Ducey to critics: Where’s your alternative plan?
Ducey today (March 12) pushed back against criticisms leveled at the $9.1 billion spending plan he negotiated with lawmakers by digging up an oft-repeated counterclaim Brewer and her allies had deployed against those who had lambasted the 2013 Medicaid expansion.
Funding higher education in Arizona – the looming question
How many times are we going to watch this movie? State imposes budget cuts. Recipient fights back. Repeat. Play. Repeat. Play. We’re sick of this movie and have worked diligently to change the script.
Responsible budget puts Arizona on right track
Every election, it seems, politicians give lip service to the need for fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. But once they are in office, they lack the courage and resolve to actually achieve one. It’s always politically more convenient to spend more than we take in, hide growing debt and liabilities through clever accounting tricks, and leave the consequences for someone else to clean up[...]
Parents, grandparents, students aren’t fooled by the new state budget
Earlier this legislative session, many state lawmakers grilled Charles Flanagan – who was then director of the Department of Child Safety – about why reports of child neglect are still going up. They pointed fingers, made speeches and issued statements about how important it is to protect child safety and reduce child abuse and neglect.
Let’s slash government regulation and open the door for Tesla sales
Government overregulation isn’t a friend of either the business community or consumer. I’ve been pleased that many voices from Gov. Doug Ducey to key legislators to community business leaders desire to cut red tape and simplify government policies to promote economic development.
Arizona faith leaders oppose prison expansion
As people of faith, we are united in opposition to any further prison expansion in Arizona. In particular, we are opposed to the practice of incarceration for profit, through contracts with private prison corporations.
The real budget casualties – nearly 1 million public school students
The state budget is approved, and many think the battle for public education is over for the year. This coming fall, with the implementation of this new budget, we will reach a crisis with one-half of Arizona’s school children having never attended a classroom fully funded as the voters mandated with the passing of Proposition 301 in 2000.
Not really a cop: Glendale lawmaker incorrectly claims to be a police officer
On March 10, Republican lawmaker Anthony Kern said in a Republican caucus meeting that he recommended passage of SB1445 “as a certified peace officer.”
House again votes against moving up date of Arizona primary
The Arizona House has for the second time voted down a proposal to move the state's primary elections from the fourth Tuesday in August to the second Tuesday in July.
Michael Crow: Higher education has the potential to remedy social inequality
There is a well-established link between one’s level of educational attainment and social advancement. Unfortunately, the recent drift of the national discussion on higher education, aided by a recent New York Times column by Paul Krugman, questions that correlation
‘Abortion reversal’ disclosure required in anti-abortion bill
State lawmakers are moving to force doctors to tell women their medical abortions can be reversed if they act quickly, a procedure that even its anti-abortion proponents admit lacks medical proof that it works.
It’s hard to say ‘no’ to the governor
CCEC Executive Director Tom Collins didn’t anticipate Pierce’s SCR1001 (Clean Elections repeal; education funding) to stay dead forever, and he was right.