Three notes of praise for today’s Star
by David Safier Note this in your diaries, BfA readers. Today I praise the Star three times ("Once, Twice, Three Times a Paper") without a hint of snark. Advertisement 1. The ever-praiseworthy Fitz just keeps getting better in his weekly column. Too many great lines to quote, but here are a few: Attorney General Tom … Read more
An Aha moment
by David Safier Yesterday I wrote about a proposed 50% increase in the amount each person can give as a private school tuition tax credit. (Note, by the way, the bill doesn't offer a similar increase in the public school tax credit, which is already less than half the private school amount.) But I also … Read more
AHCCCS in the Crosshairs
by Michael Bryan HHS Secretary Sebelius has indicated that Gov. Brewer's plan to kick everyone who is not federally mandated to be eligible (about 250K people) off Arizona's Medicaid program (AHCCCS) will not violate federal law. Federal eligibility is governed by a number of factors , not income alone, which means that even some people under … Read more
50% rise in tuition tax credit limit. Booze profits for private schools?
by David Safier First the part of HB 2581 I understand. If passed, this bill would allow individuals to raise their yearly private school tuition tax credit contributions from $500 to $750 — a 50% hike. That means a couple's contribution would go from $1,000 to $1,500. Since every dollar of tax credit is a … Read more
Legislative weekly wrap up, with a quick preview of next week
by Craig McDermott, cross-posted from Random Musings The Arizona legislature's activity, week of February 14. 2011, in review – – The big news this week was the passage of a massive corporate tax cut bill in a special session. The bill, HB2001, is "massive," both in terms of its impact on the state's fiscal situation (blowing a … Read more
TUSD’s plans for Rincon and Palo Verde will cause more harm than good
by David Safier RIncon and Palo Verde high schools are labeled "persistently low achieving schools" by the state. TUSD plans to fire the principals at both schools. It also plans to fire the staff and hire half of them back. TUSD is right to see a problem, and I think the three school board members … Read more
Wise words from Kurt Vonnegut
by David Safier With so much going on and so much to write about, it seems a little silly of me to take time out to quote one of my favorite authors. But his words are more appropriate than ever. In "Sirens of Titan," the main character wrote a note to himself to remind himself … Read more
