Health Care Reform is a high priority of the Obama Administration and
has considerable support in the United States Congress. During the 2008
debates, President Obama stated he supported universal health care for
children but adults would have something significantly less.
Obama also stated health care would be available to all except
undocumented Hispanics. Act Arizona believes the health of all persons
living in the United States contributes to the well being of all
Americans. Having anyone sick in an American community has an adverse
impact on the entire community.
Recent movement on Capitol Hill and by major health-care players
suggests consensus is growing for action this year, but deep rifts
remain over how to pay for expanded coverage and whether a new
government-sponsored program should be offered to people who have
trouble buying private insurance.
A coalition of hospitals, insurers, employers, physicians, drug makers
and consumers released a report March 27 endorsing a set of policy
changes that could cut in half the number of uninsured Americans.
Most notably, the group, known as the Health Reform Dialogue, calls for
creating an "individual mandate" that would require every American to
have some type of health coverage. Anyone who cannot afford insurance
would be eligible for subsidies or expanded government programs such as
Medicaid.
"We should seek to ensure coverage for all," the group concluded after
six months of private, professionally facilitated negotiations.
Whatever federal program is
approved in Washington, Act Arizona is committed to off set all
individual costs to achieve free health care for all living in Arizona.
Act Arizona will establish a health insurance entity to
subsidize Arizona health insurance companies providing coverage in
Arizona.
All fees including health insurance premiums, co-pays and required
Medicare's out of pocket "donut" fees will be subsidized from revenue
from the La Playa del Sol Casino now being proposed in the Rio Salado south
of the downtown Phoenix area.
The private insurance companies will still receive the same amount of
revenue but instead of individuals paying a portion of the private
health insurance cost, the revenue from the La Playa del Sol Casino
proposed for downtown Phoenix will be used to subsidize individual costs
so there will be no individual costs for Phoenix area residents.
The proposed Phoenix casino is estimated
to generate $1.2 Billion annually for health care costs that will be
used to directly pay the private insurance companies in lieu of being
paid by individuals.
With
the inclusion of casino profits subsidizing private insurance companies,
medical services will be provided for all living in the Phoenix area at
no cost to individual or employer as subsidized by the Federal
government and Act Arizona using casino revenue.
If casino revenue falls short of achieving
free heath care costs for individuals, modest fees for premiums and
co-pays will be utilized.
Act Arizona proposes inclusion of all in
Arizona is defined as employers, employees, unemployed, children,
seniors (to eliminate all Medicare fees specifically prescription
drugs), disabled and all other Arizona residents with no exclusion by
pre-existing conditions.
City of Phoenix Candidates for
City Council, September 1, 2009
Robert D. Johnson,
District 4: Bob Johnson’s decision to run for City Council is a culmination of
years of commitment and dedication to Arizona and service to our community. As a
third generation Irish-American and the first in his family to graduate from
college (ASU 92) he understands working Arizonans, because that is what he is.
Mr. Johnson has always taken the lead to organize neighbors to be active and
involved. When his neighborhood needed leadership and direction, Mr. Johnson
stepped to the forefront to organize and with his neighbors to eliminate
graffiti, prostitution and drug trafficking. Mr. Johnson has worked in energy
efficiency for more than fifteen years. Helping business use less energy to
accomplish the same tasks saves money, lowers the amount of pollutants released
creating energy and will create green collar jobs that pay living wages. Bob’s
experience with working with and for local utilities across the US on Energy
Management Programs will ensure a strong energy management/efficiency focus on
the City Council.
Bob Johnson was the 2nd
Vice Chair of the Democratic Party in Legislative District 15. He has
coordinated numerous Democratic State Senate campaigns, worked as staff for
Democratic campaigns in KS and AZ and ran the Don Harris campaign for Maricopa
County Attorney (2004) through the successful Primary Election.
Bob Johnson has been a
dedicated advocate for the rights and needs of working families through services
to labor unions. Mr. Johnson has been an OIT, Organizer in Training, for AFSCME
International, an Organizer for the Communication Workers of America, Local 7026
and a graduate of the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute.
