Thursday, October 7, 2010

Arizona Child Health Day?

Posted By on Thu, Oct 7, 2010 at 2:49 PM

Did you miss the fanfare on Monday?

OK, perhaps it wasn't fanfare, but more like another potential skit for SNL or more fodder for Comedy Central or Rachel Maddow.

Evidently, Gov. Jan Brewer declared Oct. 4 Arizona Child Health Day.

According to a story from Capitol Media Services' Howard Fischer, at the same time Brewer declared the special day, she also defended state cuts to child health programs.

From Fischer's story:

Brewer said the formal declaration is designed to focus on preventative care for children, including ensuring they eat good food and exercise. She said there is nothing inconsistent about the proclamation she signed and the spending cuts she has championed.

“I think today we’re celebrating preventative care for children which we all know is very, very important to that young population to make them aware of that they can be in fact in control of their destiny in regards to properly eating good food and watching that they don’t become obese and exercise daily,’’ the governor said of the proclamation.

The move, though, comes after state lawmakers — with Brewer’s approval — have closed off enrollment to the Kids Care program, which provides health insurance to the children of the working poor, including preventative health care. That has left more than 20,000 eligible children without care.

She also wants voters to approve Proposition 302. That would kill the First Things First program designed to improve early childhood health and development.

Brewer would not talk about those moves specifically, other than to say the cuts are unfortunate. But she did acknowledge the state’s financial situation is going to require even more spending cuts.

“Now, where those will be made is not entirely clear,’’ the governor said. “But we know that we cannot sustain what Arizona has been providing for in the past because of what has happened with the economy and the revenues.’’