The Arizona Republic continues to clap its hands and say ‘I believe!’ in Jan Brewer

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The editors of the Arizona Republic want to believe, they really want to believe in Jan Brewer, who they endorsed for governor in 2010. They want to believe in her humanity despite all evidence to the contrary.

I warned you about Gov. Brewer's Tinkerbell Tax Plan: Just clap your hands and believe! back in December (Tinkerbell Tax Plan: just clap your hands and believe! – the essence of faith based supply-side "trickle down" conservative economic policies). And again in January, 'It's only make believe':

As Conway Twitty sang, "It's only make believe." The governor's budget and tax plan are based upon false assumptions and faith in a politico-economic theory that has been entirely disproved and discredited over the past decade. She only offers more of the same. It is destined to failure.

So it is disheartening that the Jan Brewer Fan Club at the Arizona Republic is doing such a disservice to the residents of Arizona with nonsense like this: Brewer's agenda can put state on the fast track. Um, sorry but no. Put down the Kool-Aid and check yourselves into rehab.

Unfortunately, the Arizona Republic is still drinking the Kool-Aid and doing a disservice to the residents of Arizona.

The Arizona Republic reports today that Governor Grim Reaper hinted at the possibility during a trip to Prescott Valley last week that her GOP death panels for organ transplant patients could be addressed during the upcoming battle over the state budget.

"There is a possibility that that issue can be addressed," Brewer told The Republic. "I would hope that there could be a solution, an agreeable solution. That doesn't mean that's going to happen (emphasis added), but we're working to find a solution." Brewer works to restore transplant coverage. "But it's not clear what kind of support there is for the plan among legislators. Any plan to restore funding would require Legislative approval, Brewer spokesman Matthew Benson [former Arizona Republic reporter] said."

The mere hint that Governor Grim Reaper, who has already presided over the deaths of two organ transplant patients might now be willing to restore funding for the remaining 96 transplant patients, after having repeatedly rejected the idea for months, was enough to make the editors of the Arizona Republic clap their hands and say "I believe!" in this editorial opinion today. Brewer moves in right direction:

A tiny ray of hope is finally glimmering for 98 [actually 96, but who is counting?] Arizonans who need lifesaving treatment.

Gov. Jan Brewer is looking at restoring transplant funds that [she] cut off Oct. 1.

There's no reason to hesitate. The compassionate decision and the smart decision are the same: Restore funding. As soon as possible.

* * *

Brewer refused to resume transplants because the state Medicaid program, AHCCCS, faces a huge shortfall. But now, there are ways to fill the gap, including a proposal from health-care organizations that would bring in more federal dollars through a special assessment (structured to keep them from taking on additional costs).

* * *

Brewer should restore the transplants. And legislators should join her in doing the right thing for Arizona.

Got that? Governor Grim Reaper is now the champion of organ transplant patients that she consigned to death back on October 1, 2010. That's some Kool-Aid the editors of the Arizona Republic are drinking.

The true champion of the transplant patients and the only voice of reason at the Arizona Republic regarding the GOP death panels has been columnist E.J. Montini, who gave Jan Brewer the moniker "Governor Grim Reaper." Montini writes today, No choice: Transplant funds must be restored:

Gov. Jan Brewer no longer has a choice.

She must restore funding to the transplant patients that she and the Legislature essentially condemned to death last year.

The governor no longer can string along the 96 suffering patients and their anguished families.

She can't simply drop hints about how she might restore funding and then not do it.

"There is a possibility that that issue can be addressed," Brewer told The Republic. "I would hope that there could be a solution, an agreeable solution. That doesn't mean that's going to happen, but we're working to find a solution."

Not good enough.

It was inhumane and unnecessary to have cut off transplant funding to begin with.

It would be grotesque and unspeakably cruel to dangle a possible solution in front of those gravely ill patients and their families and then to snatch it away.

And yet, this is the likely outcome of the budget battle about to be joined. GOP legislative leaders have consistently refused to consider restoring funding for organ transplant patients.

I told you earlier this year about Illinois state Rep. Steve Daglas who went through the Arizona state budget line by line looking for alternative sources of funding. He created a website for the transplant patients called www.arizona98.com and listed 26 different ways the funding could be restored. His plan fell on deaf ears in the Arizona legislature – and in the governor's office.

Democrats Rep. Anna Tovar, herself a transplant recipient, and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema have also proposed alternative funding methods. Their proposals did not get a committee hearing – under instructions from the governor's office, as previously reported.

As E.J. Montini said,"It would be grotesque and unspeakably cruel to dangle a possible solution in front of those gravely ill patients and their families and then to snatch it away." This is precisely what Governor Grim Reaper is doing. And yet the editors of the Arizona Republic who want to believe, they really want to believe in Jan Brewer, giver her kudos for her hint of humanity for what in reality is her stone cold cruelty.