Pinal County Supervisors Approve New Health District
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has unanimously aplproved the creation of a health district funded by a small increase in the sales tax. The tax will raise about $4 million annually (it amounts to a thin dime on a $100 purchase) and will be used to expand operating hours at public clinics around the county and to purchase and operate mobile health vans to visit local schools and communities. The first project is to increase the rate of immunizations for children under the age of five years. Statistics show that only half of Pinal’s children are immunized against various diseases like polio before they enter school. The national rate of immunizations is nearly 80%. Furthermore, as many Pinal children are home schooled, a sizable percentage of these kids never get the vaccines.
Click here to read the short story regarding approval in the East Valley Tribune.
The SaddleBrooke Democrats and the Pinal Democrats are especially pleased by this action. As hard to believe as it may seem, the Republicans led by an Oracle activist, mounted a drive to oppose and disrupt the creation of the health district. In response, the SaddleBrooke Democrats and Pinal Democrats sent hundreds of emails to supporters all over Pinal County. We asked friends all over to send emails of support to the Supervisors. We are pleased to say that many many emails were sent and that quite a few Democrats showed up to the public hearing held last month and to the Supervisor’s meeting held this week.
The Republicans showed up and argued that no public monies should be spent on child immunizations. Further they argued that such immunizations were contrary to the religious beliefs of some. One person even stood up and said that child immunizations were not scientifically proved and that their administration could lead to autism. Is it really possible that the Republicans have forgotten polio? Are these the family values they talk about? Shame on them!