As Your Representative, I abide by the following principles when introducing and voting on legislation:

• Fiscal Integrity and Responsibility
• Consistency with Goals
• Common Sense Decisions
• Accountability to my Constituents
• Must be in Arizona’s Best Interests

Salute Independence Saturday, May 11

A family event for active duty military, veterans, their families and those that support the military

WHO: Active duty service members, military veterans, families and friends, along with professionals who work with the military. Hosted by Fox 10’s Jude La Cava and nationally syndicated radio host and USA Today columnist Kim Komando

WHAT: Free event with family-friendly activities and entertainment, highlighting Canine Companions assistance dogs for wounded vets, plus area organizations that provide services and support to active duty service members, veterans, people with disabilities and their families

WHERE: Heard Museum, 2301 North Central Avenue in Phoenix

WHEN: Saturday, May 11, 10am-2pm

WHY: Launch the national partnership of Canine Companions for Independence® and PetSmart® in support of our veterans with disabilities who can benefit from an assistance dog

• See if an assistance dog is right for you, become a volunteer puppy raiser, support the Canine Companions Wounded Veterans Initiative and meet puppies and trained service dogs.
• Get information from area veterans’ services organizations, including colleges, health services and more.
• Enjoy entertainment for the whole family including live entertainment, the Phoenix Suns Hip Hop Squad, “meet the puppy” photo ops, autographs and more!

Sponsored by Canine Companions for Independence^® and PetSmart^®

cci.org/salutes 1-800-572-BARK

I was very surprised, and deeply honored to receive the 2012 Arizona Lawmaker of the Year award from the Cancer Action Network. I am in tears, attempting an acceptance speech, standing on the dais with two of the bravest women I know.  Bobbi Thayer was the catalyst for the successful legislation Rep. Matt Heinz and I passed last year to provide uninsured low income women treatment for breast and cervical cancer.  Laura was one of the first women to qualify for treatment under the new law.  These ladies are Cancer Fighters, an inspiration to all, and advocates for cancer victims everywhere.  In honor of them, and in honor of my beloved brother Mike, I stand with them in their fight against cancer.

2012 Arizona Legislative Session Report

The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network saw great success in Arizona’s 2012 legislative session. ACS CAN members can take pride in passing the top three goals on our legislative agenda, including an enhanced treatment component to the state’s breast and cervical cancer treatment program that could help more than 1,000 vulnerable women in Arizona receive treatment through Medicaid.

What was offered as bi-partisan legislation, sponsored by state Representatives Kate Brophy McGee and Matt Heinz and known as HB2472, was ultimately passed as part of the state budget that was signed by Governor Brewer last week. The budget allocates $2 million for the treatment of uninsured women who have incomes of less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level and are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer. Currently, only women who are screened through the Arizona Well Woman HealthCheck Program are eligible for Medicaid treatment following a cancer diagnosis. This new policy strongly supported by ACS CAN and its advocate partners will allow any qualifying woman regardless of the location of her diagnosis to receive treatment through Medicaid. The effective date of the policy change is expected to be Aug. 2, 2012.

Additionally, state legislators appropriated $1.3 million for breast and cervical cancer screening to fund the Well Woman HealthCheck Program. At a time when budget tightening is continuing, we pushed to maintain level funding for this important program.

Finally, a strong stand against an emerging tobacco issue has begun with the passage of Representative Kimberly Yee’s HB2034, which prohibits the use or possession of hookah by people under the age of 18.

ACS CAN advocates also put a stop to an initiative effort that would have put 70% of Arizona’s tobacco tax and our hard-won smoke free law in jeopardy with perpetual six-year “re-votes” of these issues. More than 1,000 calls were made to key legislators by ACS CAN members and volunteers over a ten day period, convincing lawmakers that this truly is a bad idea.

Thanks to you, ACS CAN made a positive impact on the 2012 legislative session in Arizona!

I was very honored to be the featured speaker at Friday’s Phoenix Rotary 100, where I provided a legislative update on four Hot Topics for the 2013 Legislature – Budget, Medicaid Expansion, TPT (Sales Tax) Reform, and CPS (Child Protective Service) Reforms.

