All three of my state legislators are 'Tea Party' Republicans. Hasn't always been so in Cochise County, but playing on people's fears does amazing things. There's some crazy laws being passed in Phoenix. And what's even crazier, is that many of those laws hurt the people in this southern Arizona county more than most. But, who ever said the 'Tea Party' was sane. So I sent an email the other day to hopefully enlighten and at least make it plain everyone in southern AZ isn't at the tea party.
To Legislative District 25 legislators:
As a resident of Leg. dist. 25, I just wanted to voice my opposition to SB 1433. As a loyal citizen and disabled army veteran that served for 10 years, I just find it ridiculous that the Arizona legislature would choose to pass a law that picks and chooses what US laws Arizona will follow. It's been a long time since I had US gov in college, but I'm pretty sure there's a 'supremacy clause' in the Constitution. It just seems bizarre that in a county that is so dependant on federal expenditures with many federal employees, that we would create laws that make felons of loyal federal workers for doing their legal jobs?
I also wanted to voice concern about the disenrollment of 250,000 Arizonans from AHCCSS. As an ER nurse and paramedic for 20 yrs, I am very concerned about what will happen to so many of these Arizonans. Of course we will see many of them in our ER's due to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, but that won't cover how they will get their prescriptions. In cities with 24 hour pharmacies, current Arizona law precludes them from providing 'take home' meds. So what happens to the 50 yr old painter who lives in Hereford diagnosed with pneumonia at Sierra Vista Regional who can't afford his antibiotics at Walgreens at 2 AM(and can't afford health insurance).
Several years ago, I had a case similar to this. A young woman who had a bladder infection, was prescribed an antibiotic on Monday in the ER. She returned to the ER that Friday by ambulance, the prescription in her pocket. She was septic, she died later that night. Her family stated she couldn't afford the prescription.
Apart from the individual tragedies, many of our rural hospitals will be severely impacted by the reveunue loss. Willcox hospital just laid off 12 employees. Copper Queen and Douglas hospital probably aren't in the greatest shape either. What will those communities do without them?
Arizona has serious problems. I would hope our represenatives will work towards serious solutions without partisan or ideological dogma. When I was serving in Desert Storm and Somalia, we were all Americans first and looked out for each other. I would hope y'all can remember that when your in Phoenix.
Respectfully,
'Troy' RN, CEN(certified emergency nurse)
US Army SGT 1990-2000
Hereford, AZ
