Recent media clips from AZ on abortion, pensions

TUCSON -- Please read some recent media coverage below on abortion and pension issues in Arizona.

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Reuters March 24, 2011 (pro-choice): Radical big gov't Arizona Republicans continue attacks on women's rights, families & doctors.

Opponents said there is no clear evidence that abortions for reasons of race or sex are a problem in Arizona or other parts of the nation.

"I've got to stand against this big government intrusion and meddling in people's personal lives, that's all this is," Representative Daniel Patterson, a Democrat who voted against the measure, said on the House floor.


Arizona Capitol Times March 23, 2011 (pensions for police, firefighters, etc.) : 'Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, said that he hears promises that bills will be modified or improved after they are approved in committee too often, and those improvements never seem to happen.

He added that he was concerned by the speakers who said they felt like they had been left out of the process.

“We should take a more conservative approach, a more careful approach,” he said. “I don’t think we should rush through this and push people aside.”

The bill passed 6-3, with Republicans supporting the bill and Democrats opposing it.