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

Here in Arizona, we don’t need the federal government to remind us that the Southwest is in an extreme drought.

Arizona Public Service, the largest utility in Arizona, is a regulated monopoly with 1.2 million customers. By state law, the energy giant is shielded from competition and guaranteed a profit. In return, government regulators — in theory — protect consumers and our state from price gouging, environmental devastation, and other misbehavior. Sadly for all of us, last week offered another reminder that even its sweetheart deal with the state is not good enough for APS’s executives. Instead APS has decided that its pathway to maximum profits requires polluting our politics and governance as much as it requires polluting our air.

Phoenix frames their action as necessary to stop discrimination – but then, government officials always sanitize compelling speech in appealing terms.

You shouldn’t have to pay a lot in taxes to get a responsive, forward-thinking government. That’s why my colleagues and I just approved a budget for 2019 that decreases county spending year-over-year without sacrificing service.

As the senior writer at the National Crime Prevention Council in Washington, DC, I acquired an intimate knowledge of the principle that you never blame the victim of a crime. Despite the occasional rulings of rogue judges and the bizarre utterances of lawmakers and candidates emboldened by what they hear on talk radio or see on cable TV, it’s pretty much accepted in public discourse that a woman is not to blame for her rape because her skirt was too short or she had too much to drink. Similarly, a victim of domestic abuse is not to blame for reuniting with the violent partner (although that takes a moment to explain). A homeowner is not to blame for a theft because an alarm hadn’t been installed. A robbery victim isn’t to blame because the street was dark. The perpetrator is held to account for these crimes, not the victim.

As for APS, we are on course to provide customers with clean energy, now and for the long-term. We will continue to plan a future that responsibly supports clean energy in our state, while maintaining the reliable service that customers expect. A growing number of distinguished Arizona business and community leaders agree this constitutional amendment is bad for Arizona and formally oppose the initiative.

The fact is that we are not providing adequate funding for our public schools and our students. Moving to an adequate funding level for K-12 public schools in Arizona will be a long trip. Arizona has started that trip, so let’s not allow the train to get off track because we have a long uphill route that will need us all onboard.

In Arizona, we face societal and economic challenges that must be addressed. Scapegoating education funding reinforces the status quo and doesn’t move us forward as a state. If we desire safe communities and a strong economy, we will need to cease the numbers game and senseless rhetoric, and focus all our efforts on ensuring a prosperous Arizona by investing in our children.

For too long Arizona and other states have neglected this crucially important issue — both in the public conversation about higher education and in terms of effective policymaking. It is past time that we made increasing access to need-based financial aid for low-income students a statewide priority.

Since the Trump administration directed the Labor Department to review occupational licensing laws around the country last year, the Arizona Legislature passed legislation addressing needed reforms to these laws.