The Center for Arizona Policy, (CAP,) the state's foremost lobbyist for conservative christians, seems so focused on trying to outlaw abortions that they have lost sight of what it truly means to be "pro-life."
Currently, Arizona is the only state in the union that refuses to participate in a federal children's healthcare program. As a result, 30,000-50,000 Arizona kids will be without health insurance.
Yet CAP stands mute.
I thought that they considered themselves "pro-life from conception to grave."
Should we outlaw abortions just to deny those children healthcare later? As far as CAP is concerned, heaven and earth should be moved to try to save one single fetus and yet, they won't fight for the healthcare of breathing children?
The shocking thing is, this problem could be solved by one, single letter from the lobby's president, Cathi Herrod...
 |
| Andy Biggs Appropriate that he has the eyes of a mortician. |
The program would cost the state nothing; the Feds paying 100% for the next two years, at least. The bill passed by the House includes provisions for the healthcare program to stop if the Feds stop paying anything less than the full amount. Regardless, Mr. Biggs, insists that the Feds WILL stop paying 100% and the political pressure would be too great for state legislators to use fiscal control to freeze the program again (although they already proved that they could.)
Make no mistake about it, Mr. Biggs is against the very concept of socialized medicine and has said so often. Perhaps if he wins his upcoming election for US Congress, he will take the opportunity to decimate other socialized healthcare programs like medicare and medicaid. If he cannot be trusted to keep our children healthy, how can he be trusted to keep the disabled and senior citizen's healthy?
Of course, not covering our children with this federal program does not reduce Arizona citizen's federal tax-burden. Instead, because of Mr. Biggs, Arizona is helping to pay for the other 49 state's healthcare programs while Arizona gets nothing.
ALSO OF INTEREST: The Immigration SOLUTION: A Market Based Approach
What makes Mr. Biggs fiscal arguments even more ridiculous is a recent study showing that Arizona will actually get a $75 million influx of money if it participated in the program. *
Which brings us to Cathi Herrod and the Center for Arizona Policy. How can one argue the preciousness of the life of a fetus, while at the same time watching in silence as living, breathing children are denied healthcare? Is it pro-life to make tax cuts for corporations Arizona's first priority while children are denied seeing a doctor?
Is that what Jesus would do?
Most GOP politicians claim that they are pro-life "from conception to the grave." It's up to Cathi Herrod and the Center for Arizona Policy to HOLD THEM TO IT!
One simple letter could be all it takes:
Dear Arizona Legislature:
Being "pro-life from conception to grave" means including the covered healthcare needs of our most vulnerable children.
If you stand against HB2309, you will be graded as "poor" by Center for Arizona Policy.
Sincerely,
Cathi Herrod
The problem could be solved just as simply as that.
Will Ms. Herrod stand up to the forces of ALEC? Or will she sit in her cozy seat of power and hope there will be a crown in Heaven for lazily turning her back on poor children who are denied healthcare?
CAP often proudly states that their 20-plus years of efforts will be worth it if they save just one child.
Shouldn't they take a half-hour to try to save even more?
NOTE:
* New study: Expanding KidsCare would give Arizona $75 million jolt (azcentral.com)
***********************
(Spoiler: David beats Goliath)
No comments:
Post a Comment