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

The Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, strives to strengthen union leverage and labor density. However, it does so at the expense of Arizona’s businesses, workers and economy. If ...

We implore you to continue to follow CDC guidelines, mask-up in public places and physically distance. If you are fully vaccinated and in a small group of others who have also been fully vaccinated, that is when you can take off your mask and enjoy each other’s smiles. Until we hit the herd immunity milestone, please continue to take the precautions that matter -- lives and livelihoods still depend on it.

And now legislators are thumbing their noses at those voters, resorting to tricks and bullying to try to undo an election – whether through SB1783 or under cover of the state budget. It is unacceptable for elected officials to play games with the future of our students. Legislators, voters are watching.

Life without the possibility of parole accomplishes the needed goals of punishment without these frightful costs and risks. If a state with the troubled history of Virginia can reach this conclusion, a state like Arizona can eliminate the death penalty, too.

There is optimism within the health care community that those we have trusted to represent us will see the merits of passing SB1270 and vote a resounding ‘YES’ to health, safety, and protecting the patient-physician relationship.

As a state with one of the largest and fastest growing Latino student populations in the nation, we must close the achievement gap that leaves so many students behind, especially students in low-income households or those in communities of color. Let’s all embrace this opportunity for a better future.

So, our state universities do a lot more than just confer degrees and when we invest in them, the return comes on many different fronts. These examples allude to the critical role that our universities will continue to play in Arizona’s recovery from Covid and to the opportunities they create for their students, even in times of national crisis.

If governors continuously rule by emergency orders, then the power of the state Legislature is severely reduced and its status as a co-equal branch of government called into question. Legislation like SB1084 ensures the proper balance of power between the branches while protecting the governor’s ability to respond decisively to a true emergency.

By funding universal screening statewide, Arizona will become a national leader in systemically setting the table for identifying and nurturing brilliance. The global pandemic, the future of work, and our society’s longing for more leaders and innovators have created the perfect moment for the Arizona Legislature to fully and permanently fund the gifted programming mandate. It is time for Arizona to lead in no longer leaving genius on the table.

As America works to rebuild the economy following the brutal impact of Covid, it is crucial that actions are taken to revive the livelihoods of individuals and small business owners in Arizona. Although it is widely agreed upon across the political spectrum that an RFF system would be detrimental to America’s current tax system, members of Congress must make their voices heard and stand against this harmful system if proposed as legislation.