Gov. Brewer Calls Surprise Special Session

By ArizonaLatinos staff

 Gov. Jan Brewer called lawmakers to a late night, surprise special session on Tuesday, bypassing leadership of her own party to push through Medicaid expansion as well as the 2014 budget. Governors may call special sessions to focus lawmakers on high-profile matters.

House Speaker Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, had adjourned the House session, stalling efforts by a bipartisan House coalition to pass Brewer’s 2014 budget and Medicaid expansion. So the governor pulled her power-play card.

Agreements among key Republican and Democratic lawmakers were made as special session plans were organized. Brewer issued a special session proclamation at 5 p.m., and by then Democrats and the expansion-friendly Republicans were already gathering on the House floor.

Matthew Benson, the governor’s spokesman, said Brewer had waited long enough, and that Tobin adjourning the House until Thursday was a signal to the governor that “it was time to move forward.”

He added that lawmakers have known of her intention to pass Medicaid expansion since January, but have refused to move on it. “This will allow the Legislature to complete the people’s business.”

Brewer’s expansion push resumes Wednesday, along with other bills that make up the fiscal 2014 state budget. The special session’s goal is to push the bill through by bipartisan coalitions in the House and Senate.

It’s expected to take three days to get the job done. Debate in the House and Senate is expected Wednesday, with final votes Thursday. House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, criticized the stalling Republicans, saying, “Enough games. The will of the majority is being subverted.” He cautioned that passage “isn’t a done deal yet.” He said that the adjournment and stalling was “not how this process is supposed to work.”

Logistically Brewer’s proposal would add an estimated 350,000 low-income Arizonans to Medicaid rolls, bring in billions in federal health-care dollars and prevent roughly 60,000 people from losing health insurance when a program for childless adults expires Dec. 31.

At least eight to 10 House Republicans are expected to join the chamber’s 24 Democrats in support of expansion, a coalition that has been loosely organized for months.

 To pay for the state’s increased costs associated with expanding the program, the plan includes a hospital assessment, or “bed tax,” allowing the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state’s Medicaid program, to bring in additional federal funding. Arizona already charges an assessment on insurance providers and nursing homes.