This election should be the end of excessive coverage of horse-race polls and the arrogance of media companies purporting to “call” an election and proclaim a winner while the votes are still being counted.
Category Archives: State and local
Independents are now Arizona’s political kingmakers
They may still lag behind Republicans and Democrats in turnout, but they made the difference in this election. And will in at least the next few elections ahead.
Why aren’t teacher salaries already much higher?
Teacher pay lags behind overall K-12 funding increases. Over a billion dollars a year is now earmarked for teacher pay, but the boost hasn’t been as much as it should be.
State high court invites more ballot summary litigation
In explaining why Prop. 208 got to stay on the ballot after its 2018 version was booted off, the court sought to clarify the rules for those drafting intiatives. Instead, it muddied the waters further.
The real history of education funding in Arizona
The state’s economy shouldn’t be put at risk with Prop. 208 and one of the country’s highest income tax rate to punish legislators for sins they didn’t really commit.
How to respond to rising COVID cases
There’s a wide range of policy options between lockdowns and herd immunity.
Restore competitive bidding for state trust lands
The problem with the disposition of state trust lands isn’t sweetheart deals or political influence. It’s an Urban Lands Act process that is biased against competitive bids.
Phoenix city politics need a wake-up call
The position of mayor has become increasingly inconsequential while the city drifts in an unhealthy direction.
To protect against wildfires, revive logging
A Goldwater Institute report praises Arizona’s collaborative consensus approach to forest management, but it’s not getting the job done.
Troubling details in the legal marijuana initiative
From forbidding the regulation of smoked weed potency to waving away consititutional spending limits, the details of Prop. 207 are concerning.