New sports betting law means increased revenue for state, tribes
Sports betting’s popularity has grown exponentially through the 2010s and now represents a $20 billion industry nationwide. State legislative analysts and industry experts predict that sports betting has the potential to generate over $427 million in revenue across the state. Although a highly speculative figure, this revenue would be taxed at a minimum rate of 8% as set by the Arizona Departmen[...]
Arizona takes step toward turning criminal justice data into actionable information
As Arizona looks ahead to the future, we should recognize that while this is a critical step in the right direction, this is only the first step in creating better criminal justice reform practices.
From high school dropout to college graduate: Goodwill gave second chance to excel
Goodwill proposes to open as many as 22 Excel Center locations in Arizona over the coming decade. A modest state investment would pay massive benefits for the economy and, most of all, the individual students and their families.
Set aside the politics – our schools and students need flexibility, gap funding now
It’s easy to get bogged down by the politics, the criticism or the should haves, but our children don’t have the time for this. So, we forge forward, providing the best opportunities we can with the hand no one would ever want to be dealt; and, with that, we turn to advocating for our children so we can meet their needs moving forward.
SB1411 – not HB2805 – wisely moves Arizona’s unemployment system forward
Arizona’s unemployment system needs to be revamped. I introduced SB1411 as a comprehensive package to provide this overhaul after countless hours of collaboration from a diverse stakeholder community, prioritizing information-based policymaking. House members took a different approach. As a result, the actual policy was poorly crafted.
Lawmakers should heed voters, education is important
Our individual quality of life, the strength of our workforce and our state’s long-term prosperity are all at stake. The return on Arizona’s investments in education could be astounding if we make the right decisions today.
Election integrity shouldn’t be a partisan issue
Arizonans can all agree: it should be easy to vote but hard to cheat.
Flat tax plan inadvertently hurts public safety
I urge my Republican colleagues in the Legislature to stand with me in upholding the basic Republican principals of law, order, and public safety, and oppose this misguided attempt to defund local police and fire services.
Proposed solutions to offsets to ‘education tax’
I hope that the Legislature is actively participating in the legal effort to overturn the new “education tax.” As an attorney, it seems pretty clear to me that only the Legislature – accountable to the voters – has the right to raise taxes on any sub-set of taxpayers. If not, then the public at large can make this decision based on the whims of the moment. Why not vote for an initiative [...]
Arizona can win big with property tax reform
As lawmakers debate a tax package to aid in Arizona’s continued economic recovery from the pandemic and to position our state for increased growth, lowering the assessment ratio on commercial property is a policy change that would meaningfully enhance our ability to attract private investment and job creators.
My wife had an abortion – SB1457 would criminalize her decision
Right now, politicians in Arizona are intent on criminalizing abortion care in cases like ours. They are pushing a bill, SB1457, that makes it a crime to provide an abortion due to a “genetic abnormality.” This bill is a political stunt meant to stigmatize abortion care but it will have very real effects on people and their families.
A key way towards more pandemic progress
People are eager to get back to work, and to travel. It’s safe to say most of us are eager to get out of the house. The new normal seems to be changing month to month. It’s my hope that a simple mobile app will help usher in a post Covid normalcy now and in the future.