Recent Articles from Guest Opinion
Beloved wildlife refuge seeks to recover after months on the brink of closing
After spending more than a year wondering if a legal and zoning complaint would end the mission of the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center (SWCC), it appears we are on the road to recovery.
Retired Denver police officer touts legalizing marijuana use
Marijuana prohibition costs police time, resources, and billions of dollars. Fighting the War on Drugs cost the federal government nearly $26 billion in 2014.
McFarland’s contributions described as unprecedented
Ernest William McFarland (1894-1984), known throughout his career as “Mac,” served as a U.S. senator, governor of Arizona, and ultimately chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, but millennials, baby boomers, and even many seniors have difficulty recalling his name or his numerous accomplishments. His life story should inspire Arizonans. His career in politics, law, as a television executi[...]
Regulate marijuana like alcohol? Not this November
More than 200,000 Arizonans signed petitions to put a marijuana legalization initiative on the ballot. Here’s guessing they didn’t read the initiative’s 20 pages of fine print sponsored by the special interest, Washington D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project (MPP).
How can GOP Party chair Graham kick the BIll of Rights to the curb?
Arizona Republican Party Chairman Robert Graham’s recently published diatribe against the employment of so-called ballot harvesting must not go unchallenged.
It’s too early to assess widespread mandatory demand charges
Over the past several years, the electricity industry has experienced a number of fundamental changes. Our nation’s grid, which is the electricity infrastructure between the generation sources and consumers, is evolving in an attempt to keep up with these ongoing changes.
Arizona needs to reinvest in public education
Based on exit polling conducted during the special election, a large majority of both YES and NO voters believe that Arizona public schools need more funding to fill in the gaps.
Celebrating our grandfather and the 72nd birthday of the GI Bill
As proud grandchildren, my siblings and I were honored to build a memorial for our grandfather —Ernest W. McFarland—at the Arizona Capitol, where he served as 10th Arizona governor.
Department of Child Safety – Struggling or successful?
Arizona’s child welfare system, which indeed has long been troubled, will not improve as long as DCS continues to use outdated, ineffective and costly practices; and a lack of political will to recognize when something is not working and make the necessary changes.
Collaborating to protect Lake Mead
We avoided shortage in 2016 due to our collective efforts to conserve water in Lake Mead and a fortuitous boost from Mother Nature’s precipitation--the so-called “Miracle May." However, the drought continues.
Commission should base energy policy on evidence rather than political theatrics
Last month, 125 elected and community leaders signed a letter to Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Doug Little encouraging him and his fellow commissioners to ignore the political fracas and decide the many cases before them on the evidence, merits and what is best for Arizona.
The governor prevented irreparable harm to Arizona by vetoing HB2568
One of Arizona’s greatest economic assets is the availability of land. But access to that land is limited by our lack of infrastructure. Developers have long sought additional tools to provide infrastructure to make that land even more valuable.