Legislative Update

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Join a reporter from the Arizona Capitol Times for a weekly update on the legislature.

Ted Simons: LAWMAKERS REVIVE A MEDICAL CARE PRICING BILL, AND SEND A GUN MEASURE TO THE GOVERNOR. HERE NOW WITH OUR MIDWEEK LEGISLATIVE UPDATE IS LUIGE DEL PUERTO FROM THE "ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES." WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE BUDGET, FIRST?

Luige del Puerto: IT'S ALREADY APRIL, MIDDLE OF APRIL ALREADY, AND WE STILL DON'T HAVE A BUDGET. WHETHER HE IS PREPARED AS LEADER OF THE SENATE TO GO AHEAD AND PASS THEIR OWN SENATE PROPOSAL WITHOUT THE GOVERNOR'S BUY-IN. BASICALLY PROD THE PROCESS ALONG. THE TACTIC HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE TO GET THE TWO SIDES MOVING IF THERE'S A STALEMATE OR SO. HE'S NOT PREPARED TO PICK A FIGHT WITH THE GOVERNOR OVER THE BUDGET. AS LONG AS THE TWO SIDES ARE MEETING AND THEY ARE MEETING REGULARLY AT STAFF TO STAFF LEVEL. AS LONG AS THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND AGREEING ON NUMBERS AND IN THE ROOM TOGETHER, HE SAID WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

Ted Simons: IF HE WERE TO SEND SOMETHING OUT, THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY A "BRING IT ON" KIND OF MESSAGE?

Luige del Puerto: YES. IT WOULD BE HIM POKING THE GOVERNOR IN THE EYE INDIRECTLY.

Ted Simons: THE ENCOURAGING NEWS IS THEY ARE TALKING, THERE IS NEGOTIATION, THERE MAY BE YELLING AND SCREAMING, BUT IT'S BEHIND DOORS.

Luige del Puerto: HE SAID IN FACT THINGS WOULD HAPPEN VERY QUICKLY IF THEY GET TO SOME POINT WHERE THEY ARE READY TO PROPOSE A BUDGET THAT HAS THE BUY-IN OF BOTH SIDES, THINGS CAN MOVE VERY QUICKLY.

Ted Simons: THINGS MOVED FAR AS A BILL INVOLVING -- A LOT OF CITIES HAVE A GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAM. THEY BUY THE STUFF AND MELT IT DOWN AND WE ALL MOVE ON. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

Luige del Puerto: ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO THE STATE LEGISLATURE ENACTED A LAW THAT BASICALLY REQUIRED THE POLICE TO SELL THE GUNS THEY CONFISCATED DURING THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME TO LICENSED FIREARMS DEALERS. THERE'S A LOOPHOLE IN THAT LAW. THAT LOOPHOLE IS BEING EXPLOITED BY SOME CITIES. THE CITY OF TUCSON HAS GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAMS. THE ARGUMENT IS THAT THE GUNS THAT SHOULD BE SOLD TO LICENSED FIREARMS DEALERS ARE THE GUNS THAT WERE CONFISCATED. THESE ARE NOT GUNS THAT WERE FORFEITED OR CONFISCATED, THEY WERE VOLUNTARILY TURNED IN BY THE GUN OWNERS. THEY ARE OLD, NOT USEABLE, THEY ARE NOT DEFINED AS THE ONES THAT SHOULD BE ASSIGNED TO LICENSED FIREARMS DEALERS. THIS YEAR LAWMAKERS WHO ARE PRO-GUN INTRODUCED A BILL, THAT'S BEEN PASSED NOW BY BOTH BODIES, THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, THAT BASICALLY SAID, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE MAY NOT OR SHOULD NOT OR CANNOT FACILITATE THE DESTRUCTION OF A FIREARM. BASICALLY STOPS TUCSON FROM DESTROYING THEIR FIREARMS THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE RECOVERED FROM THEIR GUN BUY-BACK PROGRAM.

Ted Simons: WHY?

Luige del Puerto: WELL, THERE IS -- THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. AS YOU KNOW, ARIZONA HAS ALWAYS HAD A VERY STRONG TRADITION WHEN IT COMES TO THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS. THERE IS A STRONG SEGMENT, A STRONG NUMBER OF LAWMAKERS WHO JUST DON'T THINK GUNS SHOULD BE DESTROYED, THAT THEY THINK THE CITIES ARE WASTING THEIR TIME BY BUYING ALL THESE GUNS AND THEN DESTROYING THEM, THAT THERE'S A BETTER USE TO THEM BY CIRCULATING THEM BACK INTO THE MARKET AND HAVING RETURNS AS A RESULT.

