The state House is close to passing a bill that would require hospitals to ask patients their citizenship status.
Supporters say the measure is about addressing Medicaid fraud.
The measure would also require hospitals to send reports of those immigration responses to the governor, legislative leaders and secretary of state. The bill says names would not be included in those reports.
“Who is responsible for the state, for accounting for data if we’re not doing it?” Republican Rep. Selina Bliss (Prescott) asked on the House floor Wednesday.
Opponents say this bill would result in people staying home instead of seeking emergency medical care out of fear of deportation. Democrat Mariana Sandoval (Goodyear) shared her concerns that the immigration data would be compromised.
“Although it claims this data won’t be shared, history shows such assurances can be easily undermined as seen with the current administration’s information sharing initiatives between the IRS and USCIS,” Sandoval said.
The bill now awaits a formal House vote.
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Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a tax plan proposed by GOP lawmakers that would have aligned with the federal tax code. She also denied the state revenue department’s assertion that her own plan doesn’t align with their guidance. -
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is proposing a $17.7 billion state budget focused on affordability projects, but it relies on uncertain federal reimbursements and deals with Republicans that have yet to materialize. -
In a post, the State Department called Mexico’s progress on border security “unacceptable.” Meanwhile, Mexico’s president is calling on the United States to do more to stop the flow of firearms into her country. -
Public health agencies faced a chaotic few days after the Trump administration canceled more than $2 billion in grants for mental health and addiction programs, but then quickly reversed course. -
It wasn’t so long ago that comedy was practically synonymous with the left. But things have changed.
