Matt's Madly Musings

Border Trip Day 3: Learning About the Community From the Locals

2011-05-22T22:40:00.016-07:00

On Sunday, May 8, we went to church. It is a church trip after all. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church stands on the only block in the US that has a church on all four corners (the others are Presbyterian, Methodist, and Baptist, I believe). It's a lot of Protestant churches in one place for a town of maybe 20,000, of whom 90% are Latino. The churches are nice old facilities, presumably built by Phelps Dodge, or whatever iteration of the mining company it was at the time. Seth Pollie is the vicar of both the Episcopal parish in Douglas, where he is the celebrant at the 9 a.m. service, and at the parish 23 miles away in Bisbee, where he is the celebrant at the 11 a.m. service. One look at Seth and you can tell he is not a Roman Catholic priest, accessorizing his collar with earrings and a pony tail. After the eucharistic service, we had a roundtable discussion with members of the community about life where they live - in Douglas and Agua Prieta. Had I known they were making us a full lunch buffet at 10:15, I wouldn't have loaded up at the Best Western's breakfast bar right before the 9 a.m. church service. But when people come for a visit in Douglas, this is what they do - cook.

Only about 15 people attended St. Stephen's this Sunday. I imagine this is normal. Those in attendance included the Chief of Police, a doctor or two, people who were new to the area, people who had grown up in the area, and people who returned to the area for its strong sense of community after years of living in big cities. A woman who had lived in Douglas for 66 years (since she was 4 years old) spoke of how the community changed from the days when the border was almost non-existent. She had a nanny for her children who was from "across the line". She drove her home one night, and realized she had house plants in the back of her car. Realizing that she would not be allowed back into the US with her houseplants if she drove them into Mexico, she left the plants at the border station with a guard. When she returned a short time later, another guard was working, and kindly helped her put the plants back into her car. It was that kind of casual, friendly community. The wall was just a small fence that extended a little bit out of town. One man spoke of having horse races, Mexico vs. the US, alongside the wall. At the time, 50 Border Patrol officers worked in Douglas. Today there are 600.

Alberto Melis is a Cuban-American who, after many years in law enforcement in Texas, became Chief of Police in Douglas. He referenced the case of rancher Rob Krentz, who was murdered last year on his sprawling ranch (though at 40 square miles, the Krentz ranch is smaller than many, he stated). There is widespread speculation that Krentz was murdered by a coyote (smuggler), although Chief Melis pointed out it has not yet been proven who killed Krentz or why. Chief Melis repeated several times that he did not know what the answer was to immigration or border issues, but he said that a wall is not the answer, in his view. He referenced previous walls, such as the Berlin Wall, more heavily armed than anything on the US border, where people still found a way across. He also pointed out that 20 years ago, the drug smuggling hot spot in the US was Miami, and today it is Arizona, and in a few years, it will likely be somewhere else. According to Melis, the resources spent on protecting our southwestern border are vast, with Border Patrol budgeting $10,000 A MONTH in tires for some vehicles that do heavy duty through the rugged terrain.

The group was not untouched by issues that have arisen related to immigration and the border. A doctor pointed out that, in spite of the walls, people still try to cross, and often end up injured and are transported to local hospitals before they are deported. The hospitals are not crowded by migrants, but nor are they reimbursed a profitable rate for treating such patients. Still, people valued the strong sense of community, including safety. Our priest from Trinity Cathedral who lead our trip said that when she lived in Agua Prieta, people from elsewhere would routinely ask her if she felt safe as a single gringa (foreign woman) living there. She said the biggest safety risk riding her bicycle around town were the stray dogs that would chase after her. And so many people told me when I announced I was going to "be safe", rather than "have fun", "learn lots", etc.

