They were at war with each other over the Medicaid expansion, but Arizona legislators lined up together in opposition to Proposition 480 for “three basic reasons: cost, growth of government and uncertainty due to the many changes in the health-care delivery system.”
Proposition 480, according to a statement released by the legislators, “asks Maricopa County residents to approve a $935 million bond proposal ($1.6 billion with interest included) for Maricopa Integrated Health System (the County Hospital), the third largest bond/tax proposal in Arizona’s history. Property owners have been devastated by the Great Recession and have seen effective tax rates climb by as much as 30% from 2009-2014. We are taxed enough already.”
The legislators say that “it is unclear exactly what MIHS would do with such a large infusion of taxpayer money. MIHS currently provides only 5% of the Maricopa County healthcare marketplace. The CEO’s of the four largest hospital systems in the Valley have questioned the need for the bond, stating their belief that there is currently adequate capacity for hospital services.”
“With the passage of Medicaid expansion in 2013 in Arizona and the implementation of Obamacare across the country, massive changes are occurring in the health-care industry. And the costs are enormous. We believe government should not make any more changes until the recent changes have had a chance to be evaluated,” reads the statement.
Letter signers:
Sen. Andy Biggs-Senate President Sen. Adam Driggs-Senate Majority Whip Sen. Nancy Barto Sen. Judy Burges Sen. Kelli Ward Sen. Steve Yarbrough Sen. Steve Pierce Sen. Gail Griffin Sen. David Farnsworth Sen. Don Shooter Sen. Bob Worsley Rep. John Kavanagh (candidate for state Senate) Rep. Steve Smith (candidate for state Senate), Rep. Debbie Lesko (candidate for state Senate) Rep. Rick Gray Rep. Justin Pierce Rep. Paul Boyer Rep. J.D. Mesnard Rep. Eddie Farnsworth Rep. Warren Petersen Rep. Karen Fann Rep. Steve Montenegro Rep. Darin Mitchell Rep. Phil Lovas Rep. Sonny Borrelli Rep. David Livingston Rep. Justin Olson