Voted Arizona's Best Political Blog by the Washington Post!
FacebookTwitter

p2h

Home/Pamela Powers Hannley
Avatar

About Pamela Powers Hannley

Long-time blogger and political activist, Pamela Powers Hannley holds a masters’ degree in public health from the University of Arizona and a bachelors’ degree in journalism from the Ohio State University. She has worked for many years in communications and public relations. Powers Hannley stepped down from her position as the managing editor of the American Journal of Medicine to serve Legislative District 9 in the Arizona House. Powers Hannley won her seat in November 2016 and won her re-election bid in 2018. She continues to work part-time social media editor for the journal. In addition to Blog for Arizona, she writes her own blog, The The Tucson Progressive and has contributed political stories to the Huffington Post. Powers Hannley is co-director of Arizonans for a New Economy, Arizona’s public banking initiative. Political website: PowersForThePeople.net Facebook Page: Pamela Powers Hannley for House Tucson Progressive on Facebook: Tucson Progressive Twitter handle: @p2hannley Instagram: p2hannley

October 2012

TUSD candidate forum: What about standardized testing? (video)

By |2012-10-02T17:43:00-07:00October 2nd, 2012|Education|

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Standardized testing to evaluate students, teachers, and schools is a nationwide hot button issue. Educator and author Diane Ravitch-- once a supporter of No Child Left Behind, testing, and charter schools-- now tours the country speaking out against high-stakes testing (like the AIMS test). From her Wikipedia page...

High-stakes testing, "utopian" goals, "draconian" penalties, school closings, privatization, and charter schools didn't work, she concluded. "The best predictor of low academic performance is poverty—not bad teachers."[7]

Ravitch said that the charter school and testing reform movement was started by "right wing think tanks like the Heritage Foundation," for the purpose of destroying public education and teachers' unions.[8] ... Of Education Secretary Arne Duncan's Race to the Top program, Ravitch said in a 2011 interview it "is an extension of No Child Left Behind ...[,] all bad ideas." She concluded "We are destroying our education system, blowing it up by these stupid policies. And handing the schools in low-income neighborhoods over to private entrepreneurs does not, in itself, improve them. There's plenty of evidence by now that the kids in those schools do no better, and it's simply a way of avoiding their - the public responsibility to provide good education." [Emphasis added.]

How much testing is enough? How much is too much? Here the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) board candidates' opinions on standardized testing in the video after the jump. This is the sixth video from the Drinking Liberally TUSD candidate forum on September 26. To view all of the videos in this series, go to my YouTube channel.

> Read More

Flake bows to public pressure and agrees to debate Carmona for more than 30 minutes

By |2012-10-02T17:18:43-07:00October 2nd, 2012|AZ Politics|

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Congressman and US Senate candidate Jeff Flake has finally agreed to go toe-to-toe and actually debate his Democratic opponent in the US Senate race Dr. Richard Carmona. Woot!

Initially, Flake had agreed to only a 30-minute "debate" in the Phoenix PBS studio, with no audience. What a coward...

Now, after much bad press (including here on Blog for Arizona), Flake has agreed to man up and participate in debates in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma. Since so many blogs are quoted in the Carmona press release below, how about having at least one blogger asking questions on each debate panel? You'd get some interesting questions, that's for sure.

Here's the Carmona press release about Flake's change of heart.

Flake caves, will debate

 Under pressure, Congressman Flake finally agrees to debates


After backing out on news organizations throughout the state, Congressman Jeff Flake's campaign has finally agreed to debate Rich Carmona for more than half an hour. Flake, a 12-year incumbent and former lobbyist, had previously declined every invitation except for one 30-minute debate. But bowing to pressure, Congressman Flake has now agreed to debates in Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma. 

"From the beginning of this race, Dr. Carmona said he would debate Congressman Flake whenever and wherever. Until today, Congressman Flake had been dodging any possible public appearance with Dr. Carmona with the exception of one 30-minute debate," said Carmona for Arizona Communications Director Andy Barr. "Congressman Flake's campaign must finally know it's in trouble if they are abandoning their previous strategy." 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Arizona Daily Star: Flake declines invitation for debate with Carmona in Southern Arizona
"Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Flake has turned down the Star's invitation to debate Democrat Richard Carmona.  The Star proposed any of six dates in early October, with the debate to be co-sponsored by the Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise and held at its Desert Diamond Casino just off I-19 between Tucson and Green Valley."

Letter to the Arizona Republic 
"After Jeff Flake's Republican primary victory, he proclaimed, 'I can't wait to debate the issues.' I'm not sure what he's waiting for. His wimpy behavior in ducking debate challenges from his Democratic opponent, Dr. Richard Carmona, is insulting."

Letter to the White Mountain Independent
"Why is it that Representative Jeff Flake, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, refuses to debate Dr. Richard Carmona, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate?Dr. Carmona is willing to debate on any topic for as many debates as can be arranged, but so far Representative Flake is unwilling. Why?"

Fitz Blog: Flake flaking out on us
"Flake has been invited to debate Rich Carmona more often than Mitt Romney has flip flopped." 

More Flake-bashing news coverage after the jump.

> Read More

TUSD candidate forum: What about recess and PE? (video)

By |2012-10-02T12:46:20-07:00October 2nd, 2012|Education|

by Pamela Powers Hannley

OK, I know. The elimination of recess and physical education from our schools didn't get as much media attention as removal of some other programs, but in a country of fatties, they're just as important. 

As obesity rates among US children and adults climb, it's only common sense to find funding and time in the school day for recess breaks and physical education.

Hear the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) candidates' opinions after the jump. This is the fifth video from the Drinking Liberally TUSD candidate forum on September 26. To view all of the videos in this series, go to my YouTube channel.

> Read More

TUSD candidate forum: What about TUSD’s finances and projected budget shortfall? (video)

By |2012-10-01T09:16:01-07:00October 1st, 2012|Education|

by Pamela Powers Hannley

This is the fourth video in a series shot at the Tucson Unified School District candidate forum hosted by Drinking Liberally Tucson on September 26, 2012.

In this segment, candidates talk about budget cuts and the district's finances. Each candidate got 1.5 minutes to answer the question; three candidates were allowed 30 second rebuttals because they or their policies were specifically attacked by another candidate.

If you want to see the TUSD candidates live, the League of Women Voters, YWCA, and others are sponsoring a debate tonight, Monday, October 1.

Watch this video after the jump. Watch the whole collection here.

> Read More

September 2012

The Glow: Lighted art walk in Oracle tonight (video)

By |2012-09-29T12:41:35-07:00September 29th, 2012|AZ Politics|

Glow2027_n

by Pamela Powers Hannley
The Glow-- a lighted art walk and whimsical extravaganza at the Triangle L Ranch-- is tonight, Sept. 29.
I know this is a political blog and not an art blog, but everyone has to get away and chill sometime. What a better thing to do on a balmy September evening than wander the lighted paths of the Triangle L Ranch, listen to some cool music, and admire the full moon.
So, put on a light jacket and walking shoes, grab a friend and a flash light, and drive up to Oracle tonight. The festivities start at 7 p.m., so there's plenty of time to stop for dinner at one of the restaurants along the route. (A word to the wise-- watch out for the multiple speed traps on the way. The speed limit must change at least 10 times between Ina Road and Oracle.)
Here is a link to the music schedule and more photos from past years.
Glow video after the jump.
> Read More
Load More Posts
Go to Top