So let's take a look at the statistics for this small community of Douglas, where people walking by on the street say hi, and I felt like the odd man out not knowing anyone else in the local Safeway. A quick search at http://www.city-data.com/, a favorite reference site of mine, shows Douglas's crime rates to be below the national average, much below the average for large cities such as Phoenix or Detroit, and also, on the decline. And aside from what people hear on the news, there is another story to be told of life in border communities in Arizona from a project I worked on a few years ago called Border Kids Count. A study of Census and other data showed border community residents have strong roots, with homeownership rates similar to the rest of the state in spite of lower incomes. The drop-out rate for Latino teens in about half in border counties compared to the rest of the state. Foreign-born residents are more likely to be US citizens in border counties, and are more likely to have lived in Arizona for more than 10 years. And while a lack of economic development means slightly higher poverty rates for Latinos on the border, Anglos kids are 37% more likely to be in poverty than Anglo kids in the rest of AZ, showing that a lack of economic development hits a broad cross section of the community.

After church, we departed for a brief stop in Bisbee, lunch in Benson, and back to the Valley of the Sun. Bisbee is an old mining town that was hit hard econically, like Douglas, when the mine closed. Douglas replaced jobs at the smelter with more border patrol jobs, a state prison, and the various retail jobs from Agua Prieta residents coming across the border to shop at Wal-Mart and elsewhere. Bisbee, meanwhile, was taken over by hippies and artists, who loved the narrow, winding streets and turn-of-the-last-century buildings climbing up the steep hillside. See the bumpersticker photos from Bisbee! Lunch was in Benson at Reb's Cafe. Benson is a different world from Bisbee, being a railroad/truck stop/ranching town. Clearly Reb's Cafe's owners have a conservative/libertarian bent to their politics. All this coexists (usually) peacefully here in Arizona. :-)

Border Trip Day 2: Learning About Security, Witnessing Health, Promoting Unity

2011-05-16T20:44:00.020-07:00

On Saturday, May 7, we headed to the Turquoise Valley Golf Club, Arizona's oldest, in Naco, a tiny village of about 800 people, on the border with Mexico about 10 miles SW of Bisbee. We had breakfast there at a "fundraiser" for Episcopal Border Ministries. At $10 a pop for breakfast, we expected some fruit and yogurt to be set out with coffee, but we were seated and served a sizeable breakfast burrito with a side of beans. We quickly learned that EBM isn't very good at fundraising, as $10 was their cost for breakfast, and if we desired, we could give them a little extra when we bought our tickets, but they didn't make a big push. As a non-profit worker myself, I was floored that they weren't shaking people down. We saw a video and learned about what EBM's efforts along the border.

After breakfast, we crossed the border in our rental van. We passed by the very attractive old border station (at right) that sits on the US side, and were stopped by Mexican officials. Sometimes Mexico stops drivers entering from the US, but generally they don't, and I had never previously been stopped. But as violence in Mexico's drug wars escalates, authorities there (and also, amazingly, US Border Patrol when people head south) are increasingly checking for caches of weapons...or caches of cash. Because of Mexico's restrictive gun laws, most of the weapons used by cartels come from the US. Mexican border agents were nice, but they did have us all leave the van while they pounded on it and opened up every possible compartment.

When we got to Naco, Sonora, MX, we went into the desert east of town (it's not much of a town, although it's much larger than Naco, AZ) to visit a water station that prevents migrants of dying from dehydration. I was not aware there were such water stations on the Mexican side. I know they have been controversially placed on the US side by human rights groups, and while there are some closer to Tucson, I was told there aren't any in Cochise County as folks who don't approve have vandalized the water tanks. We hiked about a quarter mile off a road to the water tank, which is easily identifiable for migrants by its tall blue flag that rises above the mesquite. As this was only a quarter mile from the border wall, it seems the flag would not only signal water for migrants, but for US Border Patrol, would signal the location of migrants. I never got a good answer for why they put the water station so close to the border. From the water station, we hiked up to the wall, finding abandoned water bottles, clothes, and packing of various sorts along the way. We saw evidence of campfires. We were at a point where the old wall meets the new wall. The new wall consists of ~15' tall metal beams sticking out of the Earth, filled with concrete, so they cannot be rammed down easily with a truck. The beams are placed very close together, with enough space between them to let flood waters flow (in fact, where we were standing was a drainage wash) and small animals migrate through. Humans and larger animals cannot get through, including jaguars which historically inhabit the Chihuahuan Desert, but which are almost never seen in Arizona anymore. The old fence was about 7' of solid but thinner metal, with horizontal corrugation that allowed it to be easily climbed. In fact, one of my fellow travelers did so to test it out. We were accompanied to the desert by a Mexican family that was refilling the water jugs, and mom had stayed behind while her boys hiked with us to the wall. My heart skipped a few beats when the Mexican boys saw my co-traveler Rob climb the wall, and decided it looked fun enough for them to try. As they got to the top and their heads peaked over, I pulled them down.

