Jan Brewer channels Obama’s socialized medicine

Gov’s bunk-laden email doesn’t cut it

Impossible to miss, glaring similarities, as both Obama and Jan Brewer use medical doctors* as props for the unconscionable expansion of socialized medicine.

As she works feverishly on behalf of ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is encountering strong resistance from Republican legislators. Juxtaposed against the fact that various GOP districts have passed resolutions opposing the expansion, is the reality of the pro-expansion zealots waving the carrots of campaign a$$istance for playing well. What the daily refers to as a “well-heeled, tightly organized pro-expansion campaign led by the health-care industry and Arizona business leaders, in cooperation with the governor’s office and some of the state’s top lobbyists and political strategists,“ is making life difficult for the lawmakers down on West Washington Street. The pressure is intensifying as the high dollar campaign rolls out its own lobbyist, Jaime Molera, and a heavy handed promotion worthy of street thugs with wads of cash.  Keep your eyes on the GOP freshmen, the governor’s office hopes to sway.

For a Republican governor who stood in firm opposition to this costly scheme to do an about-face and expect Republicans to join in the kumbaya with the onboard Democrats, is a bridge too far.

This letter, emailed to Republican Precinct Committeemen by Gov. Jan Brewer, exemplifies the depth of her desperation.

* We have since found out that Brewer’s white-coated props were not doctors at all.  They are students at Glendale’s Osteopathic Midwestern University.

Brewer’s surrogates fail to convince EGC

The Executive Guidance Committee of the Maricopa County Republican Committee (EGC) met last night and passed three resolutions.

Although Gov. Jan Brewer’s policy advisor and chief strategist Chuck Coughlin and her financial guru John Arnold, made valiant attempts to convince the Republican leaders of the rightness of her position to expand the federal Medicaid program, Arizona’s involvement in the ObamaCare scheme was dead on arrival. Out of thirty possible votes, only two supported this debacle: Scott O’Connor, Chair of Legislative District 28 and Paul Whetten, Chair of LD 25.

State Rep. Carl Seel (Dist. 20) using facts and logic, effectively decimated the assertions by Chuck Coughlin and John Arnold, Brewer’s Director of the Governor‘s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting.

A second resolution opposing the McFlake Comprehensive Immigration Reform efforts to legalize upward of 25 million illegals, was passed unanimously by the Maricopa County EGC members. 

A third resolution opposing the implementation of Common Core — the Obama Education Department’s program to nationalize America’s public schools,  passed unanimously.  Laddie Shane, Chair of Arizona Conservative Educators, wrote the resolution and made a dynamic presentation for it’s passage.

Sheriff Arpaio trips, breaks shoulder

Sheriff Joe Arpaio broke his left shoulder earlier today.  He’s obviously on the mend. After a tender kiss from his wife Ava, here he is giving an update:

 

We wish our Maricopa County Sheriff the very best and a rapid recovery.  We need this good man on the job!

Follow him on Twitter@RealSheriffJoe

Read the AZ Family News 3 report.

Rep. Kwasman leads opposition to ObamaCare in AZ

The Arizona Capitol Times posts an excellent commentary “Medicaid expansion would be a ‘nightmare’ for Arizona.”

State Rep. Adam Kwasman, (R-LD11) is a freshman legislator who not only comprehends the seriousness of the situation, but explains the massive problem in easily understandable terms.

It’s refreshing to see a legislator follow through on a campaign promise, despite pressure from a governor of his own party. This is a guy to watch.

Betsey Bayless: AZ Republic suffers memory lapse

We knew the newspaper was ailing, but this is a serious affliction

This past weekend we reported on the obscene salary increase given to nearly retired Betsey Bayless, 68, the CEO and president of Maricopa Integrated Health System, the county‘s structure for providing indigent medical care. In the flash of a 3 – 2 vote by this five-member Board of Directors, Bayless received a hefty $125,000 raise. Her base salary soared 33% overnight, from $375,003 to $500,000 — excluding benefits.

Only Chairman Susan Gerard and Vice Chairman Elbert Bicknell voted against this gift of taxpayer money to the already exceedingly well compensated Bayless.

This morning’s Arizona Republic runs an editorial under the headline: Pay raise for Betsey Bayless: $125,000 pay hike is unwise, unfair. Although the editorial ostensibly takes the raise to task, the opening three sentences, extol Bayless — saying she has done a “splendid job.”  It goes on to state that “It’s true what they say” about her job performance….“we’ve said so ourselves. Many times.”  Then the editorial gushes “she deserves the public’s undying gratitude for a job well done.”