Bob Johnson has worked in
Energy Management/Efficiency for commercial and industrial clients for the last
15 years. Bob Johnson is holder of the Green Advantage Environmental
Certification-Commercial and has been involved in projects that have removed
thousand of tons of pollutants from our environment through energy efficiency
projects. This knowledge of the LEED certification process, sustainability
issues’ and energy management/efficiency programs will ensure that Phoenix
receives its fair share of the Federal Stimulus Monies.
A history of commitment to
public service makes Bob Johnson the ideal candidate to represent the people of
City Council, District 4. Mr. Johnson was an Arizona Ranger from 2002 to 2005.
He will fight for working families; with practical solutions to protect our
neighborhood from crime is what Phoenix City Council District 4 needs.
Robert D. Johnson, Centrist
Democrat, for Phoenix City Council District 4
Nathan Oshop,
District 6: A successful management background, and a passion for
humanity, is what Nathan Oshop aspires to bring to the People of
Phoenix. Born in Pittsburgh PA January 2, 1979, Nathan spent most of
his life living just outside Nashville, TN. There he found early
success in his first corporate management position with a national
oil change service. At the age of twenty Nathan was running a
multi-million dollar a year business that set new standards in
company efficiency, customer service, and volume. The Tennessee
housing boom of the early part of this century provided Nathan the
chance to hone his existing skills as well as adopt new ones. He
again quickly advanced from an entry-level laborer to superintendent
of a locally owned construction company. As the post 9/11 housing
boom began to slow, Nathan recognized the need to adapt his existing
skills to a more secure industry and started spending his increasing
amount of spare time washing dishes at a locally owned restaurant.
Six months later, he was the assistant manager, and general manger
with in a year of that. The local values of Small business combined
with an already strong skill set proved to be a profitable
combination. It also allowed Nathan the chance to network with the
managers and owners of the other local businesses. The open exchange
of ideas, concerns, and techniques with his colleagues proved to be
an experience that made him more effective as well as rekindled a
life time fire for politics.
Eager for fresh experience Nathan and his Long time Girlfriend moved
to Phoenix in 2008. She quickly found work following her passion as
a therapist, working with those with Autism and the related
disorders. Nathan struggled for months in the shrinking job market
and was eventually fortunate enough to find an entry-level position
with a multi-national retailer. The ability to contribute to his
household again, allowed Nathan to again focus on his passion, and
on May 1st, 2009, Nathan R. Oshop file his notice of candidacy to be
the Council representative for District 6, of the City of Phoenix.
When asked about his candidacy Nathan has this to say:
“The time has never been more right then now for change. I simply
want to be heard, and I want the people of Phoenix to be heard”-
Nathan Oshop. (http://site.beheardphoenix.org/Home.html)
Jon Garrido,
District 8: 5th generation Arizonan; U.S. Army, Vietnam era, 34th
General Hospital, 760th Medical Detachment; Magma Copper Company,
Superior, Arizona, Copper Miner, Member of AFL-CIO; City of Tucson
and Member of AFSCME, City Planner I, II & III, Economic
Development Coordinator, Federal Public Works Coordinator, prepared
application and obtained U.S. Department of Commerce approval
establishing Tucson Foreign Trade Zone; City of El Paso Executive
Director of Economic Development, Staff Director of El Paso
Industrial Development Authority, prepared application and obtained
U.S. Department of Commerce approval establishing El Paso Foreign
Trade Zone; Owner and CEO of JG Manufacturing Company, Cuidad
Juarez, Mexico; Director of Community Development, Salt River
Pima Maricopa Indian Community; Vice President for Planning and
Development, Valgroup (formerly largest real estate development
company in Arizona); Owner & CEO of The Jon Garrido News
Network (www.JonGarrido.com);
Founder and President of the Blue Dogs of the Democratic Party (www.BlueDogs.US),
and Member,
Arizona Coalition for a
State & National Health Plan.
Resume and family history at
The Jon
Garrido Story (http://PhxAZ.org/Jon_Garrido.htm).
Jon Garrido strongly believes today's biggest issue is the lack of
health care for all Arizonans. To address this need, Jon Garrido
proposes to build a casino as part of La Playa del Sol and have the
casino profit used to purchase medical health insurance from Arizona
health insurance providers so premiums, co-pays and the donut in
Medicare be subsidized by casino profits thus providing free health
care to all Arizonans.
