1,500 protest cuts on Capitol Mall
by David Safier It's going to be interesting — far too weak a word, but the only one that comes to mind — to see how the reaction to the proposed budget cuts build over the next few days (From what I hear, the Republicans plan to have their budget finalized by the end of … Read more
Great Schools or Great Teachers?
by David Safier Interesting conversation with Bill Gates from NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof. Most of the column deals with Gates' commitment to fighting third world poverty and disease — good, hopeful stuff — but toward the end, Gates talks about his continuing efforts to improve education in this country. What I like about Gates … Read more
“Things people neither want nor really need”
by David Safier From Jan Brewer's address to Republicans Saturday, according to Daniel Scarpinato: Brewer said the role of government is to provide public safety and "keep the people of Arizona as unburdened as possible." "Especially," she said, "from the heavy-handed Democrat-led government, whose spending priorities seemed to focus on things people neither want nor … Read more
Change comes to the Arizona Democratic Party
by David Safier The leadership of the Arizona Democratic Party took a surprising shift at today's State Reorganization Meeting. Out is former State Chair Don Bivens. In is new State Chair Paul Eckerstrom. There were a few other surprising shifts in other offices, but nothing as dramatic or unexpected as the change at the top. … Read more
The new guy at the U.S. Dept of Ed
by David Safier Federal employees have been writing to Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo the past few days about their first impressions of the new people in charge. The reviews have been positive to glowing. Here's one from the Department of Ed about the new Secretary, Arne Duncan. It says nothing about substance but … Read more
About fed money to the states
by David Safier Information is beginning to trickle in about the nature of federal bailout money that could go to states. For me, the most important passage of this article is, states won't get federal money to replace dollars they cut: Some portions of the package may not provide a net increase to Arizona if … Read more
Great quote
by David Safier Said by Dr. Tom Grogan, Chief Scientific Officer and Medical Director of Ventana Medical Systems, Inc., during the call to the audience at yesterday's Regents meeting: "I contend that in the 21st century, more wealth will come from the frontal cortex of man than from minerals in the ground."
