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

Dental care in the Grand Canyon State is ranked 30th in the nation in terms of dental care and oral health, according to the research website WalletHub. Arizonans spend an average of $103.80 a year per capita on dental costs. That’s in the bottom third of the country.

Dental therapists are a distraction. They solve nothing. Legislative efforts to bring this position to Arizona divert attention from the real issues and real solutions. They set us up to be the next Minnesota, scrambling a few years from now after we learn that Pew’s hollow promises only delayed the day of reckoning.

Ultimately, we will never achieve meaningful sentencing reform in Arizona with both sides bashing the other and making “straw dog” arguments based on false mischaracterization of the other’s positions. Instead, we must take baby steps and then measure results as they inform public safety, in much the same way that the recently released APAAC report undertook its detailed and valuable account of recidivism in all categories of offenses. Knowing which categories of offenders recidivate least often can suggest sentencing reductions that are plausible and realistic.

So, legislators, we fought hard to eliminate ballot harvesting fraud from the primary and general election process. Let’s insert the same honesty and integrity into the political party voting process.

Together, we have made a good intention a great bill. I am thankful for everyone who not only participated to create responsible legislation, but to our Arizona parents, grandparents, kin, and foster and adoptive families who sacrifice so much to help our vulnerable kids.

Our goal is to ensure Arizona’s vibrant school choices are funded equally and our teachers adequately compensated. We call for the formation of a Prop 301 task force to design and build the new Prop 301. We can’t get this done without all parties at the table. The Prop 301 extension starts that conversation. We hope you will join us.

At its core, our partnerships with Mercy Maricopa and Mercy Care Plan underscore the power of population health. But we must never forget that our population is made up of individuals – people who want to feel better and have the confidence in their ability to manage their health so they can live their life. By collaborating with other healthcare stakeholders and taking a personalized approach to patient care, we have taken a good step forward to help Arizonans take control of their health while achieving better outcomes and a lower cost of care.

Arizona has laws that could prevent such shootings. However, the laws are not followed by the agencies charged with executing them. Our system has the capacity to handle these screenings within 48 hours but because of custom and long misguided standards, it does not. The result is that people do not get the treatment they need and they, and our communities are harmed.

Is making that point to our legislators a stunt? Is illustrating the humanity of women behind bars a stunt? I don’t think so. We are Americans – we can do better.

I am suggesting the Arizona Legislature enact a new idea: a Teacher Salary Override for districts. Again, if the state won’t act, allow voters, if they are so inclined, to address the teachers’ salary crisis locally.