RenziGate Roundup 3/2
March 2, 2008
The House ethics committee has decided to open their own investigation into allegations of embezzlement and extortion against Dick using a 4-member, bipartisan sub-committee. The panel does not have the power to require Renzi’s expulsion from the House, although they can recommend this action and the House could unseat Renzi with a 2/3rds vote ā¢
The Mother of All Libraries
March 2, 2008
by David Safier OK, the headline is a bit of a cheat. āThe Mother of All Librariesā isnāt a boast by Saddam Hussein about his book collection in Baghdad. It actually refers to the public subscription library Ben Franklin set up in Philadelphia when he was a young man. (You can stop reading now if
The Presumption of Innocence and the Assumption of Guilt
March 1, 2008
Innocent until proven guilty. If ever there were a legal motto that is observed more the breach than in the main, this is it. The Presumption of innocence is a nice formality, but everyone, and especially conservatives, are generally ready to lock up a criminal who is merely charged with a crime. Regardless of the
When Bee Brings Gifts, Look for the Stinger
March 1, 2008
by David Safier Mike has been gently nudging me to write about a topic Iāve been avoiding ā Tim Beeās bill to allow all school districts in Arizona to participate in, and get the extra dollars for, the stateās āCareer Ladderā teacher pay program. Iāve ducked and dodged until now, and not because I donāt
Cuts in the Classroom
March 1, 2008
by David Safier (TASL) As I read the Star article, Classroomās dollar share drops over breakfast this morning, I found myself asking, āAre all the analysts idiots?” Everyone was trying to explain why Arizona is spending a lower percentage of our education dollar in the classroom. They all got it partly right, but mostly wrong.
Still Think You Live in the Most Free Country on Earth?
February 29, 2008
Police routinely abuse their authority and discretion in the face of peaceful exercise of civil rights. We need to demand better training and more accountability when violations like this one occur. At least they weren’t beaten, pepper-sprayed, arrested, held without charge or trial, tortured and/or killed. This time.
Schools, Free Speech and Religious Speech
February 28, 2008
by David Safier At first glance, this looks like a free speech and religious freedom issue. HB 2713, which just passed in the House K-12 Committee 5-4, basically says schools canāt discriminate against students based on religion and have to allow students to wear religious jewelry as well as articles of clothing that display religious
ELL Funding is Good for Arizona’s Economy
February 28, 2008
by David Safier (TASL) Ted Downing, a former State Representative who is a prof at UA, wrote a comment to my post, āWE NEED MORE TIME!ā that adds to the conversation about funding for ELL programs. If we can show people the economic repercussions to Arizona of giving students who need to learn English an
