Recent Articles from Yellow Sheet Report
Audit finds tech failures hobble Dept. of Revenue
The auditor general earlier this month released a scathing report that described the Dept of Revenue as struggling to implement IT systems and tools meant to improve its operations. The AG blamed DOR’s “ineffective IT leadership processes” for much of the troubles.
Post-Galassini investigations resume
Now that the Legislature has redefined “political committee” to comply with a federal judge’s ruling in Galassini v. Fountain Hills, a raft of enforcement actions that had been on hold is back on track.
Deflecting at the speed of business
Ducey today (April 24) sidestepped questions about why DCS never informed him about its policy change regarding married same-sex couples fostering children and why he only learned about it from a Capitol Times article more than two months after the fact.
Maybe he should have sent an engraved invitation
Former DCS Director Charles Flanagan told our reporter today that the department implemented a policy under his watch that barred married same-sex couples from jointly adopting or fostering children under the state’s care after Brnovich advised the agency to do so.
Apparently, the Speaker’s the last to know
Gowan has been hosting meetings with the Republicans who signed the letter decrying his “excessive spending” and said the outrage they have expressed anonymously in this publication and in Republic columns isn’t reflected in those meetings, which haven’t been “heavy.” Asked if the plan for construction in the House is still on, Gowan at first backtracked, saying he didn’t even know t[...]
We’ve got your best interests at heart
The Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest wants to intervene as a defendant in the lawsuit against Medicaid expansion, arguing that AHCCCS Director Tom Betlach does not necessarily represent the interests of its clients, four childless adults that are receiving Medicaid coverage as a result of the 2013 law.
Boiling over
One of the Republicans who signed a letter rebuking Gowan over proposed House renovations affirmed that it reflects deeper issues that many in the caucus have had with how the speaker has run the chamber.
Communication deficiency prompted letter to Gowan
Several Republicans who signed on to the letter charging Gowan with “excessive spending” and calling for a biparitisan committee of all future expenditures said they did it for a variety of reasons, but chiefly because they weren’t even notified about the project beforehand.
Ex-DOA chief claims he was fired for blowing whistle
Former DOA Director Brian McNeil took the first step toward a lawsuit against the state over his October 2014 firing by filing a notice of claim on Tuesday. It alleges that the governor’s office illegally released confidential information and intentionally painted him in a false light when it released an EEOC complaint from an unnamed female employee who alleged that McNeil had made discriminato[...]
Dept. of Ed spox: Board staff ‘misleading’ or ‘lying’
ADE spokeswoman Sally Stewart took exception to Board of Education President Greg Miller’s complaint over Douglas moving forward unilaterally on getting public input on the draft of proposed new fine arts standards for K-12 students.
Maybe he’s hoping Congress will ride to the rescue
If the US Supreme Court strikes down subsidies for those who purchase insurance on Obamacare’s federally run insurance exchanges, it will force Arizona (and dozens of other states) to make a tough decision whether to create its own exchange or let more than 200,000 people lose their health insurance.
A Thorpe in the king’s side
It’s not exactly a thumbs-up, but two national newspapers held up Thorpe as an example of Republican insurrection against Obama and the federal government.