By Karl Reiner New technology always brings change. Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) also commonly known as drones have become one of the standard weapons used in fighting terrorists in places such as Afghanistan. The drone's main advantage is its hushed ability to remain over a target area for hours, something helicopters and other aircraft cannot … Read more
Are you one of those Democrats who grumbles about the
Arizona Democratic Party’s (ADP) slide into Republican-lite territory?
Are you tired of Blue Dog Democratic candidates?
Are you tired of the party’s weak stances on hot-button
issues?
Did you ever wonder why the ADP’s Progressive Caucus has so
little power—despite being the state party’s largest caucus? (Maybe you didn’t
even know that the ADP had a progressive caucus?)
Are you ready for change?
If you said, “Hell, yeah!” to any of the above questions, then
it’s time to stop muttering and start acting. On Wednesday, Nov. 14, the Tucson
Chapters of Drinking Liberally/Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) are
holding a special meeting at The Shanty—beginning
at 6 p.m. with FREE pizza. The focus of the meeting will be on envisioning and
brainstorming a more progressive Democratic Party in Arizona. Former Arizona Legislator and PDA
Tucson coordinator Phil Lopes will lead the discussion.
Why should you attend? Read the details after the jump.
by David Safier It's become almost a truism that if you're running for office, you don't mess with the NRA or it'll mess with your political career. But some people say it's not so. This false media narrative of NRA's supposed influence on elections has persisted, even as an analysis by American Prospect contributing editor … Read more
by Pamela Powers Hannley Underwater mortgages, student loan debt, medcial bills, unemployment, credit cards, preditory lending– for a myriad of reasons Americans are in debt and hurting financially. How did this happen? To quote a popular Occupy chant: "Banks got bailed out. We got sold out!" To draw attention to our national debt and solutions … Read more
Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Gov. Jan Brewer has to make a decision, due Friday, that will determine whether Arizona
creates a state-run, online marketplace for consumers to use when
choosing health insurance plans, or lets the federal government create and run a health insurance “exchange” for the state.
The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Big decision looms for Arizona governor on exchange:
Brewer is among the Republican governors who opposed the law, but she has yet to indicate what course she’ll take.
“I have not made up my mind at this point in time, but I believe that
very soon I will have to determine just exactly what directly we’re
going to go. It’s a very expansive piece of legislation that has great,
huge impacts on the people of Arizona and on America. So we have to be
very cautious and do it carefully. And of course, I believe a lot in
states’ rights, and I think that we have to take everything into
consideration to make the right decision,” Brewer said on Tuesday.
Down the road, Brewer will face an equally hot-potato decision on
whether to expand the state’s Medicaid program — another key aspect of
the health care law.
Brewer’s administration has spent millions of dollars of federal
grant money on planning and preliminary work for creating a health
exchange.
Republican legislators and conservatives such as the Goldwater
Institute say the requirement for an exchange is an infringement on the
rights of states and individuals.
* * *
Meanwhile, a coalition of business groups
wants Brewer to create a state exchange so Arizona has a say in in its
design and funding.
“If we retain that control, we’re better able to customize and tweak
and make adjustments,” said Pete Wertheim, a vice president of the
Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Brewer already has selected a minimum benefits package for a
state-run exchange based on current insurance coverage for state
employees. She noted in a Sept. 28 letter to the Obama administration
that the package excludes abortion coverage.
Brewer has said her administration has done a lot of planning to be
prepared but also indicated she was still studying the issue and hadn’t
made a decision.
“I’ve got to decide (whether) it’s the right thing for Arizona,” Brewer said while noting she will need legislative approval.
It’s clear that establishing a state-run
exchange would put Brewer at odds with many Republicans in the
Legislature, with no assurance that she would win the necessary
approval.
Listen up, you "states' rights" Tenthers. You have two choices. Either Arizona sets up a health insurance exchange that it runs and controls. Or the federal government will set up the health insurance exchange and run it for us. There is no third choice, kicking and screaming throwing a temper tantrum, while yelling "No, you can't make me do it! I hate ObamaCare! States' rights! Secession!" You lost. Get over it.