Rep. Anna Tovar proposes bills to restore transplants, save lives

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Press release from the House Democrats:

Tovar proposes bills to restore transplants, save lives

STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Rep. Anna Tovar, D-Tolleson (District 13), a two-time transplant recipient, introduced four bills today to restore life-saving transplants for Arizonans.

“Today is an important day for Arizonans because we have the opportunity to hold government accountable,” Tovar said. “We the people have the freedom today change a broken system.”

Tovar’s life-saving bills include:

• HB 2604: Emergency measure that closes Arizona’s Accounting Tax Credit Loophole to fund transplants. Would generate $20 million for life-saving transplants.
• HB 2605: Restores transplant funding by closing Arizona’s Accounting Tax Credit Loophole. This bill would end a tax credit of up to $10,000 each that big corporations and special interests receive just to do their taxes, while middle-class families have to pay taxes on clothes and school supplies. Would bring in $20 million.
• HB 2606: Provides an alternative solution where private monetary donations for life-saving transplants would be matched by state funding. This combination would create a private and public partnership to solve the transplant issue.
• HB2607: Emergency legislation that restores transplant funding with $1.2 million from the state general fund. At least 26 legitimate funding solutions could be added to this bill to reinstate transplant funding (see link below).

Tovar, who underwent two bone-marrow transplants for leukemia, has been a champion for nearly 100 Arizonans who need transplants to live.

“I know that these families and their loved ones are fighting for their lives and I know how difficult that can be,” Tovar said. “It’s time to hold government accountable and pass this bill before another Arizonan dies.”

On Oct. 1, 2010, transplant cuts went into effect and nearly 100 Arizonans were denied medical care for transplants.

Reinstating transplant funding this year would cost $1.2 million, or one tenth of 1 percent of Arizona’s total budget deficit.

For a timeline on the transplant issue, go to: http://www.azhousedemocrats.com/2010/11/fact-check-house-democrats-prove-brewer.html

Gov. Jan Brewer continues to say that she has not seen any "legitimate" proposals to restore transplant funding. For a list of legitimate solutions, go to: www.arizona98.com.

###