Featured Stories
“The attack on Arizona teachers continues”
January 26, 2010
by David Safier From the Farley report: The attack on Arizona teachers continues. HB2395, introduced by Rep. Lauren Hendrix (R-Mesa), is an attempt take away teachers' voices by eliminating their ability to voluntarily pay dues to the Arizona Education Association — which represents them at the Capitol — through payroll deduction. No other union or
Fool’s Gold: Pure Propagandistic Garbage
January 26, 2010
by David Safier Today's Daily Email from Goldwater Institute's Matthew Ladner is worse than usual if only because it misuses the data from two good studies. There's not a factual inaccuracy to be found, only gross errors of overstatement and omission. The headline states the premise of the email: President Obama should transfer Head Start
GOP insane clown posse headed down the wrong track
January 26, 2010
The GOP insane clown posse refuses to acknowledge The First Rule of Holes: "The first rule of holes, when you're in one, stop digging."– Molly Ivins. Arizona is in the deficit hole it is in due to twenty years of GOP tax cutting that has reduced the tax base to the point that it can no
Harry Potter, meet Merriam-Webster
January 26, 2010
by David Safier Looks like going after all that sorcery and devil worship in Harry Potter books isn't enough. Now they're going after dictionaries in elementary schools. [A parent] called the principal of Oak Meadows Elementary School to say that entries describing oral sex in the dictionary were too explicit. The books were immediately pulled
Nonrecourse home loans in Arizona
January 26, 2010
by David Safier I'm a homeowner and not underwater, so this doesn't concern me directly, but I didn't know that in Arizona and California, homeowners have a special protection which says, if any of us defaults on a home loan, the lender can't go after other possessions. [In Arizona and California] mortgages are so-called nonrecourse
Jack Harper wants to separate orphans from their extended families
January 26, 2010
Posted by Craig McDermott That title sounds counter-intuitive, as State Sen. Jack Harper (R-LD4) is well known to be an ardently pro-family* whackaloon. *As long as the "family" in question is wealthy, white, and RepublicanHowever, his latest proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution, SCR1029, is an anti-family measure dressed up as an anti-gay and lesbian
Tax and Cut Conservatives
January 26, 2010
by David Safier When Republicans oppose tax hikes, never, never let them hide behind their supposed concern for the middle class. Their No Tax Pledge exists to help businesses and the rich, period. If necessary, they'll throw a bone to the middle class with a few stray scraps of meat left on it. Case in
Rep. Patricia Fleming (D-LD25) on the state budget
January 26, 2010
Posted by AzBlueMeanie: The Arizona Daily Star's series continues today with Rep. Patricia Fleming (D-LD25). Formatted for transcript format. Rep. Patricia Fleming, D, District 25 Rep. Patricia Fleming, D-LD25 Committees: Military Affairs and Public Safety; Natural Resources and Rural Affairs The Arizona Daily Star asked the following questions of each lawmaker: 1) Lawmakers have discretion over
