Getting a kick out of the Yellow Sheet Reports coverage of the AZ01 debate. I was there last night and flabbergasted at this response: At a debate in Tucson last night, Tobin blamed Obamacare for S1062. “The bill wouldn’t have been necessary if it wasn’t for Obamacare, because it looked for protections in the First Amendment,” he said. Asked to clarify the statement, Tobin’s campaign manager Bill Cortese didn’t say how the federal health care law could force Arizona businesses to violate their religious convictions – the stated purpose of the legislation – but said that Tobin “was glad to see the governor ultimately veto the bill given the concerns raised by opponents.” The bizarre statement, which drew laughs from some debate attendees, came after Kirkpatrick accused Tobin of ramming S1062 through the Legislature without consulting the business community, which “almost cost us the Super Bowl.” Tobin claimed that, despite being Speaker and the ultimate authority over what legislation gets a vote in the House, he was not at the negotiating table for the bill – but that the business community was. “First off, the business community was at the table, I wasn’t,” Tobin said.... Arizona Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Garrick Taylor said the business community was not at the table on the bill, and the Center for Arizona Policy never asked the Chamber’s opinion. Arizona Democratic Party Executive Director DJ Quinlan said called Tobin’s statement about the bill being necessary because of Obamacare “ludicrous,” and said that Tobin threw the business community under the bus with his comments. “He was clearly the ringleader and major cheerleader of the bill... More than any other legislator, Tobin is the guy responsible for passing S1062, and it will be his legacy,” Quinlan said. Video of Tobin’s comment can be viewed at: youtu.be/ncfzXeFwx-Q?t=58m20s
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 00:48:35 +0000