Promising
by David SafierToday's Star has short op eds on health care by Giffords, Grijalva, Kyl and McCain. Three are exactly what you would expect — the right stuff from Grijalva and the usual No's from Kyl and McCain. The fourth, from Giffords, seems to indicate she's moving in a positive direction. Giffords makes no firm … Read more
Krugman: Why markets can’t cure healthcare
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Worth the read Why markets can’t cure healthcare – Paul Krugman Blog: Judging both from comments on this blog and from some of my mail, a significant number of Americans believe that the answer to our health care problems — indeed, the only answer — is to rely on the free market. … Read more
The Alaska Disasta’s Last Day
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: Sunday is the Alaska Disasta's last day in office after she just up and quit mid-term, a matter of "stategery" so that she and First Dude Todd can invade the Lower 48 and run for president in 2012. A lucrative book deal, probably with conservative pulp fiction publisher Regerny Press, and guest … Read more
AZ 12th best state for business
by David SafierCNBC has its 2008 rankings of states for businesses. Arizona comes in number 12 overall. How do our neighboring states rank? Texas is number 1, and Utah is number 3. New Mexico is at 38, and Nevada is way, way down at 45. Arizona, then, ranks pretty well, despite the howlings of the … Read more
Update: Blue Dog temper-tantrum over, negotiations resume
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: After stomping out of a meeting earlier in the day and taking their ball to go home, the Blue Dogs got all pissy, whined and threw a temper-tantrum until they got the attention they so much crave. Their childish behavior worked, unfortunately, and was rewarded with concessions from the House leadership. Leadership … Read more
State has to return candy to baby
by David SafierWay back in February, the Rs decided to take $7 million from First Things First, a fund created by the voters to pay for childhood education and child health issues. Sure, the fund was approved by voters and so it can't be touched by legislators, but the Rs figured, the $7 million is … Read more
The data-driven education dilemma
by David SafierOK, this is a tough one. There are so many on-the-other-hands here, I'm running out of hands. The Obama administration took aim on Thursday at state laws — adopted after heavy teachers’ union lobbying — barring the use of student achievement data to evaluate teacher performance. The federal Department of Education proposed rules … Read more
