally satisfied with the employer-based coverage they currently have. The Clinton administration's health care reforms are widely believed to have failed because they put the health care coverage people already had at risk...”
To read the rest of the article, click on this link.
House Majority Plan Succeeds
Last February, House Leadership put forward the House Majority Plan. All points of the plan passed successfully.
Each bill has a link with more information on the legislation and includes:
- Redefinition of partial birth abortion and increased the penalty from a class 6 to a class 5 felony
- Repeal of the sunset of the corporate income tax credit to student tuition organizations
- Enactment of a policy for public/private partnerships to build transportation infrastructure
- Expansion of the individual income tax credit for contributions to qualifying charitable organizations to include nonprofit organizations that provide services to chronically ill or physically disabled children, which was fixed in Special Session
- Suspension of any rule making that would impose increased monetary or regulatory costs for one year (vetoed by Governor)
- Re-establishment of the Administrative Rules Oversight Committee
- Permanent repeal of the state property tax, which would have prevented the largest property tax in Arizona’s history (vetoed by Governor)
- Establishment of a study committee on Arizona’s position and participation in the Western Climate Initiative
All legislation that was not vetoed goes into effect on September 30 unless otherwise noted.
Each bill has a link with more information on the legislation and includes:
- Redefinition of partial birth abortion and increased the penalty from a class 6 to a class 5 felony
- Repeal of the sunset of the corporate income tax credit to student tuition organizations
- Enactment of a policy for public/private partnerships to build transportation infrastructure
- Expansion of the individual income tax credit for contributions to qualifying charitable organizations to include nonprofit organizations that provide services to chronically ill or physically disabled children, which was fixed in Special Session
- Suspension of any rule making that would impose increased monetary or regulatory costs for one year (vetoed by Governor)
- Re-establishment of the Administrative Rules Oversight Committee
- Permanent repeal of the state property tax, which would have prevented the largest property tax in Arizona’s history (vetoed by Governor)
- Establishment of a study committee on Arizona’s position and participation in the Western Climate Initiative
All legislation that was not vetoed goes into effect on September 30 unless otherwise noted.
Summary Of Signed Bills By Gov. Brewer
July 14 2009 15:57
The following is a brief summary of the more notable legislation Governor Brewer has recently signed:
Senate Bill 1003 – specifies that someone who drives while using a prescribed drug is not guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) as long as they are not otherwise impaired.
Senate Bill 1088 – expands the definition of domestic violence to include relationships that are currently or were previously, a romantic or sexual relationship.
Senate Bill 1175 - prohibit persons who are not physicians from performing surgical abortions.
Senate Bill 1449 – shifts the burden of proof from the defendant to the prosecution to all cases in which the defendant did not plead guilty or no contest that were submitted to the fact finder as of April 24, 2006. This bill directly impacts Harold Fish who was convicted of second-degree murder although he claimed self-defense.
House Bill 2287 - allows employers to reduce withholding tax amounts for employees who plan to make contributions to public schools, school tuition organization, or charitable organizations.
House Bill 2288 - allows the corporate scholarship tax credit program that provides scholarships for children to attend private schools to continue beyond 2011.
House Bill 2396 – modifies the requirements of and outlines provisions for the Arizona Department of Transportation to enter into a "public-private partnerships" for developing the state’s transportation infrastructure including construction, financing, operation and maintenance of transportation projects.
House Bill 2400 - makes several clarifying and substantive changes to the partial-birth abortion section of statute.
House Bill 2564 - updates and clarifies Arizona's abortion statutes regarding informed consent, women, parental notification, and the rights of healthcare workers.
House Bill 2572 – allows the Pima County Board of Supervisors to form a Sports Authority District and ask voters to approve taxing and bonding authority for the purposes of building and financing Cactus League and youth sports facilities.
Senate Bill 1003 – specifies that someone who drives while using a prescribed drug is not guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) as long as they are not otherwise impaired.
Senate Bill 1088 – expands the definition of domestic violence to include relationships that are currently or were previously, a romantic or sexual relationship.
Senate Bill 1175 - prohibit persons who are not physicians from performing surgical abortions.
