Our politics are in a dismal state. Big fixes are needed.
Category Archives: State and local
Dumb GOP move on school funding
Not quickly lifting the spending cap is irresponsible. Tying it to universal private school vouchers gives Democrats a potent general election issue.
Robson’s two-step about the 2020 election may suppress her own vote
Playing footsie with the Big Lie doesn’t motivate some parts of her natural coalition to turn out.
A partial understanding of the Trump cult effect
The political space within the GOP for a course independent of Trump appears to be widening.
The Political Notebook 7.22.22
Ducey pitches industrial policy to subsidize computer chip manufacturers. Summer school is no substitute for a comprehensive, statewide plan to remedy Covid-related learning losses.
The Political Notebook 7.15.22
Voting initiative’s strategic vulnerability. Ignore meaningless victory and concession speeches. Bowers and the Trump temptation.
The Political Notebook
Nasty and inane GOP guv debate. Robson’s 2020 election evasions. Will Democrats intervene to help Lake?
Why the voucher fight in Arizona will be different this time
No cap means that voucher supporters will mount a more vigorous yes campaign. But a couple of vulnerabilities in this voucher proposal will make winning a referendum election more difficult.
Bipartisan state budget delivers, but nonpartisan one would be better
A nonpartisan budget wouldn’t increase K-12 funding without authorizing its expenditure or waste half a billion dollars on a border security talking point.
GOP legislators embrace earmarks
Leaked budget includes a billion dollars of transportation projects chosen through pure politics, not a prioritization of statewide needs.