Matt Heinz

Matt Heinz

Heinz, Matt (Democrat)

Phone: (520) 305-9362

Email: heinzforaz@gmail.com

Website: www.heinzforarizona.com

PO Box 2574, Tucson, AZ 85702

Age: 33 (6/6/77, Midland, MI).

Arizona since: 2003.

Occupation: Internist, IPC Hospitals of Arizona, Inc., since 2006; internal medicine residency, UofA, 2003-06; medical student, Wayne Student School of Medicine, 1999-03; research associate, Baylor College of Medicine, 1999.

Marital: Single.

Religious preference: Lutheran.

Education: Internship and residency, internal medicine, UofA, 2006; M.D., Wayne State University School of Medicine, 2003; B.A., chemistry and Spanish proficiency, Albion College, 1999; diploma, H.H. Dow High School, 1995.

Political experience: Treasurer, Healthy Arizona, since 2006; candidate, state representative, 2006. Legislative experience: House since 2009. Memberships have included: AZ Medical Association; AZ Repertory Singers; Democrats of Greater Tucson; Equality Arizona; Healthy Arizona, executive committee member; Phi Beta Kappa; Pima County Medical Society; Rebuilding Together Tucson; Southern Arizona Stonewall Democrats.

Interests: Physical fitness, cooking, travel, music, current events, public policy and ancient history.

Issues:

Political influence: My grandmother, because she taught me about interacting with people and forming relationships. She taught me to be kind and willing to listen.

Budget recommendations: Optimize current taxes by closing loopholes. Also enact broad based tax reform, including expanding the sales tax base to cover more items (currently there are more than 500 exemptions). This policy is also supported by the Goldwater Institute, due to fiscal volatility in economic downturns.

Other concerns: Common sense patient-focused health care reform. Also facilitate green economic and job growth with Arizona’s unique opportunity to provide high quality jobs that can’t be outsourced.

Fiscal philosophy: We need to be responsible stewards for every taxpayer dollar. We need a good reason to collect and spend it, such as education, public safety and infrastructure. We have these priorities and need to fund them, otherwise we are not doing the business of the people.

Background & experience: As a hospital physician, I encounter people from all walks of life, because health issues affect everyone. I interact with thousands of patients each year. I am able to better represent the people because of this. Also, as the only practicing physician in the Legislature, I bring a unique perspective to the table to help solve the problems facing the health care system in Arizona.

Proposition 100 sales tax: Though I would prefer to avoid regressive taxes, because of the political context at the Legislature, there was no other option. I voted for it because the damage that would be done if the funding cut to education and health & human services was too great.

Pro-life/pro-choice: I defend the right of patients to make their own decisions in consultation with their physician, without government interference.

One last thing: Although I don’t get to sing as much as I’d like, I’m a classically trained vocalist. I also must eat my M&Ms and Skittles in color pairs.

Campaign Finance: private.