Senate Bill 1449 – shifts the burden of proof from the defendant to the prosecution to all cases in which the defendant did not plead guilty or no contest that were submitted to the fact finder as of April 24, 2006. This bill directly impacts Harold Fish who was convicted of second-degree murder although he claimed self-defense.
House Bill 2287 - allows employers to reduce withholding tax amounts for employees who plan to make contributions to public schools, school tuition organization, or charitable organizations.
House Bill 2288 - allows the corporate scholarship tax credit program that provides scholarships for children to attend private schools to continue beyond 2011.
House Bill 2396 – modifies the requirements of and outlines provisions for the Arizona Department of Transportation to enter into a "public-private partnerships" for developing the state’s transportation infrastructure including construction, financing, operation and maintenance of transportation projects.
House Bill 2400 - makes several clarifying and substantive changes to the partial-birth abortion section of statute.
House Bill 2564 - updates and clarifies Arizona's abortion statutes regarding informed consent, women, parental notification, and the rights of healthcare workers.
House Bill 2572 – allows the Pima County Board of Supervisors to form a Sports Authority District and ask voters to approve taxing and bonding authority for the purposes of building and financing Cactus League and youth sports facilities.
Senator Kyl's Opening Remarks At The Sotamayor Confirmation Hearing
July 13 2009 15:31 Filed in: Supreme Court
U.S. Senator Jon Kyl gives his opening statement at the confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotamayor. Senator Kyl discusses the appropriate role of the judge and if Judge Sotamayor is able to fulfil her obligations should she be confirmed as our next U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Legislature Asks AZ Supreme Court For Reconsideration Of Brewer v. Burns
July 08 2009 15:35 Filed in: Supreme Court
Today, attorneys for Senate President Bob Burns and Speaker of the House Kirk Adams filed a motion for reconsideration with the Arizona Supreme Court in the case of Brewer v. Burns, et al. In the motion, the President and Speaker request the court to reconsider its order of June 23, 2009.
President Burns and Speaker Adams issued the following joint statement about the motion:
“We are pleased that the Court did not take the unprecedented action of ordering the Legislature to present bills to the Governor, but remain concerned about the impact the Court’s order will have on future legislatures.
The Arizona Constitution does not provide a specific time requirement for presentment of bills to the governor. No American court, in the absence of a specific time requirement, has ever required presentment of bills while the Legislature is still in session. We hope the justices will reconsider taking this extraordinary and unjustified step.”
Kindly see the brief at this link - Brewer v. Burns Motion for Reconsideration 7_8_9 (PDF - 6MB)
President Burns and Speaker Adams issued the following joint statement about the motion:
“We are pleased that the Court did not take the unprecedented action of ordering the Legislature to present bills to the Governor, but remain concerned about the impact the Court’s order will have on future legislatures.
The Arizona Constitution does not provide a specific time requirement for presentment of bills to the governor. No American court, in the absence of a specific time requirement, has ever required presentment of bills while the Legislature is still in session. We hope the justices will reconsider taking this extraordinary and unjustified step.”
Kindly see the brief at this link - Brewer v. Burns Motion for Reconsideration 7_8_9 (PDF - 6MB)
Joint Statement on Special Session
House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle have agreed to immediately address the Governor’s veto of more than $3.2 billion in education funding and violation of federal stimulus funding requirements.
With bipartisan support, we introduced and passed legislation today to ensure school districts and charter schools can proceed with adopting their budgets and put the state back in compliance with requirements to receive federal stimulus funds. The bills passed unanimously out of both chambers and are on their way to the Governor.
The four bills to address the issues above are described below:
With bipartisan support, we introduced and passed legislation today to ensure school districts and charter schools can proceed with adopting their budgets and put the state back in compliance with requirements to receive federal stimulus funds. The bills passed unanimously out of both chambers and are on their way to the Governor.
The four bills to address the issues above are described below:
- Appropriates basic state aid to school districts and charter schools at the FY09 level of funding following the spending adjustments passed during first special session in January 2009, plus the full 2 percent inflator.
- Allows school districts to budget for career ladders and desegregation at fiscal year 2009 levels until October 1, 2009, prohibits excess utilities budgeting, and reduces spending for soft capital by $175 million. Additionally, funding is eliminated for a second year of kindergarten for children with birthdates after September 1, 2009, grandfathering current kindergarten pupils.
