Universal health care...in Arizona?

A group from Tucson called Healthy Arizona, which has been responsible for past successful ballot initiatives to expand health insurance in our state, is pushing for a universal health care initiative to be on the ballot in 2008. The language of the initiative is expected to be finalized this fall. Meanwhile, in the legislature, House Democratic Leader Phil Lopes (also of Tucson) is continuing to push his plan for universal health coverage. Additionally, Governor Janet Napolitano has begun convening health care stake holders, and plans to introduce some proposal related to health care when the legislature comes back into session next January. Details on what the Governor is planning, as usual, are closely guarded (or more accurately, they are probably still deciding where they want to go). It's a sure bet that Napolitano will aim for something politically safer, and probably more incremental in nature, than Lopes or Healthy Arizona.

The two Napolitanos: Governor of Arizona, and President of Italy