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Increased state revenue is money already spent
Well, that didn’t take long. The state hadn’t even closed its books on the outgoing fiscal year, and already there were some in the Legislature clamoring for us to spend money we don’t have.
Recovery aside, Giffords’ vote was brilliant politics
If we are to take her staff’s word for it, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will retain — at least — her Democratic seat in Congress in 2012.
In the best-case scenario, she would be the heavy front-runner in a U.S. Senate race with Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, whose early entry into the contest has thus far scared off all other GOP contenders.
Don’t repeat mistakes made since Rodeo-Chediski fire
More than 800 square miles were torched, 32 home were destroyed and taxpayers are on the hook for $100 million.
That’s the cost of the Wallow fire, the largest wildfire in our state’s history. Sadly, this could have been prevented.
Let’s hope for a recall worth remembering
Tell me that the upcoming recall election of Russell Pearce isn’t going to be as uneventful as I expect it will be. So far, all the signs are pointing to a disappointing blowout, with Pearce clobbering political newbie Jerry Lewis.
Bipartisanship endangered, not extinct
It was announced this week that the National Institute on Civil Discourse awarded its first grants to several UofA departments: one to watch how politicians handle confrontational questions from constituents... […]
It’s high time for school finance redesign
Funding Arizona’s K-12 public schools is on the mind of every educator, most policymakers, and business leaders — those who count on a ready workforce. The Arizona Business & Education Coalition (ABEC) presents a set of proposals to redesign the school finance system entirely, to support increasingly higher levels of learning in all public schools.
Arizona can’t afford to be a ‘C’ student any longer
As a place to do business and in matters related to public policy, personal freedom and taxation, Arizona is a solid “C” student. But can it afford to stay that way?
How to buy the benefit of the doubt, for nothing
Several years ago I attended a government commission meeting where an appointed chairman openly rejected an assistant attorney general’s recommendation to convene an executive session.
“No, I don’t think we need an executive session to talk about this,” the chairman said, to the best of my recollection.
It’s not that every — or even most — public bodies are eage[...]
Setting the record straight on sentencing
I am writing to correct a number of inaccuracies in the May 20 “special report” printed in your newspaper (“A push from the right: More conservatives joining fight to change sentencing guidelines”). I am sure the reporter’s intention was to present a thorough examination of this important topic, but her final product was extremely one-sided and lacking in several important facts. As [...]
Innovative thinking brings fresher produce to Arizona families
Arizona is a key point of distribution for much of the nation’s fresh fruit and vegetables, with produce moving through the Arizona Department of Transportation’s ports of entry before heading north into the United States.
Collaboration is key strength for southern Arizona lawmakers
Not long ago, southern Arizona legislators worked together to serve the needs of their communities, regardless of their political affiliations. Today, the willingness to collaborate is gone.
Matching funds: Remember the departed as they were
The big news this week is the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Arizona’s matching funds provision from Clean Elections. The ruling could be a game-changer for some who will seek legislative and statewide elected positions. But it also begs the question: What will we really be missing?
