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Jan 21, 2011

Statement on Brewer's signing of AHCCCS waiver bill

Luis Heredia, Arizona Democratic Party executive director, issued the following statement in response to Gov. Brewer's signing of a bill asking the federal government for a waiver to overturn a voter-approved initiative for health care:

"How we respond to the budget crisis is a test of who we are as a people. By seeking federal permission to drop 280,000 people from Arizona's Medicaid rolls, Governor Brewer and legislative Republicans have proven yet again they are unwilling to take a balanced approach to this crisis. They know the waiver will likely be denied, and they know the cuts violate Arizona's Constitution. If the waiver were to succeed, it would not only hurt those 280,000 people -- including 5,200 seriously mentally ill -- it would cost Arizona more than $1 billion in federal funding and create a domino of job losses in the state's health-care industry.

"By taking this doomed approach, they have kicked the can down the road and failed to tackle the budget crisis in good faith. These leaders have a responsibility to protect Arizonans of all income levels -- not just rich CEOs and corporations who continue to enjoy lucrative tax loopholes. It's time for the Republicans in power to live up to that responsibility."

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