Democrats tried to get rid of some strings attached to a restoration of cash assistance benefits pushed by Gov. Doug Ducey, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

The protracted fight for Medicaid expansion likely won’t end with Gov. Jan Brewer’s signing of the historic legislation.

Gov. Jan Brewer said the budget introduced today by Senate President Andy Biggs is fairly close to her own and that she has few problems with the proposal, except for one major exception – it doesn’t include the expansion of Arizona’s Medicaid program.

Gov. Jan Brewer believes she found her “game-changer” in her quest to expand Arizona’s Medicaid program. On April 25, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a guidance memo for the states that appeared to answer a question that has been hovering over Brewer’s top agenda item — whether the state can continue its enrollment freeze for childless adults in the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.

Opponents of Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan proposed a state-only health care program for the remaining childless adults still covered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.

When discussing the progress made in budget negotiations so far this year, Senate President Andy Biggs reminded the Arizona Capitol Times that patience is a virtue.

Do the math.

Those three words essentially sum up Gov. Jan Brewer’s core argument in favor of expanding the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid program. She repeats them at every press event, every interview and every plea for support.

On its face, the Arizona Board of Regents and the universities they govern have little, if anything, to do with the state’s Medicaid program or Gov. Jan Brewer’s plans to expand it in accordance with the federal Affordable Care Act.

House Democrats introduced their fiscal 2014 budget proposal on Monday, touting it as a more responsible, compassionate echo of the governor’s plan for the coming year.

The figures paint a grim picture: Arizona’s jobless rate stands at 9.7 percent, revenues have come in below forecast, the state’s budget deficit could reach $700 million in the current fiscal year. And now the U.S. Census puts the number ...