Aguirre earns 'Walk the Talk' award

  Yuma's state senator is being honored by the Arizona Medical Association for back medical liability reform - even at the risk of incurring the wrath of fellow Democrats in the Legislature.

  At ArMA's 2008 President's Banquet today, Sen. Amanda Aguirre is scheduled to receive its "Walk the Talk" Award.

  "The award recognizes people who have shown they put their money where there mouth is, in spite of the sometimes overwhelming odds that are not in their favor," said a statement by David Landrith, ArMA's vice president of policy and political affairs.

  "Her stance on medical liability reform is something that is very important to physicians. She has been the one of the few people who have supported the physicians on this issue.

  "The award is a way of thanking her for sticking to her guns and principles even when the times got hard. That's why we support her and that's what the political process is all about," Landrith said.

  Aguirre has been a leader in the state's need to address the medical liability crisis, said Chic Older, executive director of ArMA.

  "She is a Democrat and she had to go and stand up for what she believed is right against the overwhelming majority of the caucus, because she believed it was the right thing to do," he told The Sun.

  "When you are a state legislator, you got to go along to get along and it can be dangerous to buck your own caucus, to get somebody to stand up," Older said.

  The award will be presented to Aguirre by Dr. Henri Carter, president-elect of ArMA, a voluntary membership organization for Arizona physicians.

  "It is an honor and privilege to be recognized by the ArMA for my support of health issues," Aguirre said.