Goldwater Institute: cut ed, commerce, art, etc.
by David Safier From the Phoenix Business Journal: In a likely precursor to proposed budget cuts in 2009, the Goldwater Institute advocates $1 billion in cutbacks to help solve projected shortfalls of up to $2 billion over the next two years. Advertisement The Libertarian group calls for elimination of the Arizona Office of Tourism and Department of … Read more
Charter/voucher proponents out in force
by David Safier The educational "reformers" — meaning the people who agree with the Bush folks (Is that reform we can believe in?) — have been out it force getting their word in the media. We've had all kinds of articles and op eds about the glories of vouchers lately, now that the courts are … Read more
Tucson to Jonathan Paton: Don’t Tread on Me!
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Ah, senator-elect Jonathan Paton (R-Dist. 30) is up to his old tricks again. Paton is in the business of "gimmicks-R-us" to generate news ink to keep his name in the newspapers. (Unfortunately, I will have to indulge his narcissism once more here.) Who could forget when Paton got the vapors and his … Read more
Your Republican legislature at work
by David Safier A lawmaker-approved plan to spend $1 billion on building projects at the state's three universities and stimulate the construction industry is likely dead after a legislative committee set to review the package canceled its meeting. There's not much more to say, is there? (But I'll say it anyway.) Pearce & Co. think … Read more
A tax on sugar water
by David Safier (TASL) Nicholas Kristof has a great column this morning about a proposed 18% tax in New York on soft drinks with sugar and other nondiet sugary beverages. The reasoning is, sugar water doesn't curb your appetite. It actually increases it. So sugared beverages are as much or more of a contributor to … Read more
Vic Williams gets it from Nintzel on Deposit-gate
by David Safier I mentioned that the story of newly elected state rep Vic Williams (R, LD-26) stiffing Iraq vet Tasha Downum for her rental deposit was developing. The latest development is, Jim Nintzel picked the story up from my posts and ran with it in Tucson Weekly's The Skinny. Nintzel talked with Downum and moved … Read more
Obama’s Secretary of Education
by David Safier It's all but official that Arne Duncan will be the next Secretary of Education. While no one is ecstatic about the choice, no one is angry about it either. That seems to be the watchword for Obama's cabinet picks. It may be a great strategy, choosing people who can work with all … Read more
