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

During the past 25 years, Public Interest Research Group’s “Trouble in Toyland” report has led to at least 150 recalls and other actions to get dangerous toys off store shelves.

Great. The party that turned us into the largest debtor nation in the world via 20 years of status-quo deficit spending and adamantly preached the deregulation that nearly led to our complete economic collapse has regained some political power and is going to help us achieve financial responsibility.

Ben Bernanke and his buddies at the Federal Reserve have half the economic equation right. But the half they’ve got wrong could turn out to be quite costly.

Too often, we forget that people with mental illnesses are all around us, trying their best to work hard and lead productive lives. That’s why it was a privilege last month to celebrate Mental Illness Awareness Week, a perfect time for Arizonans to remember our friends and neighbors who are suffering from behavioral health issues.

On Election Night last week, as I was gathered with colleagues watching the returns come in, I was thinking about what would have people talking the next day. The GOP takeover of the U.S. House would be the big headline nationally, but here in Arizona, folks might be buzzing over the Republicans winning a supermajority in the state Legislature.

Over and over, the people of Arizona have demonstrated that they want medical marijuana. Unfortunately, privately-funded FDA approved cannabis research is hampered by a government monopoly over the marijuana supply, held by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additional FDA approved research with marijuana must take place.

Simply put, the 2010 election results show that the American people (and Arizonans) know that government central planners cannot spend and stimulate our way out of recession and reject the notion that these same government workers are qualified to pick winners and losers in tax policy.

As Al Qaeda’s strategy evolves, our homeland security agencies have to adapt or it could spell catastrophe for the homeland. And evolve Al Qaeda has: Experts recently testified to Congress that, since the beginning of 2009, there has been a visible shift in Al Qaeda’s strategy inside the United States.

As Arizona nears its 100th birthday, we find ourselves divided, polarized and in desperate need of a government system that will serve us well for the next 100 years.

When a person is sued, it’s a given that they should be able to hire legal representation. When you’re an elected sheriff and the ACLU sues you, that need is even more imperative. However, an Oct. 15 article by Arizona Capitol Times reporter Jeremy Duda might give readers the impression that I don’t have that right.