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Is marijuana harmless? Think again: Lessons from Colorado
On Jan. 1, Colorado opened its doors to this nation’s first legal sale of recreational marijuana. Lost in the buzz is the documented impact of legal marijuana on Colorado children.
Legislature needs to make assisting the unemployed a top priority
While we rightly have concern over the welfare of children in the more than 6,000 cases that Child Protective Services failed to investigate, imagine what the reaction would be if 150,000 people in Arizona went missing and there was no investigation.
Families robbed of essential support system without unemployment benefits
Imagine getting laid off from your job and struggling to support your family. Your first thoughts? How will you make rent or keep up with your mortgage payment? How will you buy groceries and pay the utility bills? Thankfully, unemployment benefits are a safety net while you look for work in a tough economy, to ease the financial burden and stress when you fall on hard times.
Cities’ pension obligations get more public exposure under new rules
The balance sheets of Arizona cities, towns and counties will look very different next year simply because of changes in some key accounting rules. While accounting rules generally do not raise the interest of taxpayers, the new accounting standards on public pensions will require local governments to publish their long-term pension obligations. Addressing the long-term costs of public pensions h[...]
Phoenix City Council deserves accolades for stand against puppy mills
By requiring that pet stores in the city acquire dogs only from humane sources, the Phoenix City Council took an important step toward helping to protect the millions of dogs suffering in puppy mills. The ordinance will help shrink the supply of puppy mill dogs flowing into our market, thereby boosting adoptions for homeless animals and increasing sales for responsible dog breeders.
Federal Youth Promise Act could cut prison costs in Arizona
“You do the adult crime, you do the adult time.” This is the motto of many judges, prosecutors, and even community members here in Arizona.
Study of marijuana use for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder remains frozen
In her Dec. 1 op-ed on AZ Central, Yavapai County Attorney Sheila Polk echoed a misleading statement from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) website claiming that the agency "permits or funds studies on therapeutic benefits of marijuana."
No, Obamacare is not a conservative idea
Even as Obamacare is trying to self-destruct, its advocates suggest a détente in which “Republicans recognize the conservative nature of the law,” in the words of Austin Frakt in Bloomberg News.
If you’re insurable you’re in for a rude awakening in 2014
I just have to comment on “Arizona: Know your health insurance options and rights” by Diane E Brown (Arizona Capitol Times, Dec. 13, 2013).
CPS crisis can lead us to a stronger, safer Arizona
When children are at risk, we all have two basic responsibilities. We’ve got to strengthen families, so we can prevent abuse or neglect whenever possible. And, when abuse or neglect happens, we must take swift but thoughtful actions that give kids the best possible chance to grow up in a safe and loving permanent family. Today, we are failing. But we can do better.
Child Protective Services chaos presents a great opportunity for Arizona
CPS in Arizona is in greater crisis and chaos than any time in memory. A perfect storm of recessionary budget cutbacks, historical neglect, increasing referrals, neglected cases and backlog, an out-of-control foster care caseload, and chaotic management have put thousands of children at risk, left families without support, and created an unprecedented crisis for Arizona’s vulnerable children wit[...]
Arizona speaks: Treat immigrants humanely and reform the system now
While we spend millions of dollars to invite people from around the world to enjoy our climate and our hospitality, the message we send is quite different when it comes to immigration and those who make their way into this state in a desperate effort to feed and care for their families. Focusing exclusively on border security postpones the search for long-term, comprehensive solutions to our broke[...]
