Arizona must be bolder on sentencing reform
This legislative session, Republican lawmakers are following in the footsteps of President Donald Trump and addressing the need for sentencing reform in Arizona. So far, the bills that have gained momentum in the House and Senate are well-intentioned but too weak to put a dent in our massive prison population.
Car-sharing bill protects consumers, personal freedom
With each technological advance we witness the same response as whatever legacy industry is being disrupted seeks the government’s assistance in burying the upstarts in red tape, taxes and fees. And all of this while cloaking its anti-competitive actions behind talk of “leveling the playing field” or “protecting consumers.”
Apply the sage advice of measure twice, cut once to Wayfair
The good news is it appears all parties want to see this happen because everyone has something to gain: revenue for government; fairness and simplification for taxpayers. That said, massive reform should be done methodically to avoid litigation and avoidable mistakes.
Wrong-way driving can be stopped
Wrong-way drivers present an obvious danger to all motorists on our highways. While cities and states should work to improve signs and barriers and utilize ITS-based solutions to reduce or eliminate wrong-way accidents, public awareness along with social responsibility could be an effective way.
ASU’s Omni project is a win-win for the university and economy
A judge will decide whether this lawsuit has merit. But there is a bigger issue at stake. In the end, either the universities will continue to have the liberty to create new streams of revenue and provide business opportunities to the community that lead to positive outcomes, or they will not. In any case the vibrancy of our new age economy for generations to come depends on it.
Independent voters silenced in Presidential Preference elections
We are two of the 1.2 million independent registered voters in Arizona who pay taxes that fund the Arizona Presidential Preference election but are forbidden from participating in it unless we re-register.
ERA legislation assures equality for all
Equality in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness constitutionally is guaranteed to all American citizens. That very notion is so etched in our nation’s history and seared in our hearts and minds that its absence defies logic. Nonetheless, more than half of U.S. citizens lack equal application and protection of law under the Constitution.
Arizona-Mexico Commission: 60 years of success and friendship
Sixty years ago, Arizona Gov. Paul Fannin looked south across the border to Mexico and famously said, “God made us neighbors; let us be good neighbors.” It was then that the stage was set for the Arizona-Mexico Commission, an international entity that works to foster economic partnerships and an enduring friendship, which has only grown stronger through the challenges of the intervening decade[...]
Arizona must invest today in our STEM workforce of tomorrow
The idea of spanning generations with these types of public-private educational partnerships is incredibly rewarding for me – a woman who was enabled to pursue a successful career in aerospace that has allowed me to engage in challenging work which is even more exciting than what I ever imagined as a student. Investment in Arizona’s developing minds represents investment in America’s technol[...]
Legislators should protect abundance of jobs in HOA industry
At the Arizona Association of Community Managers, we do all that we can to support our management company members and their goal of providing excellent employment opportunities, and we look to our state legislators to help drive economic growth and to protect the industries, including the HOA industry, which provide tens of thousands of jobs within the great state of Arizona through sound policy d[...]
SOS AZ wants real reforms of vouchers, not extinction
Remarkably, I learned at last week’s Senate Finance Committee hearing that there are some people who still don’t know Save Our Schools Arizona’s stance on the Empowerment Scholarship Account voucher program. As an educator, I’m accustomed to repeating myself over and over again day after day for years on end, so I’m more than happy to apply that skill here.
Funding for school counselors is investment in state’s future
Ensuring that all students have access to a knowledgeable school counselor will be a powerful step toward increasing college access and toward reaching our statewide attainment goal of 60 percent by 2030, as set by Achieve60AZ. To this end, funding for school counselors should not be seen as an expense.