Pearce: “We’re here to represent the taxpayers”
by David SafierFrom cpmaz of Random Musings, who sat through yesterday's Senate Appropriations Committee discussions on the new Republican budget proposals. Democrats brought up a number of amendments to the Republican bills, intended to soften the blows to Arizonans who can least afford the financial pummeling: The most illuminating quote, from discussion of one of … Read more
Brewer’s accomplishments
by David SafierFrom the Accidental Guv's address to the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce: In summarizing her first four months as governor, Brewer said she had already "implemented the largest reduction in state government spending ever in the history of our state." Brewer, who earlier had publicly toyed with rejecting some federal stimulus funding, also … Read more
We’re number one in education funding [for tuition tax credits]
by David SafierArizona has to take pride in whatever number one rankings it gets, especially in education, where it's at the bottom of the per student spending pile. So this is something to be proud of . . . I guess. According to Sen. Jorge Luis Garcia in an op ed in this morning's Star, … Read more
You can’t put it any better than this
by David Safier“The leadership we provide in these hard times will be measured by how well we take care of our youth, our elders and our disabled." Senator Albert Hale (D, LD-2)
A professional chimes in on Yarbrough’s STO
by David SafierBefore I go into the substance of this post, let me mention an excellent post on Random Musings that adds to the discussion of Yarbrough's ACSTO paying about $400,000 a year to Yarbrough's HY Processing. "Random" quotes from the IRS rules governing 501(c)3 organizations, particularly the prohibition against "excess benefit transactions" where the … Read more
Congress Approves a Financial Crisis Investigation Commission
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Earlier this week, the House passed the final version of a bill intended to enhance enforcement of financial crimes, one of the provisions of which will create a 10-member commission to investigate the causes of the financial crisis. The vote was 338 to 52. The Senate passed the same version of the … Read more
Credit Cardholder Bill of Rights Approved by Congress, Sent to President
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to impose tough new restrictions on the credit card industry, which had spent years successfully avoiding regulations. Senate approves tougher credit card rules in 90-5 vote The bill bars firms from hiking interest rates on cardholders unless they are 60 days late in payment, bans “double-cycle … Read more
