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

It is critical for us to understand that protecting our Earth means to protect the American people. So please, it is time that we act together and VOTE for our environment this November. Vote like our lives depend on it; because it does.

When it comes to abortion or pregnancy loss, politicians in Washington, DC and Phoenix cannot know what every woman and her family is going through. They are going to hurt real people in complicated situations, people who are trying to make the best decisions for their families, often when faced with heartbreaking news. We need elected officials to stand with the majority of Arizonans who support a woman’s right to make personal decisions about pregnancy free from interference from politicians.

One item that disturbed me is to learn about a bill moving at the capitol that seems to prioritize a deal for utility companies at the cost of community and local governments. As a deacon and regular voter, I vote for people at different levels of government to represent me. I feel that local issues should be decided by local governments, such as ensuring cities should have their own choices about how to power homes and other buildings.

In 1994 (when AZ passed open enrollment and charter school laws) 59% percent of Arizona public schools had 70% of their student body from a single race or ethnicity. During the 2017-18 school year (the most recent available) that statewide percentage had dropped to 41%. Arizona students are less rather than more racially isolated in their schools today than in 1994.

Sen. McSally, please stop misleading Arizonans about your health care record.

There is a lot to be concerned about right now as there are a lot of unknowns and possibilities yet to unfold. But I encourage everyone to take a minute to celebrate the 0.5% of Americans selfless enough to put aside their own politics and protect us all from whatever mess is either started or needs finishing.

Sometimes it seems that our politicians are more concerned with fighting each other than getting something done for their constituents. But I am pleased to see that some our Arizona representatives in Washington have done the right thing and co-sponsored the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act (S. 172 and H.R. 1398).

I never set out to become an addict. Like so many people, my path of addiction began with a legal prescription for pain medication after I injured my knee. Every year, an estimated 3 million patients are prescribed post-surgical opioids and become dependent. More than 80% of heroin users trace their addiction to a legal prescription, including me.

Opioids cost 1,375 Arizonans their lives in 2018 alone. This is a public health epidemic, and we need to leverage every available public-health policy tool to reduce opioid addiction. Fortunately, research into safer pain relievers is paying off and FDA-approved, opioid-free alternatives are now available. This means patients can recover from medical procedures in comfort while taking fewer, if any, opioid doses.

The morning of the car accident, the ambulance drove by my house on the way to the hospital, and I knew my life would never be the same. I’ve lived with a spinal cord injury for 18 years. I try ...