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

States across the U.S. — including Arizona — are facing major budgetary challenges: 32 are dealing with budget gaps, and many governors are calling for more revenue by raising income taxes, broadening sales taxes, and hiking fees on everything from state park entries to hospital stays.

Unnecessary, wasteful government spending is today putting America on a dangerous path, as we burden future generations with a mounting national debt – now totaling more than $18 trillion. The future of the American dream is at risk, due to Washington’s bipartisan spending addiction.

Early in my career at Rio Tinto, I was fortunate to spend time in Arizona working to turn around our foundry business in Tempe and Chandler. At that time, the state’s economy was anchored by the famous “Five C’s” - from copper to cattle.

As the chairman of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, I have a strong desire for the public to know the position of the commission regarding our opposition to any designation of a national monument in the Grand Canyon watershed.

On April 15, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued its proposed rule for implementation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (“MHPAEA”) to Medicaid managed care organizations, Medicaid alternative benefit plans and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper has rejected arguments by Tom Betlach, director of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System – Arizona’s Medicaid program – that he can effectively protect our state’s expanded Medicaid program by serving as sole defender in a lawsuit filed by the Goldwater Institute.

The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s newly announced economic development initiative, Phoenix Forward, is more than an idea whose time has come: It’s an idea that’s been needed for a long time.

Arizona received promising economic news that bodes well for the Phoenix metro region’s long-term growth: The state is expected to add 120,000 people to the employment rolls in 2015 and 2016, with jobs in the visitor industry leading the way.

If you are ever asked what you do for a living and you reply, “I am a lobbyist” what usually follows is a rant about how the Legislature can never get anything done, that everything is so partisan and that there is incredible gridlock.

Last year, Linzey Leinart earned her high school diploma and an associate’s degree from Chandler-Gilbert Community College at the same time. How did she manage to do both?