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Recent Articles from Guest Opinion
Missing 8th grade advanced math scores skew test results
One in five Arizona eighth-graders is not included in state reported figures of the AzMERIT math exam, a required test for all public school students – district and charter, according to newly released data analysis by the Center for Student Achievement.
Medicaid cuts are a matter of life or death for people with disabilities
The only reason I am able to have such a full life is Medicaid. Medicaid provides vital services to people with disabilities through a state-federal partnership that finances coverage for those who qualify. The program has successfully provided care to the most vulnerable Americans for the past 50 years.
Jail reform must address mental health, substance dependence
Though it is too often ignored in the criminal justice reform dialogue, treating the mentally ill and drug addicted as patients instead of criminals should be a focal point for reform.
The escalating wave of violence in political protest must come to an end
As author of a book documenting the shooting of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and a frequent socio-political commentator on issues of local and national importance, I am appalled by the epidemic of violence in political protest sweeping our nation.
Understand criminal justice system before any attempts to ‘reform’
Responsible improvements should recognize public safety as the primary purpose of the system, while offering a real opportunity for a second chance through investing and supporting a strategic approach in reducing crime and saving tax payer money, and it should start from the beginning of an inmate’s sentence until they re-enter society.
Arizona leads the way in driverless cars, others catching on and catching up
We’ve heard several elected officials declare a desire for their state or town to be the “Kitty Hawk of self-driving vehicles.” As an automaker committed to a new, transformative vision for mobility, GM likes the sound of that.
Trump’s transportation policy paves the way for the future
Rationalizing spending more money on a sunk system because we have already spent so much, is throwing good money after bad. It’s past time the outdated New Starts program as well as the old transit line technology be ushered out to make room for the possibilities of the future.
AHCA Medicaid cuts will hit Arizona’s children harder than other states
Phoenix Children’s believes every child in Arizona should have access to high-quality health care. Medicaid is critical to this aim. We urge our state’s representatives – especially Senators McCain and Flake – to stand up for Arizona and its children, and ensure that we do not end up on the losing side of this battle.
Equal Rights Amendment scary to GOP, but is only way to equality
The ERA is the only method left to ensure women’s constitutional equality. The ERA has enjoyed massive public support for decades. Yet in Arizona, a state with historic high levels of women in the state Legislature, several women governors and at one time, five top state offices held by women, it can’t even get a hearing. What are they afraid of?
Medicaid progress at risk as cuts to program loom
No government program is perfect, but Arizona’s Medicaid program – known as AHCCCS – is the gold standard when it comes to delivering quality, affordable health care. Our state’s Medicaid program uses an integrated, managed-care model that promotes competition and patient choice, controls costs and incentivizes preventative care.
Don’t fall for the false choice between K-12 and higher education
Those of us who have been in the policy mix a long time noticed something different this year. For the first time since I can remember, advocates for public K-12 education openly opposed higher education funding.
Free college tuition could be expensive for Arizona taxpayers
Asking taxpayers to fund college will not make attending college any less expensive, and it certainly won’t make it “free.” David Garcia’s plan does nothing to reduce tuition and fees. Robert Samuels explains, “If you subsidize something but do not control its costs, it will not be able to achieve its policy goals.” Indeed.
