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

Serving the people of CD8 is an honor and a privilege, and I am blessed to have the opportunity. I’m looking forward to two more years of working hard for our district, state, and nation. Thank you for your support, and may God continue to bless you and your family.

ERCOT (the power grid operator for most of Texas) is predicting a power shortage starting next summer. This is because they have relied on market signals to get new generation built and keep current plants open. This model is obviously not working.

The act of calling on David Stringer by the Prescott City Council to resign his elected seat in the Arizona House of Representatives was grossly disproportionate to the true facts of the matter, as well as far outside the council’s legitimate role and powers.

I applaud Governor Ducey’s and former Governor Babbitt’s public statements of support for Arizona’s adoption of the drought contingency plans (DCP), expressed last week. Arizona’s water future depends on careful conservation, management, and collaboration to ensure that all of our communities are able to plan well into the future. This leadership is a valuable and essential part of how we get to a more sustainable future for the Colorado River basin.

Valuing the teaching profession is important to the citizens of Arizona as evidenced by numerous news reports and public opinion polls. In response, commitments have been appropriately made by the Legislature and governor to increase teacher pay. Ironically, Proposition 126 will negate a significant portion of their efforts to address the issue.

For many years Kevin DeMenna had a lobbying practice second to few at the Arizona state Capitol. Then some personal health challenges and a legal situation put a dent in the business. Over these years the business had evolved to include Kevin’s sons, a construct many fathers would be proud of, and relish.

My independent and local pharmacy has five employees, meaning the HIT will add an estimated $2,500 to our health care costs next year.

Republicans and Democrats in Congress must come together quickly to pass a permanent legislative solution to give these young hard-working individuals a chance to remain in the only country they have ever known.

Since its earliest days the labor movement has sought to improve the quality of work life, create workplace democracy and participate in employer/employee decision-making. The many benefits and protections workers enjoy today never existed until unions won them for working people.

As a health care professional caring for medically underserved children and families here in Arizona, I am especially concerned about Senator Barto’s call for continued efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).