Ted Simons: I GUESS YOU COULD ARGUE THAT CITIES ARE WASTING MONEY BY MELTING THESE THINGS DOWN?

Luige del Puerto: THAT'S PART OF THE ARGUMENT. THERE WAS A VERY SPIRITED DEBATE AS YOU COULD IMAGINE. THIS IS THE FIRST GUN BILL OUT OF THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR AND IT DEALS WITH THE SUBJECT. SOME PEOPLE ARE UPSET BY THAT. HEY, WHY ARE WE WASTING OUR TIME DISCUSSING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE WHEN WE SHOULD DISCUSS THE LARGER PROBLEMS OF SOCIETY REGARDING MENTAL ILLNESS AND GUNS AND GUNS SAFETY.

Ted Simons: THE GOVERNOR LIKELY TO SIGN THIS?

Luige del Puerto: YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S SO TOUGH TO SEE IN ADVANCE OR EVEN HAVE A SENSE HOW THE GOVERNOR WOULD ACT ON GUN BILLS. IN THE MAIN SHE HAS BEEN VERY PRO-GUN, SHE HAS BEEN A GREAT ALLY OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. BUT SHE HAS VETOED PROPOSALS TO EXPAND GUN USE BEFORE. SO IT'S TOUGH TO SAY HOW SHE WOULD RESPOND ON THIS PARTICULAR BILL.

Ted Simons: IT ALSO SEEMS SHE GETS A LITTLE TOUCHY WHEN IT COMES TO STATES MEDDLING WITH COUNTIES AND CITY ACTIVITIES.

Luige del Puerto: THAT'S A RECURRING THEME IN PREVIOUS ACTIONS SHE HAS MADE. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE AND THEREFORE BEST TO DEAL WITH ISSUES. I'M NOT SURE IF THAT EXTENDS INTO THE GUN ISSUE. BUT SHE PREFERS THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEALS WITH LOCAL ISSUES.

Ted Simons: THE SENATE REVIVED THIS MEDICAL CARE PRICING BILL. THIS WAS VETOED AND THE SPONSOR WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT AND COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. BRING IT BACK AND TRY AGAIN?

Luige del Puerto: SHE HAS AMENDED THE VETOED BILL ONTO ANOTHER LEGISLATION TO REVIVE IT. NOW IT'S BACK ON THE TABLE AND LET'S SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES ASSUMING IT GETS TO HER DESK.

Ted Simons: THE IDEA IS THAT YOU HAVE TO POST EVERY HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL FACILITY, THEY HAVE TO POST PRICES FOR COMMON MEDICAL PROCEDURES?

Luige del Puerto: I WENT TO AN ORTHOPEDIC DOCTOR, I HAD MY COPAY, WHICH WAS ABOUT 40$, BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT COSTS. THE HEALTH FACILITY OR HOSPITAL WOULD POST THE MOST COMMON PRICES OF THE MOST COMMON SERVICES THEY OFFER, JUST TO GIVE AN IDEA TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT -- MAYBE DON'T HAVE AN INSURANCE BUT THEY ARE PAYING CASH, TO GIVE AN IDEA HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY. THERE'S THE IDEA TO BRING THE PRICES DOWN. YOU SHINE A LIGHT ON HOW MUCH THESE FOLKS ARE CHARGING YOU'LL PROBABLY BRING DOWN THE PRICES AS A RESULT OF COMPETITION.

Ted Simons: I WOULD IMAGINE THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY IS NOT SUPPORTING THIS.

Luige del Puerto: NO, THEY ARE NOT, THE HOSPITALS ARE AGAINST IT, MEDICAL SOCIETIES ARE AGAINST IT. THEY WILL WEIGH INTO THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO VETO THIS BILL.

Ted Simons: WILL THAT WEIGH INTO HER NEXT BILL, AS WELL? THE MEDICAID BILL IS STILL SITTING OUT THERE.

Luige del Puerto: WE DON'T KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT IT IS TRUE OR NOT, THE GOVERNOR MAY BE SENDING A MESSAGE, HEY, LOOK, I WANT MY MEDICAID PROPOSAL THROUGH. UNLESS I GET THAT ONE, YOU'RE NOT GETTING YOURS.

Ted Simons: YOU THINK SHE'S GOING TO SIGN THIS NEW AMENDED VERSION?

Luige del Puerto: THE CLOSEST WE CAN GAUGE WAS A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN SHE VETOED A PROPOSAL TWICE. THEY SENT IT TO HER, SHE SAID NO. THEY SENT IT TO HER, SHE SAID NO AGAIN.

Ted Simons: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

Luige del Puerto: THANK YOU.

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