Year: 2018

The Arizona Republic: No on Prop. 127 (vote yes)

by

The Arizona Republic recommends a “no” vote on the Clean Energy For A Healthy Arizona initiative, Prop. 127. Prop. 127, Arizona’s renewable energy initiative, comes down to just 4 words:

One day Arizona will be powered by the sun.

We enjoy such abundant natural light that we seem destined to throw a harness around the sun and use it to pull the greater share of our state economy.

But that day is not here. Not yet.

For now we are moving in the direction of the sun with new knowledge and new technology.

Crusaders for clean power have put on this year’s ballot a proposal to massively accelerate Arizona’s ascension to virtually 100-percent clean energy. But there are reasons to doubt it.

Because there is an entrenched carbon monopoly and special interest “dark money” from APS, its parent company Pinnacle West, and the “Kochtopus” organizations which have bought GOP candidates and captured the Arizona Corporation Commission.

What would Proposition 127 do?

Utilities are now under Arizona Corporation Commission mandate to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

Proposition 127 would bump up those requirements to 50 percent by 2030, an increase the utilities say would greatly increase costs that would then be passed on to ratepayers.

Note: California law already requires at least 50 percent of the state’s electricity to come from noncarbon-producing sources by 2030. California took a giant step this past May, by becoming the first state to require all new homes to be fitted for solar power. California Will Require Solar Power for New Homes. The Clean Energy For A Healthy Arizona initiative is not nearly as ambitious.

Read more

The Arizona Republic: No on Prop. 305

by

The Arizona Republic recommends a “no” vote on Prop. 305, the citizens referendum on the “vouchers on steroids” bill passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Ducey, but then blocked by the activism of the citizens of this state. Prop. 305 won’t solve Arizona’s school voucher debate. Here’s what it will do:

Looks are deceiving when it comes to Proposition 305.

But you don’t have to be confused.

The measure amounts to asking voters if Arizona should expand a program that allows parents to take public funding intended to educate their children in K-12 public schools and use it for private school tuition or other educational options.

What does a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote mean?

In 2017, lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey approved expanding the voucher program to any K-12 student.

The expansion was put on hold because a public-school advocacy group used an option in the state Constitution to require a public vote before it could go into effect.

The group, Save Our Schools, gathered enough signatures to refer the matter to the voters.

A “no” vote on Prop. 305 represents a rejection of this expansion, maintaining the limited voucher program. A “yes” vote allows the expansion to become law.

Read more

The Arizona Republic: No on Prop. 126

by

The Arizona Republic today recommends a “no” vote on Prop. 126. If you hate taxes, Prop. 126 is a no-brainer, right? Well, not exactly:

The appeal of Proposition 126 is that it would prohibit imposing a sales tax on services in Arizona.

Screen Shot 2018-08-14 at 12.17.18 PM

So, Prop. 126 is a no-brainer then? Far from it.

Why? Because in shielding services from being taxed, the Protect Arizona Taxpayers Act.

It may mean, for instance, a hike in marginal income-tax rates. Or a higher sales tax on goods.

Why nix an important revenue source?

Talk of new revenue took on greater urgency this year following the #RedforEd movement that prompted Gov. Doug Ducey to pledge a 20-percent raise in teacher pay and more money for schools over the next few years. Even with an improved economy, it’s uncertain whether there will be sufficient tax revenue to pay for it all.

The issue gains more relevance now that an education-funding initiative involving raising income taxes on the rich has been knocked off the Nov. 6 ballot.

Read more

Martha McSally’s actions and those of her staff speak louder than words

by
Like her patron in the Oval Office, Representative Martha McSally says one thing but supports another.

Like Donald Trump, Martha McSally says she will do one thing and instead does the opposite.

Martha McSally still says she is fighting to protect people who have Pre Existing health conditions. Her voting record, including her votes to repeal Obamacare without a replacement that would protect those preexisting conditions, proves otherwise.

Martha McSally still says she is fighting to protect her sister and brother veterans. Again, her voting record against measures protecting veterans from predatory loans, promoting job training, and safeguarding their healthcare prove otherwise.

This culture of hypocrisy towards our veterans, the people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for our country, apparently extends to her office staff in Tucson. One married couple, Carey and Caleb Hayter, recently recounted how the McSally office was dismissive of their request to help research and help assist the couple, two retired veterans of the Marine Corps, in their pursuit of finalizing disability eligibility and issuance of benefits to Carey through the Veteran’s Administration. After receiving the standard bureaucratic form letter from the McSally office that they could not help, the Hayters took their plight to the Arizona State Department of Veterans Services where their staff was able to assist the Hayters and bring the matter of Carey’s disability eligibility to a positive outcome.

Read more