The Arizona Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in Tucson over the state's expansion of the Medicaid health care program for low income residents. No ruling was made.
The hearing was over whether 36 Republican legislators have legal standing to sue Gov. Jan Brewer for signing the expansion into law. They oppose it, saying it was passed illegally because it includes what they say is a tax that requires two-thirds majority.
Brewer attended the hearing held at the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, as did state Senate President Andy Biggs, who is the leading opponent of Medicaid expansion.
"It was the right thing to do for Arizona, to restore Medicaid to those people who truly need it and deserve it," Brewer said in an interview with Arizona Week. "I thought, 'Why not take our tax dollars that we have sent to the federal government and bring it back to Arizona, so those people the reward of our hard-won tax dollars."
In the hearing, Timothy Berg, Brewer's lawyer, told the court that legislators have ways of dealing with the disagreements rather than going to court.
She said she is hopeful the state Supreme Court will favor her stance and put the issue to rest.
Brewer is termed out and will be succeeded by Republican Doug Ducey come January.
Ducey opposes Medicaid expansion.
"We talked about a lot of different issues," Brewer said of Ducey. "He sees it as a person that was not supportive of it. Reality will set in and he will...with good staff surrounding him...he will get a lot of facts and figures."
The state Supreme Court gave no indication Thursday on when it will rule.
Also on Arizona Week, a recap of election results. Republican Doug Ducey wins governor's race, four others still undecided.
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