John Shadegg, former Arizona congressman, Arizona’s 3rd congressional district, who once called Obamacare a “Soviet-style gulag health care,” is now considering taking money to +sell components of it to Arizona legislators.
Shadegg told a Yellow Sheet reporter that he is “in discussion” with State Senate President Steve Pierce about being hired as a consultant. The Governor is pushing healthcare exchanges on the advice of her most trusted confidante, Chuck Coughlin. As a result, Pierce and Coughlin are reportedly lining up their ducks; including trying to get rid of Senator Frank Antenori, a vehement opponent to Obamacare.
According to the Yellow Sheet, “one legislative source said the plan is for Shadegg to help lawmakers deal with two overarching issues: whether the state will establish its own health care exchange and whether (and how much) Arizona expands its Medicaid population.”
Conservatives are opposing the exchange along with the Goldwater Institute and Americans for Prosperity. The Yellow Sheet quotes one unnamed source as saying “Someone needs to acknowledge that” Obamacare will not be repealed and “Shadegg is coming in to have that conversation with the more conservative crowd. Shadegg doesn’t bring any special health care acumen, but he brings a lot of political acumen.”