Really?  And who are “they” who heap such lavish praise worthy of “undying gratitude?”

The newspaper’s editorialist must have fallen and suffered amnesia similar to Hillary Clinton, who did her best to skirt testifying regarding the massacre at the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Her cover-up was finally addressed as she angrily screeched, “What difference does it make?”

In April 2008, the Republic’s Yvonne Wingett wrote this scathing assessment of Bayless, citing “Health-care experts and recruiters who specialize in executive searches for hospitals across the U.S. say it is highly unusual to put at the helm someone who lacks extensive health-care experience.”

Yep. They were referring to well-heeled and well-connected politician Betsey Bayless about whom Wingett also wrote: “Her resume is impressive. But it was missing a key ingredient — experience with health-care management. Bayless’ credentials have come under scrutiny since a national-accreditation organization found significant flaws with MIHS last year.”

And more:

“Not all has gone smoothly for Bayless. Last year, MIHS received a preliminary denial of accreditation after inspections by the Joint Commission, a national organization that accredits more than 15,000 health-care organizations, including 4,200 hospitals. Less than 1 percent of hospitals surveyed by that organization in 2006 received that rating.

The inspectors evaluated staff performance, patient care and key operations that affect the quality and safety of patient care. Bayless and staff appealed the rating to an accreditation-review committee. Last month, they submitted evidence that they are in compliance with many of the problem areas identified by inspectors, and that plans are in place to address other issues.

The hospital system is now conditionally accredited. Three percent of hospitals surveyed by the commission in 2006 held that rating, said Ken Powers, spokesman for the commission. Inspectors typically survey conditionally rated hospitals in a follow-up, unannounced visit, he said.

The Republic asked to review the commission’s initial report to evaluate the problems. MIHS’s attorneys have asked a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to determine whether they are obliged to honor the newspaper’s public-records request. Since then, MIHS attorneys have argued against its release for public inspection.”

That’s right.  When faced with mountains of evidence of incompetence, Bayless and her lawyers did their best to stonewall the release of any information.

The same newspaper that today states it has long agreed with the accolades given Bayless by unspecified admirers, oddly forgets they have revealed her lack of skills for the job, clumsy incompetence, and attempts at legally dodging legitimate records requests.

Amnesia didn’t suit Hillary well. It is especially egregious when the state’s largest newspaper is so afflicted.

Betsey Bayless: $peaking of outrageous pay raises

Mega-salaries, benefits awarded in the worst of times

Recently we’ve been exposing the grossly excessive pay hikes and benefits packages of some of our illustrious Valley notables. Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos grabbed our attention in Dec. 2012 with his massive 33% raise, which amounts to an extra $78,000 a year! He will now be pulling down a yearly base salary of $315,000 plus a $600 monthly car allowance, $35,000 a year in deferred compensation, and a $4,000 “longevity” bonus.

Yesterday we provided the lowdown on the swell deals benefiting ASU President Michael Crow and his wife Sybil Francis. His annual salary of $475,000 plus benefits now comes in at $742,500. That includes a $50,000 housing allowance to assist in maintaining their exclusive $1,250,000 Paradise Valley digs, and $10,000 yearly car allowance. The ASU Foundation on which his wife serves as a “senior advisor” kicks in an additional $100,000 annually in compensation. His yearly perks include $85,500 pension and $22,000 in retirement. Annual step-up bonuses are part of the deal: 2013: Up to $40,000, 2014: Up to $40,000 and the major step-up in 2015: Up to $180,000 for exceeding “benchmarks.” Wifey Sybil Francis rakes in a six-figure income from the university, but the exact amount is elusive.

Taxpayer’s heads should be swimming with the news already provided.  But then comes the deal of deals that Betsey Bayless, the CEO and president of Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS) has brokered. She just received a hefty $125,000 raise. Her base salary soared 33% overnight, from $375,003 to $500,000 — excluding benefits.

Bayless will also be allowed to enter into a 409A retirement scheme into which she contributes not a thin dime, but MIHS makes all contributions.  If that’s not enough, she will garner up to a additional $125,000 by meeting various “performance goals.” Not bad for an unqualified, but well-connected political hack with one foot already out the door.

