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Commentary

Feb 26, 2021

Calling all empty nesters, children need you

America is full of seasoned parents, younger, older, white, Black, urban, rural. We are living in every community where abused and abandoned kids need homes. We are here. We are ready. Let us help.

Feb 26, 2021

Broadband is our lifeline in rural communities

For those of us who live in Arizona’s rural communities it is a struggle to get a fraction of the bandwidth. It is not just frustration, it is one of the most significant factors impacting quality of life in rural communities. The lack of broadband is one of the leading factors that stymie economic development and for most of us, it goes beyond that.

abortion, Planned Parenthood, 15 weeks, Lake, Hobbs, Masters, Kelly, Ciscomani, Engel, Lake, Hobbs, election, debate
Feb 25, 2021

Bill erroneously equates emergency contraception with abortion

If interest groups and lawmakers want to reduce abortions, it behooves them to follow science and increase access to contraception, not restrict it. Words have meaning. Facts are important. Scientific evidence should shape health care policy, not political rhetoric. SB1362 should receive a resounding “nay” from the responsible legislators in Arizona.

Feb 25, 2021

Water rights for tribes is environmental justice

This month, the comment period for a potentially landmark piece of legislation ended. Since California v. Arizona in 2000, the Colorado River Indian Tribes have the sole rights to more than 600,000 acres-feet of water from the Colorado River, but they are barred from selling or leasing any of this water to outside communities.

Feb 19, 2021

Texas grid failure shows need for reliable electricity

Right now, the United States is suffering some brutally cold weather. Northern states like North Dakota and Minnesota have seen night-time temperatures dropping below zero degrees Fahrenheit. And Duluth is currently chasing a record for the coldest sustained weather, set way back in 1912.

Feb 19, 2021

Public school open enrollment needs to be truly open

Even though I did not prevail in my claim nearly a decade ago, passage of SB1685 would give me hope that other Arizona families never have to experience the closed doors to their pursuit of the best public education for their child.

Feb 19, 2021

SB1082 increases access to contraception, empowers patients

Last year marked the 60th anniversary of the birth of the birth control pill, a revolutionary step that provided millions of women with greater reproductive control. Nearly two generations later, however, accessing the pill remains challenging for many.

Feb 19, 2021

It’s time to free ourselves from ‘Big Tech’ monopoly

This is a bipartisan issue. We know that taking on the app tax to bring businesses and jobs to Arizona is something we can all get behind, all while loosening the stranglehold Big Tech has over our daily lives – and pocketbooks!

Feb 18, 2021

What we can learn from devastating forest fires

Over the past 10 years, we have watched as large wildfires ravaged the watershed in and around the Salt and Verde rivers. The devastation proves one important fact that must be addressed now – our forests are unhealthy.

Feb 15, 2021

Bill would give restaurants unfair advantage over bars

Some in the Legislature want to give restaurants the permanent authority to sell liquor to go, a right that exclusively belong to bars and retail establishments like convenience stores and grocery stores. In some parts of the state, bars earn a substantial amount of revenue selling package liquor. To be sure, bars pay a premium for this right.

Hayworth, prescription drugs, Congress
Feb 12, 2021

America’s dependence on China for essential medicines a growing safety threat

Over the past year, the Covid pandemic has claimed many American lives. Millions are still out of work. This is the public toll of the virus. However, the disruption caused by the pandemic now runs deeper — and threatens the safety of America’s daily drug needs.

Feb 11, 2021

Technology crucial to AZ recovery from Covid

As Arizona continues to combat the pandemic, we need to properly equip our communities with the tools they need to survive. Among these is technology. Lawmakers must remember that tech has saved small businesses, contributed millions of dollars in economic development, and put food on the table for thousands of residents. We must welcome technology as a valued partner in our recovery and recognize[...]

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