I’m voting no on Prop 409; here’s why

Independent Newsmedia

In my opinion, Proposition 409 wants Maricopa County taxpayers to voluntarily increase their own property taxes so that every indigent street drug addict and undocumented individual who fall into the “underserved” or “uninsured” category are given free emergency services.

The sad part is, there are individuals and families who struggle paying for their own health care, childcare and general living expenses.

Yet Sen. Ruben Gallego, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and the Maricopa County Special Health Care District Board of Directors use this ballot initiative to claim those same struggling taxpayers should pay higher property taxes so the homeless and those here illegally get free taxpayer-funded care. That is Prop 409.

Editor’s note: All Arizona hospitals that accept Medicare, including Valleywise Health, are required to provide emergency treatment to all patients regardless of their financial or immigration status. Valleywise accepts private insurance, Medicaid (AHCCCS) and Medicare, and offers financial assistance programs including a sliding fee scale for eligible uninsured patients. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.