Merit Selection of Arizona Judges Preserved
The Arizona legislature failed in it's attempt to refer to voters a constitutional amendment that would have effectively ended merit selection of judges in Arizona and made the judiciary a creature of the Executive over time. The President of the Arizona Bar gives and excellent overview of the final version that eventually passed and will … Read more
Is Pearce on the defensive?
by David Safier Russell Pearce doesn't come off at all well in a Phoenix News 10 12 piece about a Tea Party rally at the Capitol. When reporter Wendy Halloran asked him when we're going to see those invoices he promised for Fiesta Bowl-supplied tickets, he got angry. What a surprise! His reply: "You know … Read more
Chris Christie: “take out the bat” on legislator; teachers “use students like drug mules”
by David Safier I've got someone other than Russell Pearce to pick on this morning. New Jersey's Governor Chris Christie. Christie was upset at the press for not going after a Democratic lawmaker more aggressively. His statement during a news conference: “Can you guys please take the bat out on her for once?” State Senator … Read more
Get Your 2010 Federal Taxpayer Receipt
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The White House has a handy-dandy new online calculator that allows you to produce a "receipt" showing you how your federal tax dollars are spent. Your 2010 Federal Taxpayer Receipt | The White House: In his State of the Union Address, President Obama promised that this year, for the first time ever, … Read more
David Cay Johnston: 9 things the rich do not want you to know about taxes
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Tax expert David Cay Johnston has an excellent essay this week about the 9 Things The Rich Don't Want You To Know About Taxes: For three decades we have conducted a massive economic experiment, testing a theory known as supply-side economics. The theory goes like this: Lower tax rates will encourage more … Read more
Something for procrastinators to think about while doing your taxes this weekend
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: You have all heard the Tea-Publican mantra repeated ad nauseam: "We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem." This of course is a lie. They don't want you looking at corporate and wealthy tax cheaters who do not pay taxes. They want you to blame the poor and those receiving government … Read more
OK, this is kinda funny
by David Safier Tim Steller has a dizzying-but-amusing article in the Star about the $5 million that was supposed to go to Pinal Sheriff Paul Babeu. Let me see if I got this straight. There never was $5 million for Babeu. As the original bill was written, it was supposed to be a sweep from … Read more
