Larry Bodine

Larry is an intelligent, articulate, and insightful commentator whose views are shaped by a combination of journalism, entrepreneurship, law practice, and leadership.‎ ✍ He is an experienced and well-known leader, having served as Chair of the LD18 Democrats, and President of the Democrats of Greater Tucson, a teacher at the UofA Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and Video Manager for Iskashitaa Refugee Network, ‎ ✍ A common-sense business leader, he operated a successful marketing consultancy for 20 years. He is skilled in fundraising, artificial intelligence, and online communications.‎ ✍He considers multiple viewpoints before forming an opinion. His ethos is the Boy Scout Law.‎ ✍ Larry is a lifelong writer, having worked as a seven-time award-winning journalist for the New York Daily News and as the author of 600 editorials for the Blog for Arizona.‎ ✍He is a graduate of Amherst College and Seton Hall Law School and has also attended the University of Munich in Germany.‎ ✍He is not all work and no play. Larry enjoys singing and playing the guitar, watching film noir, going on outings with his Portuguese Water Dog, weight training, and meeting his many friends for lattes at breakfast.‎ ‎** Scroll down to see my articles below. **

Cut back on Fossil Fuels — and BS Propaganda — with “Yes” Vote for Prop 127

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Voters in Arizona can confidently vote “yes” for Proposition 127, knowing that it will cut the use by state utilities of polluting fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, and knowing that it will not cause an increase in electric rates.

There has been persistent false propaganda against the measure, asserting that Prop. 127 will cause electric rates to go up from $200 to $1,000 per year or that it bankrupt public schools or that it would somehow hurt air quality. None of this is true.

An example of these baseless arguments was the recent op-ed by Arizona Board of Regents member Karrin Taylor Robson who argued without evidence that Prop. 127 would costs schools millions. The article cited estimates by unnamed “public utilities.” If the article referred to a study from Arizona Public Service — the chief opponent of Prop. 127 — that study has been widely debunked.

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Arizona List Blasts Frank Riggs, Right-Wing Candidate for State Superintendent

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Meet Frank Riggs, Republican candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Throughout this campaign Riggs has done everything he can to position himself as a moderate Republican.

“But don’t be fooled —  Frank Riggs is a far right-wing conservative who aligned himself with some of the most extreme figures and policy stances of the Tea Party movement,” said Devin Rankin, Executive Director of the Arizona List in an email to members. “He made this clear in 2014 during his losing campaign for Governor:

· “Immigration protesters, including… Frank Riggs, had gathered in Oracle, Ariz. to rally against the expected arrival of a busload of Central American migrant children. A group of armed militiamen were providing security for Riggs…” Talking Points Memo, July 2014

· “Riggs has also staked out some conservative stances that could appeal to red-meat primary voters… voicing concerns about Muslim extremists and Sharia law.” Phoenix Business Journal, June 2014

· “I’m honored to receive Ted Nugent’s endorsement,” said Riggs. “Nugent has unparalleled courage of his convictions.” Tucson Weekly, July 2014

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The ‘No on Prop. 127’ Campaign Misleads Voters Bigly

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Prop. 127 would increase the amount of electricity Arizona's utilities must obtain from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030.
Prop. 127 would increase the amount of electricity Arizona’s utilities must get from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030.

Despite the bluster and fury of campaign ads, a close examination of studies shows that Proposition 127, The Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona ballot initiative, would have only a modest impact on electricity bills.

“Climate change needs to be addressed, the question is whether to do so through amending the state’s Constitution or via the Arizona Corporation Commission.  Based on climate research, by 2030 the state may lose about one-sixth of its economic growth because of the more extreme heat caused by climate change and by 2090 the state’s economy may begin to contract,” noted Dr. Dave Wells, research director with the Grand Canyon Institute (GCI) and author of the policy paper Impact of 50% Renewal Portfolio Standard Under Prop. 127.

GCI, a nonpartisan think tank, has not taken a position on Prop. 127 and conducted its analysis without payment from any organizations or people.

Prop. 127 would increase the amount of electricity Arizona’s utilities must get from renewable sources to 50 percent by 2030. Utilities like APS have already achieved the current standard of utilizing 15 percent renewable energy by 2025. The initiative defines renewable energy as solar, wind, biomass, certain hydropower, geothermal, and landfill gas energies.  It excludes current nuclear and hydro capacities.

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New Data: David Garcia Closing the Gap in Race for Governor

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The Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research released a poll showing the Garcia-Ducey race has dropped to a 4-point margin.
The Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research released a poll showing the Garcia-Ducey race has dropped to a 4-point margin.

Two new polls show that Democratic candidate David Garcia is closing the gap with Doug Ducey in the race for Governor. The gap will narrow more as Garcia’s campaign knocks on the doors of 1.3 million voters this weekend.

On top of that, One Arizona — a coalition of progressive community groups — worked together to register a record 190,000 new voters statewide.

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Voter Approval of Prop. 126 will Cut Education and Road Funding

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If voters approve Prop. 126 on Nov. 6, the state will lose $250 million annually in current funding for education and counties will have a dramatic shortfall in money for road improvements. The Grand Canyon Institute estimates that the education sales tax renewal will lose one-third of revenues if Prop. 126 passes, which would currently … Read more

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