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Remember, he’s our guest, so be nice
Higher education suffered the most under the spending plan the governor signed into law last month, and today (April 9), Ducey faced its leaders. But if there was any animosity between the governor and the regents, it didn’t show in today’s ABOR meeting.
Pima prepares to sue over state budget
Pima County yesterday (April 7) authorized the hiring of an outside counsel to prepare a lawsuit alleging that a budget provision reducing property tax levies for some school districts is unconstitutional. Lobbyist Michael Racy told our reporter today (April 8) that the provision in S1476 (budget; BRB; K-12 education; FY2015-16) is especially hard on Pima County.
Hit me with your best shot
After his speech, McCain spoke with reporters about the coming campaign. He said he didn’t know whether Ward or another challenger would run against him in the primary, but that he expects fight. “I’ve never minded a good fight, and I will look forward to another one, if it’s necessary,” he said.
Talk of an extinction level event is exaggerated
Talk of a “death spiral” for utilities or speculation about an existential threat from rooftop solar is off base, APS insists. John Hatfield, the utility’s VP of communications, told our reporter last week that the narrative about a battle pitting the utilities against rooftop solar is “compelling but false.”
You got it done, but it wasn’t fun
The Senate got tired of waiting for the House and unilaterally adjourned, sending the House into chaos, as the chamber scrambled to figure out what the Senate’s action meant for its remaining work.
APS seeks a ‘gradual’ 320 percent solar fee hike
Less than two years after the Corp Comm approved a small monthly surcharge on residential solar, APS is back, asking energy regulators to impose a 320 percent increase in the solar fee. In its application to the commission, APS said the hike is needed because the current $5 monthly surcharge on a typical 7-kilowatt solar system does not come close to solar customers’ fair share of maintaining th[...]
United weed stand, divided weed fall
One consultant familiar with the efforts to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona told our reporter today that the schism among pro-legalization groups is much deeper than has been reported thus far.
Economy delivers good news for schools and teachers
Higher than expected sales-tax revenues and land-trust earnings have public-school leaders smiling for the first time in a long time. The Classroom Site Fund, which is earmarked mostly for teacher salaries, is projected to earn $47.4 million more in FY16 than in previous years.
A crack in the pot alliance
A new group is wading into the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana, creating a fracture in the campaign to place the question on the 2016 ballot. The new group, Arizonans for Responsible Legalization, registered as a political committee with the secretary of state’s office this afternoon (March 27).
A Faustian deal or a grand bargain
It’s no secret the Clean Elections Commission has enemies at the Capitol who have been seeking its destruction year after year, but CCEC Executive Director Tom Collins and attorney Joe Kanefield told commissioners today that there is an opportunity to reach a compromise.
Tucson Electric wants to pay less for solar energy
Arguing that solar customers don’t pay their fair share for its service, Tucson Electric Power today asked the Corp Comm to allow it to pay less for the excess energy produced by rooftop panels, which, if approved, would cut solar customers’ savings by about 22 percent per month for a typical system.
He is everything to everyone
Ducey seems to have managed to appease all sides of the Common Core debate in his speech yesterday to the Board of Education. Critics and supporters alike are pleased with the governor’s position, and have interpreted his remarks in ways that are most favorable to their cause, and are claiming the governor’s directives to the board as a victory.