We had a conversation about the wall throughout our trip. Many border and humanitarian activists are against it (and some environmentalists). The Douglas Chief of Police and the Vicar of the Episcopal parishes in Bisbee and Douglas referenced Hadrian's Wall (the Vicar was heading to England and it was on his mind), which did not completely stop conflict or strife between England and Scotland. A more recent example is the Berlin Wall, which had far more guards than this border wall, guards who shot to kill. Yet many still defected across it, and many others died attempting to do so. We heard stories of teenagers using simple catapults to smuggle drugs over the US border wall, and boats going around the wall at Tijuana, where it goes into the ocean. There are certainly examples of walls improving security, including at parts of the US-Mexican border, and between Israel and Palestine, where the wall has reduced terrorist bombings but does not stop mortar fire. But while walls can improve security, they do not end conflict. They are not a permanent and final solution, but they serve as a stopgap measure when humans can't seem to figure out (or don't want to) what the long term solution is.

After visiting the wall, we visited a Casa Saludable, Spanish for "health house." Here a nurse's assistant helps residents of Naco, Sonora, get preventive care by managing their diabetes and providing pap smears along with a few other basic health services. The Casa Saludable appears to be funded through Mexican public health funds as well as support from various border ministries. Mexican border towns, due to the transient nature of their inhabitants, are widely believed to be undercounted in Mexican censuses. This means that border communities in northern Mexico often do not get their rightful share of resources. Compounding this is a great rural divide. Many urban dwellers (as I am) do not understand the urban-rural economic divide within our own country, and the Mexican middle class (whose existence certainly surprises many in the US, I'm sure) seems concentrated in bigger cities. We heard stories of those in Agua Prieta, Naco, and Cananea a little further in having to drive four hours to the Sonoran capital of Hermosillo to get their kidney dialysis. Things are a little better in the US, but urban residents in our own country likely don't think much of the great lengths rural residents have to travel to get specialized medical care.

Still later, we participated with about 30 others who crossed the border at Naco for an interfaith procession together with our neighbors. Perhaps 80 or 100 Mexicans met us on their side of the border, and we marched around town with balloons and a banner that said "God Has No Borders." It was a feel-good event that ended in the town plaza, where vendors sold us paletas (Mexican fruit popsicles), menudo, various other food items, and handicrafts. A mustachioed man who reminded me of Congressman Raúl Grijalva (no, it wasn't him) came up to tell us that the man driving the train full of children in the procession is himself a mafioso. I certainly wouldn't dismiss the allegation, nor would I take one person's word, not knowing who may have an ax to grind against whom in this town. The man that told us was a Vietnam veteran who had lived on both sides of the border, and had recently moved to Naco, Sonora. The Mayor, a diminutive but energetic man, was present throughout the procession and in the plaza after. The Mayor's wife heads the social services for the town, not due to nepotism on his part, but this job is traditionally given to the Mayor's wife in Naco.

The day ended with reflection, relaxation, and good conversation over dinner in Bisbee, an old mining town 10 miles north of the border.

