The Republicans in the Arizona State House did something today that on the surface makes sense. They suspended House rules to allow remote off-site voting from non-Capitol locations. That makes sense considering that, during this Coronavirus Crisis, no more than 10 people should be together in a social gathering. Democrats would support this move if … Read more
Democrats in the State House and Senate released their budget proposal for the 2020/21 fiscal year. It calls for spending approximately 12.5 billion dollars while Governor Ducey proposed just below 12.3 billion in appropriations. The Senate Republicans called for about 12.2 billion and the House suggested funding almost 12.3 billion in expenditures. While the difference … Read more
Jay Lawrence would have been more comfortable with the xenophobic nativist bigots that served in national, state, and local offices in the 1920s and ’30s. Those people, who publicly championed immigration-refugee restrictions and policies like the ones that prevented the Jewish passengers of the St. Louis (where 254 of them would later become victims of … Read more
Governor Ducey has released his proposed budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year. It has met with mixed reactions among Democratic and Progressive circles. While commending the Governor for investment hikes in areas like education (with more monies for teacher salaries, counselors, and building repair,) infrastructure, and childcare, Progressive advocates point out that the increases are, … Read more
The first day of any legislative session is always filled with feelings of renewal, goodwill, optimism, and hope. Arizona’s Democrats and Republicans had it in abundance at the opening of the 2019/20 legislative session at the State Capital. However, both sides offered contrasting competing visions for moving the Grand Canyon State. The Republican vision, expressed … Read more