Heinz given opportunity to work for U.S. health department

Does “Obamacare” cover jet lag? ... It looks like the long commutes and long hospital shifts are not over for former state Rep. Matt Heinz.

The Tucson Democrat and physician recently accepted the post of director of provider outreach for the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In other words, he’s going to help explain Obamacare to doctors and other medical types.

But Heinz said he still plans to work at Tucson Medical Center several days a week, jetting back from Washington, D.C., to keep his practice going.

“My credibility goes away if I’m not practicing,” he said.

When he served in the Legislature, Heinz was well-known for arriving bleary eyed for a Monday floor session after working a graveyard shift over the weekend.

At least if he’s coming from Washington, D.C., he can sleep on the plane.

A night of vying politics ... The corner of Van Buren and Second Street (luckily right out the

Arizona Republic front door) was an interesting place to peoplewatch Tuesday night.

The conservative religious advocacy group the Center for Arizona Policy held its annual fundraiser dinner at the Sheraton, while a block away gay-rights supporters gathered at the Herberger Theater Center for a performance of the play “8,” which is about California’s legal battle over same-sex marriage.

But while both groups can get pretty vocal in the midst of a protest, everyone appeared to be on their best behavior Tuesday night, at least until they got behind closed doors.

The cast of “8” included several local politicians. Former Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard got a cheer as a surprise cast member playing the judge. Former Republican Attorney General Grant Woods, who played an attorney arguing for same-sex marriage, got a standing ovation as a member of the audience lauded him for taking a stance that many in his party may oppose.

He was the only straight Republican politician in the play. Former Republican state Rep. Steve May, who is openly gay, was also in the cast. Tweet of the week “Got bad news and need to release it soon? 130 pm today is the perfect time. #JodiArias #NobodyWillNotice” — PR guru Barrett Marson, @barrettmarson, on why bad news should be released at the same time a Maricopa County Superior Court jury was to read the verdict in the Jodi Arias case.