Border Trip Day 1: How People Are Helping Deported Migrants & Would-Be Migrants

2011-05-15T20:50:00.009-07:00

On May 6, we loaded the 15 passenger van to head south (well, southeast). I got to know my fellow travelers, including a priest from Brooklyn who was at a church on Wall Street when the twin towers fell on 9-11. As tragic as the story was, it was worth hearing from someone who was just a few hundred yards from ground zero, and it was heartening to know that none of the children in the child care center at the church lost a parent that day (miracle?).

Lunch was at the Restoration Project in Tucson, which is an ecumenical community working a lot with detained migrants. They served us a great lunch, and told us stories of refugees and asylum seekers who were detained sometimes for years. These folk are not criminals, so there is no prohibition from keeping them without being charged, and they also have no equivalent to a public defender to make their case to a court that they should be granted asylum. When migrants are released, some have lived in detention in the US for years (such as the Cubans who arrived during the Mariel Boatlift), and when they are dropped off at a Greyhound Bus station a few blocks from Restoration Project's Casa Mariposa, it may be the first time in years they have been free, and their first taste of freedom in the US. Casa Mariposa provides them a place to stay when they are released.

After checking into the new Best Western in Douglas, AZ, we crossed the border in our van to Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. Our first stop was Just Coffee, or Cafe Justo in Spanish. This coffee cooperative was founded by a microloan from the Presbyterian Border Ministry in Agua Prieta called Frontera de Cristo. With this cooperative, the coffee growers in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas own the entire process, from growing coffee beans to roasting them to packaging and distributing them. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world (can you guess the first? Our van used a lot of it to get us down there), and there are lots of "middlemen", and of course, speculation that causes prices to be pretty volatile. I also learned that pre-roasted coffee beans can keep for long periods of time, and when coffee prices are low, beans are stored away, and when prices are high (as they have been the last couple years), you are likely drinking coffee that was stored for 20 years before it was roasted. Just Coffee prides itself on fresh coffee. The growers earn about a third more per pound than most growers, and unlike any other grower they know of, get health insurance and a pension. That means they don't have to carry 150 lb burlap sacks of coffee beans on their back until they are dead. This has allowed coffee farmers to stay in Mexico and not have to migrate to the US. You can read the stories of the individual farmers in Chiapas, and the workers at the roasting facility in Agua Prieta, on Just Coffee's website. Last year, Just Coffee sold 70,000 lbs. of coffee, just a drop in the pot of the global coffee market. But it's a good start. And it's good coffee. I bought the premium Marago coffee, and had some today. It's delish. They mostly sell via internet shipments, which cross the border and are shipped from Douglas, AZ. Many churches, especially in Arizona, sell Just Coffee as well. It's pretty reasonable, too.

After learning about Just Coffee at their Agua Prieta roasting and packaging facility, we visited a resource center for deported migrants in a non-descript building immediately next to the border station in Agua Prieta. Deportations are down significantly in AP, as the number of migrants apprehended has fallen, and US Customs and Border Protection is grouping people together for large deportations at specific points rather than sending them immediately back where they crossed. Certain populations, such as those with a medical condition, may still be immediately deported at the nearest port of entry. Generally, the US government literally drops the people at the border, as flying them to the interior of Mexico is more expensive (though may reduce the rates of people trying to return). Since hiring a "coyote" (smuggler) to help cross the border is extremely expensive, most people who have done this have sold everything they own and left family behind. They have no resources and no way back home. The migrant resource center helps them with this.

