Republicans take aim at universal health care
In the Legislature, Republicans are moving House Concurrent Resolution 2014 forward. The effort at a 2010 ballot issue would do essentially what one narrowly rejected by voters last year would have done: protect the for-profit health care industry.

The new ballot issue would "Prohibit any law or rule from directly or indirectly compelling any person or employer to participate in any health care system." Freedom of choice. Very compelling. Except there is another way to look at it. If appoved, this would prevent consideration of any type of universal health care proposal in Arizona.

Are we ready to close out that option? With more than a million Arizonans without health insurance, and hundreds of thousands of others in perilous insurance situations, closing any options is grossly premature.

Rep. Phil Lopez (D-Tuscon) had it right when he told the Arizona Republic, "This is an ideologically driven effort because they don't like government, and they don't want government running health care."

Why not have a domestic-partner registry ballot issue?
Phoenix is about to have a domestic-partner registry thanks to a 6-0 City Council vote this week. Phoenix follows Tucson in granting unmarried gay and straight couples hospital visitation rights.

The catch is it will cost couples $50 once the registry begins on Feb. 9. Read the Arizona Republic article here.

While it's a small step, it's the right thing to do. Which prompts the question: Why not have a ballot issue to make the domestic-partner registry a statewide right -- with little or no charge? It would be a good way to take the gay-rights fight public on an issue that is winnable. Even better, pressure state legislators to create the ballot issue themselves. Too many Republican legislators, and perhaps a few Democrats as well, have ducked the issue. They fall back on "marriage is between one man and one women" -- a concept which has widespread public support -- and they rarely get pushed beyond that.

Progressives need to look for better ways to frame issues in Arizona. This would be a good start.