A closely divided Legislature and a lingering COVID cloud augur for a session of hunker-down, status-quoism. Skinny budget II?
Category Archives: State and local
Biggs goes around the bend after Trump’s defeat
The descent of Andy Biggs into becoming just another partisan brawler has been painful, and disappointing, to watch.
Trump hurt, not helped, other GOP candidates
The story of this election isn’t that Trump boosted Republican turnout. It’s that independents didn’t hold Trump against down-ballot Republicans. That’s particularly true in Arizona and Maricopa County.
Good election news from … California and Illinois?
California voters reject racial preferences and Illinois voters reject a tax-the-rich scheme.
Media casualties from the election
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.
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.