Arizona: Gabrielle Giffords

It's Groundhog Day at the Lege according to Rep. Farley:
Howdy,  Friends O'Farley...

It's been a month since I last wrote you. On the budget front--despite a whole lot of talk and drama--nothing has happened.

It really is like living in that great movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray keeps waking up to the same day where the same things happen no matter how he tries to change his behavior. Except these shenanigans are much less entertaining -- real people (like you and me) are really going to get hurt.

After weeks in Special Session #3, the Republican majority managed to send Governor Brewer the same budget that was on her desk a month ago and was vetoed.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America arm is launching radio spots praising two centrist Arizona congresswomen for "taking on the lobbyists and the special interests and standing up for us and our families" and "working every day to make sure we have affordable quality health care." AZ/DC Blog: DNC ads praise Giffords, Kirkpatrick for health-care work:

The ads give some support to Democratic Reps. Gabrielle Giffords and Ann Kirkpatrick as they talk to constituents about the ongoing health-care reform debate. The House last week adjourned for its August district work period and the Senate is expected to do the same at the end of this week.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Sunday Arizona Daily Star turned over its opinion page today to a discussion of health insurance reform from Sen. John McCain First, reform must do no harm, Sen. Jon Kyl Changes should not be rushed, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Health-care reform is our moon shot, and Rep. Raúl Grijalva Single-payer plan would fix the system.

Blah, Blah, Blah - more talking points redux.

The most substantive opinion was that of Star Editor Sarah Garrecht Gassen Reforming health care. Keep up the good work, Sarah.

Contact your elected representatives in Congress and tell them this:

"I want the same health insurance my members of Congress have."

(hint: it's a single-payer public plan)

Members of Congress should not enjoy the benefits of a health insurance plan that they seek to deny to their own constituents. If it's not good enough for us, then they shouldn't have it either.

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Almost lost in the crush of news coming out of our state capitol this week was the sad news of the passing of former Congressman Jim McNulty. I did not know Jim well, but I did volunteer on his campaigns back in the early 1980s, and I saw him frequently at Democratic Party events over the years since. He was always pleasant to me with a ready smile and a quick Irish wit. He was a good and decent man dedicated to public service.

The Arizona Daily Star published the news of his death, from which I have edited and rearranged some of the paragraphs