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

Every day, we hear about threats to the health and happiness of Arizona’s children. We can’t fix every one of the problems, but we can easily protect our children’s access to health care through the KidsCare insurance program.

Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, recently introduced two bills designed to facilitate the transfer of Arizona’s public lands to state ownership. HB 2547 and HB 2557 represent a dangerous attack on our state’s public estate. As a lifelong hunter and Arizonan who relies on public lands, I ask that you condemn these bills and write your representatives to ask that they do the same.

In my work since the minimum wage was passed I have heard from several working class individuals that employers are cutting benefits or keeping tips and justifying these actions by telling their employees that it is the only way they can pay the minimum wage. It seems to me that our legislature’s time would be better spent strengthening the Arizona Industrial Commission, which is in charge of investigating wage theft rather than reducing the minimum wage.

I am proud to have worked with a number of concerned citizens in Carefree and have Rep. Jay Lawrence sponsor House Bill 2721 that would allow voters the right to set or revoke term limits for local elected officials.

Wherever you live, we in Arizona are asking for your help in our historic National Campaign to empower and protect all American women once and for all.

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.