Arizona’s bitter debate over a signature part of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul has sparked an investigation into lawmakers’ safety after at least nine legislators received a threatening email over Gov. Jan Brewer’s push to expand Medicaid access, AP reports
The message referred to Second Amendment rights and shooting someone, but did not include any direct threats. It was sent to House Speaker Andy Tobin, who opposes the Medicaid expansion, and eight other Republican House members.
“Please kill SB1492, the Medicaid Expansion Act,” the email begins, before quoting the Second Amendment. It then reads, “If you are ever asked why you shot the person, the only answer from your lips should be, I felt my life, or/and my family’s life was in immediate danger of death. So I did what I had to do in order to eliminate this threat. ”
State police are also investigating a voicemail left for Rep. Kate Brophy McGee, a Phoenix Republican who supports the Medicaid expansion. She appeared visibly shaken Thursday as she described the message on the House floor and asked lawmakers to tell their constituents to be civil.
