COVID-19 & Healthcare

Special Session is over, appropriations bills sent to Governor

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Special Session for the budget is over, but the regular session is continuing (no sine die yet). The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Senate passes Medicaid expansion, sending it to the governor:

The state Senate approved Gov. Jan Brewer’s
Medicaid expansion plan on an 18-11 vote this afternoon, sending it to
the governor for her signature.

* * *

In the House, a coalition of nine
Republicans joined with the 24 House Democrats to approve the spending
plan on a series of 33-27 votes, setting the stage for end the first
special session of the 51st Legislature, which Brewer called into action
at Tuesday evening.

The Republicans in the House who voted for the budget were Rep. T.J. Shope, Rep. Frank Pratt, Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, Rep. Heather
Carter, Rep. Doug Coleman, Rep. Jeff Dial, Rep. Doris Goodale, Rep.
Ethan Orr and Rep. Bob Robson.

 

Not a good day for Arizona’s Planned Parenthood defunding law in the 9th Circuit

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The San Francico Chronicle reports on today's action in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, Judges grill Arizona lawyer over anti-abortion law:

Two
federal appeals court judges expressed skepticism Wednesday about an
Arizona law [HB 2800] that disqualified Planned Parenthood and other health
providers that perform abortions from receiving public funds for other
medical services.

Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judges Marsha Berzon and Jay Bybee grilled attorney Steven Aden during a hearing about the law. Aden, an attorney with the Alliance
Defending Freedom, argued that Arizona had a broad power to determine
that Planned Parenthood, and other organizations targeted by the law,
were not qualified Medicaid providers, allowing the state to withhold
from them Medicaid funds.

According
to the Medicaid statute, anybody eligible for medical assistance can
get it from an organization or person "qualified to perform the service
or services required."

Aden
said since the Medicaid statute does not further define "qualified,"
the state should have broad powers to determine its meaning.

Rep. Trent Franks channels Todd Akin

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

They just can't help themselves. Despite GOP attempts to 'rebrand" after the 2012 election, their Tea Party radical extremists keep shooting off their mouths pursuing their misogynist war on women. Arizona's right-wing anti-abortion zealot, Rep. Trent Franks, was channeling Todd Akin (legitimate rape) in a committee hearing today. Rep. Trent Franks: Rate of pregnancies from rape ‘very low’:

Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), whose measure banning abortions after 20
weeks was being considered in the House Judiciary Committee, argued
against a Democratic amendment to make exceptions for rape and incest by
suggesting that pregnancy from rape is rare.

“Before, when my friends on the left side of the aisle here tried to
make rape and incest the subject — because, you know, the incidence of
rape resulting in pregnancy are very low,” Franks said.

* * *

Democrats on the committee, including Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.),
responded by pointing to similar comments made by then-Rep. Todd Akin
(R-Mo.) in his 2012 Senate campaign. Akin suggested that the female body
can prevent pregnancy from occurring after a “legitimate rape” — a claim that is not backed up by scientific research and for which Akin apologized.

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.