After the migrant resource center, we visited a shelter for migrants run by La Sagrada Familia Catholic Church in Agua Prieta. Due to the low deportation numbers lately there, we met just a few migrants, but had some interesting conversations. I don't know if they told us their entire stories, but I do know that some migrants were heading north and some were heading south. Most had been deported. One was Polish and deported from Chicago to his native Poland. Trying to get back to family in Chicago, he boarded a flight to Mexico City, and somehow made his way to AP. Presumably, he will hire a coyote to try crossing. I had dinner at a table with a man who crossed the border near Deming, NM, almost 20 years ago, when the border there was almost non-existent. He did not need to hire anyone to smuggle him. He lived in Denver, mostly doing day labor. He enjoyed it, and felt he had all his needs met while living in the US, far more than in Mexico. However, he also told stories of living under a bridge, and his deportation was a matter that he disputed. Drugs fell out of a bag and onto the ground, and he claims they belonged to his friend, who was never deported, and that he knew nothing of them. He was headed back to the Mexican state of Chihuahua to be with family. Another man I met was married to an Anglo woman in rural southern Utah. They had children together, and due to a dispute with his father-in-law that he would not elaborate upon, he ended up getting deported. He spoke English extremely well. Still another man worked as an auto mechanic just down the street from where I live in Phoenix.

In this day and age when information travels the world in milliseconds and goods and services are traded daily, nobody should have to leave their homeland to be able to support their family. There have been economic migrants from the beginning of humankind, but in our hemisphere this has intensified in recent years with the globalization of our economies. We saw one small way that people can stay in their homeland and still provide for themselves and their families, and we met people who went to the US in search of a better life, only to end up back home or somewhere else. Admittedly, they are not all perfect humans. And not every Mexican (or Pole) dreams of moving to the US, nor feels the need. Clearly the men I met had a spirit of adventure as well. And at no point did I feel threatened or unsafe, nor did I feel that anyone deported that I met had the slightest thought of doing harm to others.

Blogging the Border: why and where I went, and with whom

2011-05-15T16:35:00.005-07:00

A few months back, I saw at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (where I go to church) that one of our priests was planning a trip for parishioners to the Arizona-Mexico border. She used to work for Border Links, an organization that leads educational and inspirational trips to the US-Mexican border. In addition to previous vacations for pleasure to beaches and other parts of Mexico, I had gone with my previous congregation, Valley Presbyterian Church, to Sonora, Mexico, before on a similar trip.

I speak Spanish, and it's no surprise to those who know me that I am partial to the mountains and high deserts of southern Arizona. I set out the weekend of May 6-8 with 6 other people from my church, plus the priest, one person from Tucson, and three people who flew out from Brooklyn, NY. The trip was not only enjoyable, but meaningful. I knew I wanted to re-activate this old blog to tell the story, but I wasn't sure what the story was...how do I frame it? Was it about the migrants I met, the wall I saw, the long time members of the communities on both sides of the border who call this place home? Was it the inspring conversation and learning, or the motivation given to me by people who felt called to come to this place, call it home, and make life better? It's taken me a while, and although I consider myself to normally have decent writing skills, I still do not know what to say or how this will turn out. But I know I have to get my thoughts down and tell of my experiences before I forget. And who will read this? Who knows! But here it is. (more to follow on http://mattsmadlymusings.blogspot.com)

Testing 123

2011-05-09T18:29:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to reactivate this blog after more than 2 years. Is it working?

More criticism of Arpaio from conservative-libertarian side

2008-12-02T11:37:00.003-07:00

The Goldwater Institute slammed Sheriff Joe Arpaio in a new report, Mission Unaccomplished, for failing in his basic duties of law enforcement and security. "The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is tasked with the important job of keeping crime rates low," said Clint Bolick, author of the report and Goldwater Institute litigation director. "Judged by its own statistics, MCSO appears to be falling seriously short of fulfilling its core law enforcement duties." The paper also examines the 166-percent increase in homicide rates between 2004 and 2007, the same period that MCSO began diverting resources to other priorities, such as trips by high-level employees to Honduras for ambiguous law enforcement activities.

Counties that flipped parties between 2004 and 2008

2008-11-20T17:31:00.003-07:00

See the article here and the map below (or at left, or however it comes out):

How much of McCain win in Appalachia and South was due to race?

