Obama may visit Ed Pastor in PHX on Wed, Sept. 2nd

Updated 28 August 2009

A) Town Halls Hosted by Undecided Members of Congress

B) Town Halls Hosted by Enthusiasts of Big-Govt Health Care
(Including a possible Obama visit on Sept. 2nd)

C) Town Halls Hosted by Advocates of Health Care Freedom

A) Town Halls Hosted by Undecided Members of Congress

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has announced that she is making herself available to discuss health insurance reform at the following locations, on the following dates:

Monday, August 31st—Sierra Vista
6:00 to 8:00 pm
Buena Performing Arts Center
5225 Buena School Blvd, Sierra Vista
520-459-3115 or RSVPGiffords.CochiseCounty@mail.house.gov
Or AZ08.InsuranceReform@mail.house.gov

Tuesday, Sept 1st—Green Valley
9:00 to 11:00 am
Social Center, 1111 Via Arcoiris, Green Valley
520-881-3588 or RSVPGiffords.GreenValley@mail.house.gov
Or AZ08.InsuranceReform@mail.house.gov

Tuesday, Sept 1st--Tucson
6:00 to 8:00 pm
Saguaro High School
545 N Camino Seco, Tucson
520-881-3588 or RSVPGiffords@mail.house.gov
Or AZ08.InsuranceReform@mail.house.gov

Originally, Giffords asked would-be town hall participants to give her office their names, addresses and phone numbers, and to type “I want to discuss health insurance reform” in the email subject line. Now, we hear that the events are first-come, first-served. (Show up early!)

Request for Congresswoman Giffords

Giffords stated in a recent email that she “will only support reform that protects our choice of doctor and hospital” and “is glad that no serious consideration is being given to any reform plan that would restrict people from keeping their private insurance.” AFP Arizona respectfully requests that Giffords reconcile that statement with the following provisions of HR 3200:

• Section 102(b), which mandates that after five years, all health care plans will have to meet a new federal definition for a “qualified” health care plan;

• Section 122 (c)(3), which would prohibit the structure currently used in Health Savings Accounts (HSAs);

• Section 102(c), which would mandate the acquisition of plans approved by the federal government by persons who choose to make any changes their employer-provided plans, or who get different plans, in the next five years;

• Section 102(a), which would mandate the acquisition of a federally-approved plan by any person whose insurance company makes any additions to his or her private, individual plan; and,

• Section 412, which allows employers to dump individuals onto the government plan.

Thursday, September 3—Holbrook Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick will host a Navajo County Forum on health care policy at the Holbrook High School Auditorium, 455 N. 8th Avenue, Holbrook, AZ 86025, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Doors open at 4:30 pm.

Friday, September 4—Coolidge Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick will hold a town hall on health care policy in Pinal County, at the Central Arizona College’s Pence Center, 8470 N. Overfield Road, Coolidge, AZ 85128, from 1:00 to 2:30 pm. Doors open at noon.

B) Town Halls Hosted by Enthusiasts of Big-Government Health Care

Saturday, August 29--Phoenix Phoenix Health Reform Public Forum, Aug. 29, 10 a.m. to noon, Phoenix College Bullpit Auditorium, 1202 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix, Ariz. Details at www.azhealthreform.com

Wednesday, September 2—Phoenix We have heard rumors that enthusiasts of government-controlled national health care are going to meet with President Barack Obama at the office of Congressman Ed Pastor, at 411 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85004, beginning at noon. We’ll keep you posted…

C) Town Halls Hosted by Advocates of Health Care Freedom

Friday, August 28—Tucson The Tucson Tea Party will host a Health Care Town Hall called “Positive Reforms for American Healthcare” in the Rincon High School Auditorium, at 421 N. Arcadia (south of Fifth Street, one block east of Swan Road), beginning at 6:30 pm. The Tucson Tea Party has invited Representatives Gabrielle Giffords and Raúl Grijalva to participate. The Town Hall will feature several panelists, including economist Byron Schlomach of the Goldwater Institute and Tucson physicians Lee Vliet and Jane Orient.

Monday, August 31—San Tan Congressman Jeff Flake will hold a (real, live) Town Hall meeting at Poston Butte High School (in Pinal County), from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Directions to PBHS can be found here: http://pbhs.fusdaz.org/directions

Monday, August 31—Flagstaff The Tea Party Express national bus tour will stop in Flagstaff at 6:00 pm on Monday, August 31, across from the Radisson Woodlands Hotel at 1160 W. Route 66 AFP Arizona’s Tom Jenney will speak at the event. For local coordination, please contact John Echols: johnechols@johnechols.com

More info on the Flagstaff train stop: http://www.teapartyexpress.org/tour/flagstaff.html

TBA AFP Arizona is planning to host a new statewide series of Taxpayer Town Halls beginning in September, featuring federal issues, such as health care reform, and state issues, such as the ongoing budget deficit crisis. We will also post information about various Tea Party events coming up in September, including 912 events.