Remember how we mentioned that the Arizona Chamber of Commerce didn't like the notion being floated by Gov. Jan Brewer and state lawmakers about cutting more than 300,000 people below the federal poverty line from state health insurance?

Turns out that somebody crunched some numbers. Casey Newton of the Arizona Republic reports:

An estimated $2.7 billion and 42,000 jobs will leave the state if the Legislature approves proposed cuts to health care, according to an analysis by economists at Arizona State University.

The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association hired the economists to evaluate Gov. Jan Brewer's budget proposal. The proposal, which could be voted on as early as next week, includes deep cuts for AHCCCS, reduced support for rural hospitals, the elimination of KidsCare and cuts to a program that brings new doctors to the state.

The governor's proposal would result in $1.15 billion in cuts directly to hospitals, according to John Rivers, president of the hospital association. Combined with a loss in federal matching funds, the loss to Arizona is an estimated $2.7 billion.

But just keep telling yourself that the health-care system is fine and doesn't need reform.

Republican Brian Miller, who is one of four GOP candidates competing for a shot against Democratic Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, scores an endorsement from former UA basketball coach Lute Olson—and picks up some pointers on how to make a three-point shot.

A new feature on The Range: Dog of the Day! There are a lot of hounds out there who need adoption. Merry is just one them. You can find out more at Cold Wet Noses.

Here's what Merry has to say at tucsoncoldwetnoses.com:

Hi, My name is Merry. I was a stray picked up and brought to the pound where I sat for a long time and nobody adopted me. I don't know why, I am so cute AND smart AND not very big! My foster mom calls me Merry Christmas because

Republican Jonathan Paton, who stepped down from the state Senate earlier this week, has a new Web site up.

You can meet Paton himself at a Meet and Greet tonight at Chopstix, 8195 N. Oracle Road.

Auto dealer Jim Click would also like you to meet Jonathan, although that will cost you a bit of money. The Clicker is co-hosting a fundraiser for Paton along with Don Diamond and other local deep pockets out in Tucson Country Club on March 3. If you're inclined to go, we're sure you can track down the details.

"Ships of the Desert" is among the pieces on display during "David F. Brown: Paintings and Drawings" from March 5 through March 30 at Temple Gallery, 330 S. Scott Ave. The exhibit is on display from Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and before Arizona Theatre Company Performances. There will be an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 pm., Friday, March 5.

"09-3" from Arc of Departure, a photogenic drawing by James Hajicek and Carol Panaro-Smith, is on display at Etherton Gallery, 135 N. Sixth Ave., through Feb. 27.

Howie Fischer reports:

Ignoring threats by a company to pack up and leave, a House panel voted late Tuesday to overturn the renewable energy mandate on utilities by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

HB2701 strips utility regulators of their authority to impose such requirements. In its place, it puts in a different mandate, this one crafted by Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale.

But the mandate is full of loopholes that, in essence, would undo the commission order requiring utilities to generate at least 15 percent of their power by 2025 from solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable sources.

The 5-2 vote by the House Government Committee came even after Polly Shaw, lobbyist for Suntech Power Holdings, said her firm is likely to reconsider its decision announced just last month to build a solar panel manufacturing plant in Goodyear.

She told lawmakers that the decision to locate in Arizona was based in large part on the renewable energy requirements in the commission’s directive. Shaw said HB2701 effectively makes them meaningless.

“Voluntary goals don’t build solar projects,” Shaw said, saying investors want “concrete market certainty” that the products will sell. That mandate includes not only a requirement that some of the renewable energy come from solar, but that part of that come from “distributed generation,” which essentially means individual homes and businesses installing photovoltaic solar panels on their roofs.

“Broadening the definition of renewable to include nuclear and hydro power will gut the renewable standard,” Shaw testified.

“It will obliterate demand for solar,” she continued. “And it will eliminate the reason we selected Arizona.”

Margaret Regan, the Weekly arts editor and author of the fantastic new book The Death of Josseline, is slated to appear on NPR's Talk of the Nation at 12:30 p.m. (Tucson time) on Wednesday, Feb. 24 (i.e. tomorrow).

She was originally slated to be on the program Monday (which we reported in the dead-tree version of Margaret's book excerpt), and then on Tuesday (which we reported in the online version of Margaret's book excerpt). Now, Wednesday. Tomorrow (provided you're reading this on Tuesday).