2008-11-20T17:25:00.002-07:00

Barack Obama didn't win West Virginia, which still tends to be a pretty Democratic state. Bill Clinton won it both times, as did Jimmy Carter at least once, and most Democrats before that. I was told by a Democratic legislator in Arizona on election night that of course Obama didn't contest West Virginia, because "they'd hang him." Yet this analysis shows that Obama did about as well in Appalachia as John Kerry did, and Obama got about the same percent of the White vote in West Virginia as he did nationally. The biggest area of racial backlash may have been in Alabama, where Obama got 10% of the White vote, compared to the 19% of the White vote that Kerry got four years earlier. So yes, race was probably a small factor, but obviously didn't decide the race for the White House.

Recess boosts academic performance, but NCLB forcing schools to cut out recess

2008-11-12T15:58:00.002-07:00

From the Food Research and Action Center, which advocates for the poor and hungry in America:

Children Need Recess to Learn, But Minority Students Missing Out(Macon.com, October 14, 2008)In order to bolster math and reading scores, many predominantly-minority schools have cut recess in favor of extra class time. For some schools, recess is cut because the schools lack playground equipment or are in unsafe neighborhoods. In Macon, Georgia's Hartley Elementary, third-grade students go directly from lunch to the computer lab for math instruction. Across the region, students get an average of 15 to 30 minutes of recess each school day, while other students get less or none, according to a survey conducted by the Macon Telegraph. Recess is necessary, say education experts, as it provides an outlet that helps students focus in the classroom. According to a Center for Public Education report, schools across the country provided more recess in the years before the No Child Left Behind act required school testing and accountability measures. The Act had the effect of reducing recess for a reported 20 percent of schools, replacing that time with English and math instruction. While recess still remains in many schools, "There exists a recess gap," said Patte Barth, director of the Center for Public Education. According to the report, children attending the highest poverty, highest minority schools "are the least likely to get recess at all." Some statistics showing the trend: Approximately 14 percent of high minority elementary schools and 18 percent of high poverty schools don't give first graders recess. Only 2 percent of low-minority elementary schools and 4 percent of low-poverty rate schools lack recess.

McCain campaigning for Georgia Senator whose smear tactics he once decried

2008-11-12T15:00:00.002-07:00

From the Center for American Progress, this is worth passing along:

RADICAL RIGHT -- McCAIN TO CAMPAIGN FOR CHAMBLISS AFTER DECRYING HIS SMEAR TACTICS: Last week Sen. Saxby Chambliss's (R-GA) campaign announced that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) would be campaigning for Chambliss in Georgia's runoff senate election. McCain's involvement is surprising given his previous denouncement of Chambliss's campaign tactics. In 2002, Chambliss ran against former senator Max Cleland, who was lost three limbs in Vietnam. During the race, Chambliss released an ad that portrayed the war veteran as lacking the "courage" to confront terrorism. The ad juxtaposed images of both Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein to Cleland's voting record in the Senate. Asked his opinion of the ad, McCain said, "I'd never seen anything like that ad. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to the picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield -- it's worse than disgraceful. It's reprehensible." Tomorrow, however, McCain will campaign and fundraise for Chambliss, who is now running against another Vietnam veteran, Jim Martin.

Many Obama supporters back gay marriage ban; many Al Melvin supporters opposed it

2008-11-11T10:08:00.003-07:00

We know from the fact that Barack Obama carried California in a landslide while Proposition 8 passed comfortably that many Obama backers clearly voted to ban gay marriage. Among them were the 70% of African-American voters in California who voted to ban gay marriage. Around 95% of African-American voters supported Obama nationwide, a figure that is probably similar in California. But what we now know is that afluent Republican voters in the Tucson foothills, who elected a socially and otherwise conservative new state Senator, Al Melvin, also voted against banning gay marriage, accorind to the Arizona Daily Star. It is one of those issues that does not really follow partisan divides. Higher educated and more affluent voters tend to be more open minded on the subject, even if they want their capital gains and dividend tax cut.