- Ensures county contributions to AHCCCS and distributions of Medicaid stimulus monies are consistent with the requirements of the federal stimulus legislation. This language, which was part of one of the BRBs vetoed by the executive, ensures that Arizona receives more than $1.7 billion in federal stimulus monies for Medicaid.
- Limits legislator pay during the special session to those days when the legislature convenes and attendance is recorded.
Special Session Summary Of Gov's Vetoes
July 06 2009 13:37 Filed in: Budget | Special Session
The Executive’s line item veto of the Executive/Legislative agreed upon majority budget and wholesale veto of the attendant budget reconciliation bills (BRBs) decimated a meticulously negotiated budget and created severe problems for the state.
Appalled by the recklessness of the Executive, a bipartisan legislative effort has developed to immediately address two of the most egregious aspects of the Executive’s vetoes.
First, the Executive zeroed out formula funding (more than $3.2 billion) for the state’s K-12 System, denying any funding to Arizona’s school districts and charter schools for FY 2010, which began July 1, 2009.
The ostensible purpose is to compel the Legislature to give the Executive her 18 percent sales tax increase referral to the ballot, which failed to garner sufficient Republican or Democratic votes during the regular legislative session.
By casting enormous uncertainty over the level of funding to the K-12 system, the Governor has effectively orchestrated a shutdown of Arizona’s schools and compromised the state’s Constitutional mandate to maintain public schools.
Second, the Executive jeopardized more than $2.7 billion in stimulus funds coming to Arizona, including over $1 billion in Fiscal Stabilization Fund monies for K-12 and Higher Education and $1.7 billion in Medicaid monies.
The Governor’s decision to zero-out formula funding to the K-12 public schools violates the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements under the federal stimulus package, which requires the Legislature at least maintain a fiscal year 2006 level of funding.
More than $1.7 billion in Medicaid assistance is at risk as the Governor’s veto eliminated a technical BRB provision regarding county cost share and distribution of stimulus monies without which the Medicaid MOE is also violated.
Appalled by the recklessness of the Executive, a bipartisan legislative effort has developed to immediately address two of the most egregious aspects of the Executive’s vetoes.
First, the Executive zeroed out formula funding (more than $3.2 billion) for the state’s K-12 System, denying any funding to Arizona’s school districts and charter schools for FY 2010, which began July 1, 2009.
The ostensible purpose is to compel the Legislature to give the Executive her 18 percent sales tax increase referral to the ballot, which failed to garner sufficient Republican or Democratic votes during the regular legislative session.
By casting enormous uncertainty over the level of funding to the K-12 system, the Governor has effectively orchestrated a shutdown of Arizona’s schools and compromised the state’s Constitutional mandate to maintain public schools.
Second, the Executive jeopardized more than $2.7 billion in stimulus funds coming to Arizona, including over $1 billion in Fiscal Stabilization Fund monies for K-12 and Higher Education and $1.7 billion in Medicaid monies.
The Governor’s decision to zero-out formula funding to the K-12 public schools violates the Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements under the federal stimulus package, which requires the Legislature at least maintain a fiscal year 2006 level of funding.
More than $1.7 billion in Medicaid assistance is at risk as the Governor’s veto eliminated a technical BRB provision regarding county cost share and distribution of stimulus monies without which the Medicaid MOE is also violated.
Rep. Barto Corrects Misinformation On Healthcare Referral
July 02 2009 13:31 Filed in: Healthcare
There is much confusion about Arizona’s “Freedom of Choice in Healthcare Act” in both process and substance.
It’s not a bill in the normal sense, but a referral that will go to the voters to decide in the next General election, which will take place in November 2010.
Regarding the substance of the referral, some people were misled by an interview on MSNBC with Ed Schultz in which he made several quips that said the bill will limit their options for healthcare.
It actually does the opposite.
Instead of being forced to pay for a one size fits all government plan that will limit the quality and care of coverage, this plan does two things:
- Ensures government cannot restrict an individual’s choice of health care
- Ensures government cannot force businesses or individuals to purchase a particular plan
Proponents of the Obama healthcare plan say nationalized healthcare is merely another option people will have and that private insurers shouldn’t be scared of competition.
As Rep. Barto has rightly said “government cannot be the regulator and the competitor at the same time.”
Please see the FOX interview for more information.