The five-member Board of Directors of the state’s largest public health-care system approved the raise this past week on a 3-2 vote. Check out the front page of the Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Budget Book. Longtime politico and perennial appointee Bayless is pictured center right, smiling broadly, of course, while oddly wearing a doctor’s coat.

According to a report in the daily, Bayless was set to retire from her position last year. But on Dec. 31, the last day of her term, the board extended her contract while a search is underway for her replacement. Board Chairwoman Susan Gerard, a longtime Bayless associate, and board member Elbert Bicknell, voted against the pay raise. The three newly elected board members Mary Harden, Mark Dewane and Terence McMahon, who could afford to take the heat, approved the increase, saying they wanted to give Bayless a raise since the national search firm for Bayless’ replacement regarded her salary “well below” the median range for others in comparable positions.

Let’s put this all in perspective: The $217,400 salary of the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court pales in comparison. The President of the United States, whose base salary tops out at $400,000 a year, trails both Michael Crow and Betsey Bayless. David Cavazos is right on the POTUS’ tail and has left Justice John Roberts in the dust.

These lavish gifts are your tax dollars, folks.

Gov. Brewer deceives Arizonans on ObamaCare

Brewer pulls out all stops stoking the coals of Socialism

You might not have heard of Steven T. Miller. Neither had we. Turns out Mr. Miller is the Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement at the IRS. He’s got a 73 page memo for us on a little nugget called “Shared Responsibility Payment for Not Maintaining Minimum Essential Coverage.”  Of course he’s talking about ObamaCare, although Miller refers to it as the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.”

In a nutshell, he’s letting us in on the fact that the average family of four will see their health premiums soar to $20,000 a year. The IRS’s assumption that the cheapest plan for a family will cost $20,000 per year is found in examples given to help people understand how to calculate the penalty they will need to pay the government if they do not buy a mandated health plan.

Obama’s health care law will push 7 million people out of their job-based insurance coverage — nearly twice the previous estimate, according to the latest numbers from the Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday.  CBO said that this year’s tax cuts have changed the incentives for businesses and made it less attractive to pay for insurance, meaning fewer will decide to do so. Instead, they’ll choose to pay a penalty to the government, totaling $13 billion in higher fees over the next decade. Overall, the new health provisions are expected to cost American taxpayers $1.165 trillion over the next decade.

Meanwhile, Arizona’s switcheroo Gov. Brewer has introduced two websites to gin up public support for her Medicaid expansion. Brewer, a new-found and disappointing ObamaCare convert, has aligned with a left-leaning coalition of what she grandly terms, “Arizona’s premier business leaders and health care advocates voicing support for the expansion of the State’s Medicaid program.”  The Arizona Catholic Conference is also onboard this collectivist train. Brewer has pulled out all stops in an effort to win support from the GOP legislators she needs for approval, as she takes the issue directly to their constituents, hoping they will exert pressure. Brewer misrepresents her capitulation on this vital issue as “the conservative choice for Arizona.” (website)

Remember Obama vowed his plan would result in premiums dropping by $2500? He said that the deficit and our spending problem was largely due to health care, and ObamaCare was going to fix that.

Here’s the Liar-in-Chief telling us “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it.  If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.”

 

Gov. Brewer surrenders to ObamaCare expansion

 Switcheroo exposes Brewer’s disappointing capitulation to federal overreach

The Wall Street Journal is in a take-no-prisoners mode and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is clearly in its sights as the newspaper refers to her “recent and spectacular flip-flop” on ObamaCare.

How right they are!

In a report titled The GOP’s ObamaCare Flippers How the law’s perverse incentives—and the health lobby—captured Arizona’s Governor, the newspaper reminds readers that in March 2010 Gov. Brewer wrote to Barack Obama calling the Affordable Care Act “a vast new entitlement program that our country does not have the resources to support” and also one that “makes our situation much worse, exacerbating our state’s fiscal woes by billions of dollars.” (Read Brewer’s March 10, 2010 letter.)

Arizona argued before the Supreme Court that the Medicaid mandate was unconstitutional, anti-federalist commandeering — and seven Justices agreed it was “a gun to the head” and allowed states to opt out without penalty.

But so much for that, the newspaper writes. In her State of the State address last month, Ms. Brewer pulled a political 180° — or maybe 540° — and said expanding Medicaid would “inject $2 billion into our economy and “save and create thousands of jobs.”

