Month: August 2014

Free Fall classes at the Garden Kitchen

by

I toured this fantastic facility a few months ago and learned about their gardening techniques and delicious cooking classes. Even got to sample some Caribbean dishes and enjoy the festive atmosphere. Check out the numerous classes listed above. At the SE corner of 4th Avenue and E. 32th Street in South Tucson.

New report debunks the “Clean Elections done it” bunk

by

Clean Elections poster

Andrew Prokop of Vox interviewed Michael G. Miller of Barnard college about his research on public campaign financing in the states that have enacted it. Conventional wisdom in Arizona’s elite circles holds that Arizona’s Clean Election system is largely to blame for the election of radical right wing legislators and laws such as SB1070. Miller tried to find the connection and couldn’t:

Andrew Prokop: Arizona’s legislature last made national news for adopting a tough anti-illegal immigration law in 2010. Would you say that the public financing system made that more likely to pass? Support for loosening immigration laws is more widespread among business interests, and under public financing, the support of business may be less important to candidates.

Read more

Fred DuVal unveils his Education Plan

by

Democratic candidate for governor Fred DuVal unveiled his Education Plan for Arizona today. Here is the campaign press release:

Fred DuVal Unveils Plan To Improve Arizona’s Schools

Fred DuValPhoenix, AZ — Business and education leader Fred DuVal, who is running for Arizona governor, today unveiled his plan to improve Arizona’s schools at a community event in Phoenix at Wesley Community Center.

“We’ve heard millions of words about fixing our schools because it’s so important. I’ve got a message for Arizonans that they haven’t heard before, and won’t hear from any other candidate: if you elect me governor, I’ll walk into the capitol and stop the cuts to our schools.”

“Moving Arizona forward depends on all of our children receiving a first-class education, but right now we’re leaving too many of our children behind. I’m committed to changing that.”

Read more

Pima County Seniors Protest Martha McSally’s Attacks on Social Security

by

Seniors Mark Social Security Anniversary, Protest McSally’s Support for Privatization Local seniors will gather this afternoon on the 79th anniversary of Social Security’s enactment to call on Martha McSally to stop attacking seniors’ retirement savings and start supporting this important program. McSally has repeatedly said she supports Republican efforts to undermine Social Security by trying … Read more

Virginia is for Lovers: 4th Circuit Court of Appeals will not stay its same-sex marriage ruling

by

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a stay order Wednesday in Virginia’s same-sex marriage appeal. Unless the U.S. Supreme Court issues a stay order (as it has done for the state of Utah), same-sex couples could begin getting marriage licenses to wed as early as next Wednesday. Lyle Denniston at SCOTUSblog.com reports, No delay on Virginia same-sex marriage ruling (UPDATED):

EqualThe Fourth Circuit’s three-judge panel denied the stay, in a two-to-one decision.  The decision itself was similarly divided.

* * *

The Fourth Circuit late last month struck down the Virginia ban on same-sex marriages, and the state has now appealed that to the Supreme Court (Rainey v. Bostic), even though state officials support the decision.  A county clerk who has been defending the Virginia ban is also expected to file a petition for review of that decision, and both are likely to be considered by the Court early in the new Term starting this fall.

Read more