Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate, along with a new Biden administration, promise sweeping policy changes in the United States. This includes campaign pledges to remake America’s electricity mix. But with campaign season over, Democrats should put rhetoric aside and pursue a bipartisan energy plan that supports economic recovery.

Donald Trump's America has plunged below rock bottom. The coronavirus has taken hundreds of thousands of lives. Trump has spent years debasing our foundational institutions while being cheered on wildly by half the country. And Congress was assaulted by a violent mob while carrying out the most essential democratic function of all – the peaceful transfer of power after an election.

Regardless of the reason why people with disabilities have been consistently ignored and overlooked throughout this pandemic, it is something we have all too often seen firsthand in Maricopa County.

Many states already have Covid liability protection, and many other states have made it a priority for debate in this year’s session of their legislatures. Arizona has, too, and as SB1377 begins its journey through the Legislature, lawmakers should pass it at every stage with all due dispatch.

On January 22, we marked the 48th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision. Prior to 1973, access to abortion wasn’t considered a right in America. Many women, especially poor women, were forced to choose between an untenable pregnancy, death or serious injury from a dangerous black-market abortion – even if pregnancy itself was a threat to their life or health. Sadly, for far too many in 2021, it might just as well be 1972.

Knowing how insidious secondhand smoke is and how it can permeate electrical and plumbing outlets as well as in some cases HVAC systems, it’s long past time to start protecting health for all Arizonans in their most important location to stay healthy – their home.

Here’s the good news: if misguided decisions got us here, then better decisions can lead us out. And better information is an important part of that. Or at least that’s the idea behind Reforming Arizona Criminal Justice, which is a collaborative project from the Academy for Justice and the Arizona State Law Journal.

Speak out, get involved, stand up for what you believe. Democracy is alive and well. A bit bloodied, but still alive. And we need to keep it that way. That is my take.

EVIT is a school of choice – and we will continue to honor the choice East Valley families made to send students to EVIT for in-person learning. We will remain committed to the resilience it takes to prepare our students for the real world.

If the Arizona Legislature wants to help drug cartels and organized crime, then heeding the Institute for Justice and establishing a “conviction first” statute for civil forfeiture is a great start. The only people such a measure will hurt are law abiding citizens, prosecutors and police officers. But drug dealers? They will absolutely love it.