charlene fernandez

(UPDATED) Democratic and Progressive reaction to Governor Ducey’s Proposed Budget

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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

(UPDATED) Democrats and Republicans offer Competing Visions at the Opening of the 2020 Arizona Legislative Session

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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

History made with Women Mayors in Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson

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Over the last 30 years, women in Arizona politics of both political parties have had a big impact on shaping local and state policy. Arizona has had four Women Governors (Rose Mofford, Jane Hull, Janet Napolitano, and Jan Brewer) since 1988. In that same time period, Arizona has had six women Secretaries of State. Three … Read more

Arizona House Democrats unveil Budget that Moves the State Forward.

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With union members from Arizona Pipe Trade Branch 466 in attendance, House Democrats in the Arizona State Legislature, led by Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, unveiled a budget proposal in the Capital that “invests in all Arizonans and working families.” Unlike the Senate Budget ideas that were leaked last week, this proposal is more aligned with … Read more

Tyranny of the Majority at the Arizona House of Representatives

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A House Committee Hearing on Education was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28. It did not start at 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m.

Instead, the people who gathered to attend the hearing (many of whom were members of Save Our Schools Arizona)  were treated to a different educational experience by either watching the House of Representatives session on  ACTV or taking the elevator to see the proceedings on the third-floor gallery.

They were able to witness the Arizona House Republicans demonstrate what tyranny of the majority looks like by attempting to ram through new rules (some of them changed for the first time in 72 years)  for the legislative session, some of them designed to stifle and reduce debate.

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