Скачать или смотреть AZ GOP Reconvenes House to Hear Insurance Industry Bills

OK, I'm back in the saddle again. Back in the Arizona House, that is.

To be safe, I am doing Floor sessions on the floor with my mask and gloves but all other meetings remotely.

Today, we had a very interesting Democratic Caucus meeting in the morning. ASU data modeling scientists presented data and answered many questions about COVID19. Following that, the Grand Canyon Institute presented on unemployment and what a mess it was in Arizona, even before COVID19. Both of these presentations were excellent; it was such a breath of fresh air to hear the Grand Canyon Institute speak, instead of the Goldwater Institute! It gave me a glimpse of what the Arizona Legislature could be if the Democrats took control this year. (The meeting will be available in the Capitol TV archived videos.)

At the beginning of the floor session today, Rep. Arlando Teller from the Navajo Nation proposed sine die. This would have ended the session. The Navajo Nation is now at the same COVID19 infection rate as New York City according to recent news reports. Several Democrats gave speeches about focusing on the pandemic rather than focusing on pet legislation that is not an emergency. Both Teller and his seat mate Rep. Myron Tsosie talked about the friends and family who have been sick with the novel Coronavirus and those who have died. Rep. Kelly Townsend accused the Democrats of politicizing the issue. Teller's motion was vetoed on a party line vote.

What did the House Republicans do next? They put up 15-20 unnecessary or non-emergency bills, primarily about insurance or deregularion, for a vote.

Given the pandemic knocking at our doors, should we be passing a raft of Senator David Livingston's insurance industry bills or should we pass a short list of bipartisan bills that help the people of Arizona, end the session, and focus on COVID19 in special session?

I think fixing the dismal state of Arizona's unemployment insurance system, helping renters and homeowners keep their homes, expanding testing and contact tracing, and a laundry list of other COVID19 issues are more important than passing a bill that allows insurance companies to send you an email instead of a USPS document.

This video was originally posted on May 19, 2020 on Facebook. More from Rep. Pam Powers Hannley at PowersForThePeople.net.