2010 election is all about the schools
February 14, 2009
by David Safier Note to 2010 Democratic candidates and strategists. The election will be about schools and the children who attend them. It won't be about budgets or budget cuts. It'll be about budget cuts to schools that deprive children of the opportunity to learn. It won't be about taxes. It'll be about finding the
A tax hike from Brewer?
February 14, 2009
by David Safier A Republic article suggests that Gov. Jan might hold a special election in spring to see if people like the idea of a tax hike. The article needs a whole lot of deconstruction to decide whether the Gov really wants a tax hike to pass. If the voters get a distasteful tax
School sports: the first big cut
February 14, 2009
by David Safier Last year I wrote a series of posts half seriously, half facetiously suggesting we should cut all competitive sports from high schools so we can put more money in the classroom. Now I'm absolutely serious. Every superintendent and school board should have the courage to say, "We'll cut everywhere else before we
Cut Rio Nuevo?
February 14, 2009
by David Safier I'm out of my area of whatever-expertise-I-may-have here, but the idea of cutting funding of Rio Nuevo as a state cost cutting measure seems both wrong and harmful to the greater Tucson area. From what I've seen, the first years of Rio Nuevo planning were a joke, courtesy of the Republican majority
Overwhelmed
February 14, 2009
by David Safier So many topics, so little time! All week I've been bookmarking articles and telling myself I'll write about them. I've put together an answer (in my head) to the Goldwater Institute on their "education tax credits save money" talking point. I've talked with people who've talked with other people and learned all
As easy as stealing cigarette (taxes) from a baby
February 11, 2009
by David Safier I'm going to miss Billie Stanton when the Citizen folds next month, a lot. She combines passion with research. Good combination. Stanton's latest column is about the Republicans stealing money from a fund, First Things First, designed to pay for early childhood education and health issues with a tobacco tax. Voters approved
Brewer on vouchers
February 11, 2009
by David Safier From the East Valley Trib: Jan Brewer spoke to a rally at the Capitol called to support the education measures already approved and to lobby lawmakers to expand existing tax credits. The same groups that organized this event also backed a limited voucher program enacted in 2006 to help children with special
Is Al Melvin soft on parks?
February 11, 2009
by David Safier Looks like Senator Al Melvin has a soft spot for state parks, at least those in his district, LD-26. It couldn't have anything to do with politics, could it? Melvin is far too principled for that! An Explorer story has Melvin commiserating with a group of people about the possible closure of