Our disappointment matches, if not exceeds, the Wall Street Journal’s. Gov. Brewer’s colossal acquiescence amid gimmickry and double talk is beyond comprehension. 

The complete WSJ article can be read here. 

Taking this hit should constitute a major embarrassment for Arizona’s governor. The Journal, which focuses on economic issues, is the largest newspaper in the United States by circulation.

Seeing Red AZ cheered Brewer’s actions (read her Nov. 28, 2012 statement) when we wrote AZ Gov. Brewer takes bold, opt-out action on ObamaCare.

The rejoicing was premature. Arizonans have been skunked by our Republican governor, and the stench is beyond putrid.

Robert Graham’s thoughtful assessment of AZ’s Medicaid expansion

Conservative activist and candidate for AZ Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham has released the following statement in response to Governor Jan Brewer’s announcement that she has agreed to a key component of Obamacare by expanding Medicaid:

“I want to commend Governor Brewer for her overall commitment to fiscal responsibility throughout her administration.  Under her leadership, Arizona has gone from a $3 billion deficit to an $800 million surplus.  She has tirelessly fought the Obama Administration to preserve Arizona’s rights on issues such as immigration policy and the implementation of a state-run healthcare exchange.  Last year, she was a leading critic of Proposition 204, which would have ushered in the largest permanent tax increase in Arizona history.

When it comes to the AHCCCS/Medicaid issue, I think the Governor has earned the opportunity to have her ideas heard and thoroughly discussed.  Like the Governor, I have been a long-time opponent to Obamacare.  I believe that not only is the program unacceptable public policy, but it is also unconstitutional. 

However, her announcement last week to pursue a large expansion of government healthcare within the state’s Medicaid program raises many unanswered questions. Conservative policy makers and fiscal organizations such as the Goldwater Institute have raised concerns about our state being able to afford these unfunded mandates in the very near future.

When the Supreme Court ruled on Obamacare last June, it gave states the right to decline the largest ever expansion of the nearly 50-year old program.  The issue here is one of fiscal responsibility: can the federal government afford this?  Can Arizona really afford this? 

I urge the governor to continue her proven track record of standing up for states rights and the principles of a limited and fiscally responsible government.”

Please contact Governor Brewer’s office and share your thoughts today:

Phoenix: (602) 542-4331      Tucson: (520) 628-6580

As most of you know, Robert Graham is the conservative running for chairman of the Arizona Republican Party. The election at which elected state delegates will cast their votes for AZ GOP intra-party leadership will be this Saturday, January 26, 2013.

Seeing Red AZ wholeheartedly supports Robert Graham’s candidacy.

To learn more about Robert Graham and his plan for Arizona’s Republican Party, visit his website.  Be sure to check out his impressive — and growing –  list of endorsements.

Nat’l Review slams Brewer’s ObamaCare $urrender

Calls her justifications for deficit-expanding measure “fiction”

The editors at the conservative National Review have taken aim at Arizona’s Gov. Jan Brewer in a piece called Brewer‘s Price, saying she exemplifies that “unfortunately common strain of Republican leadership that is uncompromising in rhetoric but opportunistic in reality.”

The article appropriately goes after her with unbridled fury in view of the Republican governor’s decision to sign off on the federal government’s plan to radically expand Medicaid eligibility.

They write, “We now know Jan Brewer’s price; as it turns out, it’s not even that high. Her explanation for her position has been, in short, that the people want it. But she is a governor, not a tribune of the plebs, and when the people demand actions that are destructive or irresponsible, it is the job of leaders to dissuade them and to advocate a wiser course of action.”

Arizonans recall that in 2011, Brewer, facing a fiscal crisis, called a special session of the Arizona legislature to address Medicaid expenses. She offered up a plan to reduce benefits and eliminate approximately 280,000 childless adult Arizonans who were added to the eligibility rolls in 2000. At the time, then-Senate President Russell Pearce explained the dire situation with these words: “We’re broke. We need the waiver so we can make (budget) decisions.”

The article points out that “as a country, we are no less broke today than we were then — in fact, we are even more broke, as the result of another trillion-dollar deficit. Gov. Brewer’s surrender on ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion is helping to make the country broker still.”

By acceding to this deficit-expanding measure, Gov. Brewer has done a long-term disservice to the people of her state. The Medicaid expansion will add some $800 billion to our national debt, even if the states themselves spend “only $8 billion.”

Read the complete National Review article here. You’ll feel like spitting nails, too.