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

It should come as no surprise that the February 23 guest commentary, “Taxpayers shouldn’t feel bubbly about taxing sugary beverages” by Thomas Aiello, was penned by a Washington D.C. lobbyist, not someone with expertise in public health who is watching the state Legislature preemptively push back on local control in a reactive versus proactive manner.

If there’s one thing virtually all voters agree on, it’s that money has too much influence on our politics while people’s voices have too little. HCR 2007 is just another step toward empowering the wealthiest interests to control our state. As it heads to the Senate, legislators should stop and think about whether they want to side with the voters, or join a stealth assault on this popular anti-corruption program.

The president and Secretary Zinke are wrong to direct our government to reduce community input in mining decisions. Our communities need up-to-date mining laws that protect our families, our water and our future.

The state of Arizona has already laid out a better path to decreasing the abortion rate – expansion of health care, and making excellent contraceptives available to more women. That is the patient-centered, evidence-based model we endorse, and one the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists would like to see duplicated in every state.

I can’t begin to imagine the horror and grief that a school, district or community must go through when one of these shootings takes places. But equally tragic will be the answer to the question of “Why was more not done to protect our children” and the only response was “A lack of funding.”

SB1452 serves the demands of justice because timeliness is everything. Just ask John who has been waiting 17 years for a family.

The time has long passed for this relic of Sheriff Arpaio’s regime to be closed down. Sheriff Penzone has shown he is willing to reform the jail to bring it in line with sound correctional practices, and to enhance public safety. The next step on this path is to shutter the SMU.

Taxpayers across the nation have felt the draining effects more taxes have on their wallet and their community. Another tax is not the responsible nor reliable method to fund Arizona’s education system.

Renewable energy is an essential part of the solution for our Navajo economy and jobs after coal. I hope more will make the drive to the Phoenix with me next time we need to speak up at the ACC, including our Navajo elected officials.

In my own business, I will be using my tax savings to hire more people, buy new equipment, and run more shifts. I care about my employees and I want the best for them.