Apparently, there is no manner in which the Republicans running the legislature will consider funding transplant coverage, but at least Sen. Steve Gallardo made an effort to embarrass the majority over their apparent hypocrisy in receiving health and dental insurance for what's supposed to be a part-time job.

Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, wanted to make a dramatic point about the state's refusal to restore funding for certain medical transplants.

So he offered an amendment to the Senate budget that would cut off health and dental insurance for all lawmakers, as well as statewide elected officials from the governor to the mine inspector.

"We have a governor who has lived off government-paid health care," he said, a reference to Gov. Jan Brewer's long service in the public sector. "We have a pretty sweet deal."

His logic is that if the state is going to cut transplant funding, lawmakers should go without as well.

"If we have the morality to cut health care for 280,000, we should have the morality to cut our health care," he said.

The amendment failed on a voice vote, and again when it came up on a procedural vote, with 6 in favor, 20 opposed. Four lawmakers didn't vote.