Great chart shows US legal immigration process, and why people don't come legally

2008-11-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

http://reason.org/immigrationchart2.pdf

Sorry I am too lazy to convert it to a jpeg or whatever and upload to my blog directly, so you'll have to click the link.

State Senator John Huppenthal caught stealing opposition signs?

2008-11-06T11:03:00.003-07:00

From the website of the Tribune, which is doing more video on their website now that they will stop being a daily newspaper, a 78 year old campaign volunteer talks about trying to stop a man from illegally stealing an opposition sign at the polls. Was the man state Senator John Huppenthal of Chandler/Ahwatukee?

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155316042/bclid1155075693/bctid1900390591

(I apologize that I cannot embed the video. I didn't see a way to do that from the Tribune website.)

Arkansas voters face choice: is foster care better for kids than living with unmarried parent?

2008-10-31T12:04:00.000-07:00

Arkansas voters will vote November 4 whether to deny becoming a foster or adoptive parent to anyone who is not married. So is living in a shelter because there are not enough married foster parents available better for a child than having a personal connection with a loving, involved foster or adoptive parent?

Goldwater Institute: Learn to protect yourself

2008-09-29T14:59:00.002-07:00

I thought this comment by Byron Schlomack of the Goldwater Institute, when asked if the money proposed for the Wall Street bailout would be better spent helping people who were duped into financial products they don't understand, pretty much sums up what it is Republicans believe:

"People need to protect themselves," he said. "They need to learn to protect themselves. They shouldn't ever depend on a government program or a government agency or a government guarantee to protect them from the unscrupulous."

Isn't this philosophy, that government should not protect consumers against fraud or predatory lending, what got us into this mess in the first place?

Now, when it comes to protecting us against gay marriage, will conservatives make the same argument? If you think same-sex marriage is so dangerous, then protect yourself by marrying someone of the opposite sex, but don't expect government to protect you from it. That's not their job.

CTJ: McCain advisor admits ads about Obama's tax plan are misleading

2008-09-05T15:57:00.001-07:00

From the Citizens for Tax Justice:

McCain Campaign Continues to Mislead About Obama's Tax Proposal -- and McCain's Chief Economics Adviser Admits Their Commercials Are Wrong

For someone who wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent for all but the richest 2 or 3 percent of Americans, and add on top of that a lot of new tax cuts for middle-class Americans, it's surprising how often Senator Barack Obama is accused of proposing "painful tax increases" on American "families." Nonetheless, the McCain campaign has tried to paint Obama as a major tax-hiker. The most damning aspect of these statements is that the chief economic adviser to Senator McCain has acknowledged that the Obama tax plan does not raise taxes. TIME's Michael Sherer wrote, back in July: "Here is Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain's chief economic policy adviser. 'I used to say that Barack Obama raises taxes and John McCain cuts them, and I was convinced,' he told me in a phone interview this week. 'I stand corrected [about Obama's plans].'"Read More

Too funny not to repost

2008-09-04T14:27:00.001-07:00

John Stewart commenting on some hypocracy (in politics???) about whether women are looked at with a more powerful microscope. The answer varies depending on whether the woman is Hillary Clinton or Sarah Palin.

Former President Bush bored by Laura's speech?

2008-09-03T10:35:00.002-07:00

Just as he did during his debate with Clinton and Perot in 1992, George H.W. Bush checked his watch during Laura Bush's speech at the Republican National Convention last night.

Watch Sarah Palin speak to her church, ask members to pray for a pipeline

2008-09-03T10:25:00.003-07:00

Watch Sarah Palin speaking to her church earlier this summer, asking parishoners to pray that a local pipeline gets built because it is God's will that Alaska's natural resources be used for the lower 48, and hear her Pastor declare that Alaska is a great refuge in the final days.

