“This was more politics than public policy. As an end result, we have something that conflicts with a lot of the needs of Arizona.” — Sen. Tom O’Halleran, R-1, talking about the employer sanctions law approved earlier this year.
“This thing is so big. It’s like running for mayor for 12 cities.” — Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-5, on his exploratory committee for a run in the 1st Congressional District, which is roughly the geographic size of Pennsylvania.
“I love interim sessions because everyone thinks you sit around eating bon bons, so they ask you to do [political] work for free. And I have ‘sucker’ written on my forehead, so I’m doing it.” — Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-15
The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association presented its Legislative Appreciation Awards on Nov. 1 at the Orange Tree Golf Resort in Scottsdale to Sen. Amanda Aguirre, Sen. Carolyn Allen, Senate President Tim Bee, Sen. Tom O’Halleran, Sen. Barbara Leff, Rep. Pete Hershberger, Rep. Bill Konopnicki and Rep. John Nelson. “These legislators went above and beyond the call of duty in their support of Arizona’s hospital community and the patients hospitals serve,” said John Rivers, AzHHA’s president and CEO.
The eight legislators worked throughout the legislative session to educate their colleagues about the challenges facing Arizona’s hospitals and health systems and to protect essential health care services in the communities they represent. AzHHA launched its Legislative Appreciation Awards in 1998 to recognize legislators who are dedicated to improving and protecting health care in Arizona.