Representative Brophy McGee was given special recognition for sponsoring a bill, HB 2063. The legislation included walk-in and urgent care services in the definition of allowable community health center services. The bill arrived on the Governor’s desk without a single vote in opposition and the Governor signed it into law on March 27, 2012.

Representative Kate Brophy McGee works to protect Arizona’s Children

 PHOENIX, AZ – House Bill 2502, sponsored by Representative Kate Brophy McGee, passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer late this afternoon.  The bill, first to be passed in the 2013 Session, will provide much needed funding to the overwhelmed Child Protective Services (CPS).

 Representative Brophy McGee’s bill appropriates an additional $4.5 million to CPS for hiring 50 new CPS caseworkers and support staff in the current fiscal year.  Regarding the bill’s passage, Brophy McGee stated, “This action provides critical assistance in the current fiscal year for Child Protective Services to help Arizona’s most vulnerable children.  I’m honored and thankful that the Governor, House and Senate leadership fast-tracked this bill, and that all our members – new and returning – recognized how important this legislation is and voted for it.”

CPS has been faced with a significant backlog of cases due to a surge in new cases and prior budget cuts.  Under the direction of Director Clarence Carter, the agency has focused on streamlining and efficiencies in operation.  But the increase in active cases has stressed the agency beyond its resources.  McGee went on to say “I am thankful for the bipartisan cooperation between the legislature and the Governor.  I will ensure the legislature continues to monitor this issue and remains active in efforts to protect Arizona’s most vulnerable.”

I am proud to join with Rep. Heather Carter in sponsoring legislation aimed at ending the stigma associated with mental health.  Recognizing and treating mental illness is essential to the health of individuals, families and communities.  Mental illness is difficult to impossible to treat if not understood as a disease of the body, just like diabetes, heart disease and other chronic ailments.

By Mary K. Reinhart

The Republic | azcentral.com

The House Health Commit­tee unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would elimi­nate archaic and offensive lan­guage from state law when de­scribing mental illness.

House Bill 2066, sponsored by committee Chairwoman Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek, and Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, strikes the state’s definition of a mentally ill per­son.

Current state law defines a “mentally ill person” as “an idi­ot, an insane person, a lunatic or a person non compos.” Non compos is from the Latin non compos mentis, or “not of sound mind.”

Jill Hogan, a member of the Arizona Peer and Family Coali­tion, proposed the bill to Carter as a way to reduce stigma sur­rounding mental illness. The co­alition advocates for improve­ments in behavioral-health pol­icy. Hogan and other family members and people with men­tal illness spoke in support of the bill at Wednesday’s commit­tee hearing.

Krista Long told the panel she’s a mother of three teens, in­cluding a boy who has struggled with issues for most of his life.

“He’s had lots of labels,” she said. “I prefer to call him intelli­gent, sweet and empathetic.”

The bill now goes to the House floor.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired the entire country to greater heights.  It is my hope on this holiday that we continue to be inspired, especially at the State Legislature, to act with courage and the knowledge that we are doing the right thing for Arizonans: protecting our rights and freedoms as best we are able.  Thank you for your continuing support of my efforts, and I hope to see you at my next “Coffee With Kate” on January 28^th, 8:00 am, at the Eye Opener on Hatcher.  My guest speaker will be Lorenzo Romero, Director of Fiscal Policy for the House of Representatives, who will provide a legislative update, including information about the Governor’s budget and the proposed Medicaid expansion.  Also, Senate Majority Whip Adam Driggs of Legislative District 28 is invited.  I hope to see you there.

Dear friends and family and supporters:

Thank you for your vote of confidence returning me to the Arizona House. I am deeply honored and humbled by Tuesday’s outcome.

This successful election would not have happened without you! From hosting fundraisers and meet and greets, to door-knocking and phone banking, we covered our new district end to end. Your dedication ensured my re-election.

Going forward, I will continue to advance priorities that matter to you – maintaining a balanced budget, growing our economy and creating high quality jobs while restoring funding to critical services, including education and healthcare.

I have a deep, unshakable faith in Arizona – in our families, businesses and communities – and I am committed to working with my colleagues in the legislature to build an Arizona our children and grandchildren will call home.

As preparations commence for the upcoming legislative session, let us give thanks for the many blessings we celebrate as a state and a country. I wish you and your loved ones every blessing, and a joyful Thanksgiving and holiday season.

Sincerely,

Kate