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Hijacked bills would punish whistleblowers seeking to expose animal cruelty
Legislation originally meant to help pets in hoarding situations has been hijacked by the state’s agribusiness industry.
Youths to tell legislators importance of supporting behavioral health
When Riley Gibson was just 4 years old, he and his brother were removed from their home and placed into foster care. For the next 14 years, Riley remained in foster care.
What is ‘PILT’ and why do we need a permanent solution?
The acronym “PILT” is more than just an odd abbreviation. PILT stands for Payment In Lieu of Taxes, a program created by Congress in 1976. Simply put, PILT provides federal funding to counties that host large tracts of non-taxable federal land, reimbursing the counties for services required on those lands and making it possible for county governments to provide police and fire protection, road[...]
Arizona pension system still best for public workers, taxpayers
Glaring headlines about Arizona’s public worker retirement system suggest that your typical retired teacher, firefighter or police officer is sipping margaritas on a beach somewhere enjoying a six-figure pension. Meanwhile the state’s pension funds are running out of money, leaving you, the taxpayer, stuck with the bill.
In Arizona, getting patient therapies approved is an out-of-date proposition
Health care will be an issue of reckoning for legislators this year. A less covered but extremely important topic is setting higher expectations in Arizona when it comes to incorporating technology into a patient’s access to care. Specifically, improving how insurers act upon prior authorization, a process required by insurance plans before certain medications are approved for patients.
Education — the best investment for our future
For more than 50 years, Arizona Town Hall has asked Arizonans to identify the most pressing and important policy topics for discussion. In recent years, Town Hall members and participants have repeatedly identified education as a topic that requires immediate attention. Perhaps this has been due to widespread opinions that Arizona’s education systems are not prepared to support the most prosper[...]
New assessment, Common Core form path to Arizona students’ success
Too few Arizona students graduate from high school prepared for college, career and life. Did you know that just seven out of 10 students graduate from high school, and of those who do, more than half aren’t eligible for admission into a state university? What’s more, 42 percent of employers say their employees lack the basic skills needed to be successful in the workplace.
AAA urges state leaders to focus on road safety and funding
With the recent commencement of the legislative session and release of Governor Brewer’s 2015 executive budget, public policy debates on a variety of critical issues have once again assumed the spotlight. Indeed, our elected officials are tasked with making difficult choices, balancing our state’s growing needs with dwindling resources.
Higher pay key to solving teacher shortage
Research says that the quality of teaching is the No. 1 influence on the learning of children and will either advance them or hold them back. The Education Trust, a national research and advocacy organization says, “The caliber of teachers drives student success.”
Securing Arizona’s future prosperity — A strategic vision for water supply sustainability
Arizona has a long history of addressing our water supply challenges. Before statehood, farmers and ranchers in Phoenix’s Salt River Valley put their own lands up as collateral to finance the construction of Roosevelt Dam, providing a more reliable water supply and reducing the impacts of flooding and drought as well as setting the stage for prosperity unimaginable in those early days.
New Year, renewed chance for immigration reform
We didn’t have to wait long for the first sign of good news for immigration reform in 2014.
Sanctions bill would provide leverage in dealing with Iran
In order to achieve a final agreement with Iran, U.S. negotiators must be given as much leverage as possible. Should Iran violate the terms of the current agreement, or fail to reach a final agreement with Western negotiators, new and increased sanctions should be levied on the Iranians.
