Featured Stories
AIRC Update and Tentative Schedule of Public Hearings
September 7, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The next public hearing of the Arizona Independent Redistricitng Commission (AIRC) is scheduled for Thursday in Tempe. September 8, 2011 Fiesta Resort – Galleria Ballroom2100 S. Priest DriveTempe, AZ 85282 2:30 P.M. Agenda Info Tentative Meeting Schedule – These are meeting dates that we are trying to put together for future meetings.
Call the Wahhmbulance! ‘Gotcha!’ feigned outrage and pearl clutching on the right
September 7, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Ralphie [as an Adult narrating]: In the heat of battle my father wove a tapestry of obscenities that as far as we know is still hanging in space over Lake Michigan. – A Christmas Story (1983) The Tea Party tyrants are upset because Teamsters boss James Hoffa called them "sons-of-bitches" in a Labor
ALEC States & Nation Policy Summit coming to Phoenix Nov. 30
September 6, 2011
by David Safier Those of you who have been following the BfA series, Alec and the Arizona Legislature, might be interested in the upcoming ALEC 2011 States & Nation Policy Summit in Phoenix, November 30 to December 2. It will be held at the beautiful Westin Kierland hotel, near the Scottsdale Municipal Airport. Room rates
A lesson from (no longer) CCA prisons in Florida
September 6, 2011
by David Safier Private prisons are all the rage here, as they are in Florida. Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently approved privatizing 30 South Florida prisons. Here are two tales about CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) prisons in Florida, neither of them good. First, from Bay County: After 23 years, Corrections Corporation of America in
Texas district schools “mimic” charters . . . by spending more money
September 6, 2011
by David Safier Some of Houston's district schools are looking to emulate effective strategies of charters, which include longer school days, a longer school calendar and tutors to help struggling students. Nine Houston elementary schools adopted the "reforms." The pricetag? $19 million for the year. See, you have to pay teachers more if you want
Rothschild answers Star on education issue
September 6, 2011
by David Safier The Star took both mayoral candidates to task in a Sunday editorial, saying they don't understand the nature of the job they're applying for. The editorial went after Jonathan Rothschild for daring to say he wanted to be involved in the educational climate in Tucson. As for Rothschild's education agenda, city government
Federal Court finds the Arizona legislature and Gov. Brewer illegally raided transportation funds
September 6, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Press release from the Democratic House Caucus: Court finds GOP stole transportation funds, hands victory to Arizonans STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Republican lawmakers and Gov. Jan Brewer illegally raided Arizona’s public transit funds in an attempt to fill a budget gap, the U.S. District Court in Arizona ruled on Friday. The court
The Phisher King, Tyler Vogt, still spamming Tucson
September 6, 2011
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: I have previously told you about The Phisher King, Tyler Vogt, Tea-Publican troll candidate for the Tucson City Council, who misused and abused a public records request to obtain e-mail addresses for a commercial purpose, i.e., to solicit you for campaign contributions. I received another one of Vogt's unsolicited campaign e-mails today containing
