COVID-19 & Healthcare

Let’s roll! (the leadership): Governor Brewer calls special session

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

There is very little that Governor Jan Brewer and I have ever agreed upon during her long political career. But I have to grudgingly admire her latest tactical move and give her props to call a special session to pass her budget over the Tea Party minority obstructionists. This is exactly what I would have done. Well played. Gov. Jan Brewer calls lawmakers into surprise special session:

Salvador DaliFed up with weeks of debate and delay on her top
legislative priority, Gov. Jan Brewer called lawmakers into an
unprecedented special session late Tuesday, bypassing the leadership of
her own party to push through Medicaid expansion and the 2014 budget.

The governor’s surprise move comes after House Speaker
Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, adjourned until Thursday, stalling efforts by a
bipartisan House coalition to pass Brewer’s 2014 budget and Medicaid
expansion.

Many legislators were on their way home when Brewer called
key lawmakers to a meeting in her offices, where the special session
plans were organized. They agreed to unseat the speaker and Senate
president, if necessary, to get Medicaid expansion and the budget
passed.

Brewer issued a special session proclamation at 5 p.m.,
and by then Democrats and the expansion-friendly Republicans were
already gathering on the House floor.

Proclamation for Special Session Governor Brewer Calls Special Session for Budget-Related Matters

Obama administration agrees to comply with federal court order re: Plan B

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Justice Department announced on Monday that it will allow the most popular morning after pill, Plan B, to be available over the counter to women of all ages, dropping its appeal of a federal court order. Obama Administration To End Age Restrictions On Plan B:

PlanBThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement that it
has “asked the manufacturer of Plan B One-Step to submit a supplemental
application seeking approval of the one-pill product to be made
available O.T.C. without any such restrictions” and “intends to approve
it promptly.” Generic versions may also be eventually approved. The
morning after pill prevents conception “if taken within 72 hours after sexual intercourse.”

The decision comes after a federal judge in April ordered the FDA to
lift restrictions on the morning-after pill. The administration
responded to the ruling by lowering the age restriction from 17 to 15,
sparking the ire of health groups and district Judge Edward Korman,
who, in a series of contemptuous opinions, called the administration’s
defiance an insult to the intelligence of women” and “a charade” meant to stall his original order. Last week, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ordered
the administration to make two-pill versions of emergency contraception
immediately available over the counter to women of all ages.

(Update) The ‘Mayor’ of Washington, D.C. wants to take his anti-abortion crusade nationwide

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Arizona's anti-abortion zealot, Rep. Trent Franks, who fancies himself the "Mayor" of Washington, D.C. by trying to impose his anti-abortion crusade on the District, has convinced the GOP leadership (sic) in the House to give him a purely symbolic vote on his 20 week abortion ban bill — the same bill that has already been struck down by federal courts, and Arizona's version of the bill is being heard on appeal by a panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.

How's that GOP rebranding working out for ya? The GOP's war on women continues unabated.

Steve Benen reports, House GOP eyes more anti-abortion votes:

House Republicans' laser-like focus on job creation — which is to
say, they've passed zero jobs bills in three years — is poised to take yet another detour.

The House will vote next week on a bill banning abortions across the country after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Doug Heye, deputy chief of staff to House Majority Leader Eric
Cantor, R-Va., confirmed to CQ Roll Call that the chamber is on track to
consider legislation next week that would ban all abortions after the
20-week threshold — the point at which some medical professionals
believe a fetus can begin to feel pain.

In the Arizona Legislature Today

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

After Monday's dog and pony show in the House Appropriations Committee, the action moves to the House floor today.

The Committee of the Whole (COW) calendar lists the following bills to be debated today:

Bill Number    Short
Title 

SB1057            AHCCCS; ambulance
services; rates

*SB1069           CPS; psychological assessments and services

                      (s/e:  abortion clinics;
regulations; inspections)

SB1337            schools; CPR training

SB1375            behavioral health services; dependent
children

*Pending Rules and Caucus

The Arizona Republic reports, Medicaid showdown today?:

The Arizona House could consider Medicaid expansion as early as today, less than 24 hours after Republicans in a key committee defeated Gov. Jan Brewer’s top legislative priority.

Leaders of a bipartisan coalition backing expansion of the health-care program for the poor met late Monday to plot their options for bringing the measure to a vote.

A floor debate today offers the group its first opportunity to attach it to another bill. But some supporters favored waiting until at least Wednesday to give House Speaker Andy Tobin, who opposes Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan, an opportunity to bring forward the budget bills rather than see the coalition go around him.

A House vote on the issue, which has driven a wedge through the state’s GOP, would clear the way for consideration of the rest of the fiscal 2014 budget and adjournment of the legislative session.

House Appropriations Committee hearing on Senate Health and Welfare Budget

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie: There is an overflow crowd of interested persons wanting to testify today at the Arizona House Appropriations Committee today on the Senate Health and Welfare Budget, SB 1492, which includes Governor Jan Brewer''s Medicaid (AHCCCS) restoration/expansion plan. As you might expect, the JLBC, AHCCCS, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and other business … Read more