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House panel kills Medicaid expansion, but battle rages on
A legislative panel today killed the Medicaid expansion portion of the state budget, leaving supporters with options that include using a strike everything amendment on a new health bill to bring the measure to a vote from the full House or suspending the House rules altogether.
CAP abortion language for Medicaid expansion clears committee
A Center for Arizona Policy proposal intended to prevent Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan from benefitting abortion providers merited little debate as it passed the House Appropriations Committee as part of a larger pro-life bill.
Top legislative leaders meet similar fate in dealing with governor
It may have taken House Speaker Andy Tobin longer to realize, but eventually he came to the same conclusion that Senate President Andy Biggs reached months ago.
Backed by state Constitution, Medicaid expansion makes sense
In this weekend’s Medicaid coverage, the governor made the point that her decision to move forward with Medicaid expansion was a combination of common sense and gut. She knew when making this tough call that the math did not work in Arizona’s favor to try to go it alone on funding a program that has, for decades, been a mix of state and federal funds.
Capitol Quotes: June 7, 2013
This week's most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from Arizona's political scene.
LaFaro to Tobin: At least you tried
Maricopa County GOP chairman AJ LaFaro told our reporter today he’s disappointed that Tobin has given up the fight on Medicaid expansion. He said there’s still some time to press... […]
House unveils budget plan as leadership shops for votes
House Speaker Andy Tobin is hopeful he can get at least 31 Republicans to support the House version. But he still thinks spending is too high.
Brewer clears schedule as budget negotiations continue
Gov. Jan Brewer isn’t making any public appearances set for the week and is keeping her schedule open so she’ll be available for budget and Medicaid negotiations.
Brewer priority No. 2: Sales tax simplification
In case you forgot, Gov. Jan Brewer has other priorities this year besides getting the Legislature to approve Medicaid expansion. The Republican governor also wants to completely overhaul the state's sales tax collection system.
Republican vs. Republican on covering uninsured
It's Republican versus Republican in the latest round of political battles over health care.
Governor not looking for ‘Brewer v. Burns’ repeat
What a difference four years makes. In 2009, Gov. Jan Brewer sued the Legislature over its refusal to send her a package of budget bills that she was certain to veto, leading the Arizona Supreme Court to rule that lawmakers couldn’t hold back measures that were ready for the governor.
Medicaid detour
Foes of expansion eye referendum
Even if voters approve her plan, a threatened citizen referendum on Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion proposal could cast a pall over the 2014 election and throw the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System into chaos.
If the Legislature passes Medicaid expansion, two former senators and frequent foes of Brewer plan to[...]