Is she prepared to be a leader of something bigger than Alaska (yes, there are places bigger than wide open Alaska)? Does she realize there are people of faith in this country praying that we find alternative forms of energy that do not flood people out of their homes or create droughts? Does she believe in praying for God's will, or merely for her own self interest? She brags about how her Pastor did not pray that she be elected "if it is God's will," but rather just straight out he prayed that she be elected, and it worked. If Obama's pastor is fair game this election, then Palin's church advocating her election should launch a discussion of whether her church should keep its non-profit status from the IRS, since churches and other non-profits are not allowed to advocate one candidate or party over another. If they want to advocate political candidates or parties, fine, but let them pay taxes like everyone else has to, and not hide under the cloak of religion. I frankly don't think Palin's brand of Christianity squares with my reading of Jesus's teachings, including rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's and rendering unto God what is God's. Moreover, I do not believe Jesus's kingdom is one of this Earth. A different interpretation of this lead to the crusades, and has lead to the religious right trying to force their brand of Christianity upon the rest of us (Christian or not) over the past 30 years. I am not sure Sarah Palin has been exposed to many views different than her own in her isolated community in Alaska. So please, everyone reading this, pray for her!

Poll: Majority of Californians oppose banning same-sex marriage

2008-08-28T10:39:00.002-07:00

Only 40% of California voters say they are supporting an initiative to define marriage as between a man and a woman, while 54% oppose the initiative. A great graphic from the LA Times shows how Californians' attitudes have changed in a very quick amount of time on this issue. So what about Arizona, where we have a similar initiative on the ballot this November? The big difference is that same-sex marriage is currently illegal in Arizona, while it is already legal in California, with many same-sex couples already having legally married.

I need to run for President, just so I can learn my genealogy

2008-08-27T09:42:00.002-07:00

I sometimes think genealogists have too much time on their hands. But when the far right is saying that Obama isn't a true-blue Christian American, it might not hurt him to mention that a genealogist in Kentucky (I'll leave the Kentucky genealogy comments to y'all) has found Obama to be related not only to Dick Cheney, but also George W. Bush, Queen Elizabeth II, and even Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obviously, these are relatives on his mom's side. Now, I haven't exactly done the research, but I'm going to guess that somehow I'm related to Barack Hussein Obama as well (did I spell Hussein correctly? Our friends on the right seem better at knowing candidates' middle names than I).

Hospitals giving less charity care during hard economic times

2008-08-26T16:54:00.002-07:00

From the Food Research Action Center:

Finances Force Charity Hospitals to Focus on Insured Patients (Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 13, 2008)The Center for Studying Health System Change has found that safety-net hospitals, in order to avoid running at a deficit, are are cutting charity-care costs and focusing more on insured patients by offering specialty services as well as upgrading and expanding facilities to attract more paying patients. The Center's report, a survey of twelve areas across the country, found a ten percent drop over the last ten years in the percentage of physicians providing any charity care. Safety-net hospitals seem to have no choice but to attract more paying patients, states the report, as the poor are less and less likely to find services in the current health-care system.

And now, a plug for my school board campaign...

2008-08-24T14:38:00.003-07:00

I have been continuing to blog, amazingly, in spite of now serving on the Governing Board of Creighton Elementary School District in east Phoenix.

I am running for re-election and have a website up, www.mattjewett.com. Be sure to visit. I am still updating it.

Plot thickens in north Phoenix House race as Crump calls on Bouie to quit

2008-08-22T12:06:00.003-07:00

You have to love the names of this year's candidates for the legislature: Crump, Schmuck, Doody. Anyway, I wrote earlier about a Republican candidate for the Arizona House in north Phoenix who was deemed too "liberal" by the Maricopa County Republican establishment (in spite of his endorsement from Congressman John Shadegg, one of the most conservative Members of Congress). Now it turns out that candidate, Tony Bouie, never re-registered as a Republican while living in Florida, which his opponents say negates Bouie's claim that he has been a Republican half his adult life. Of course, opponent Carl Seel who is making these charges against Bouie recently found his home in foreclosure, in spite of his claim that he is a fiscal conservative. Bouie says although he became a Republican in values, he never took time to re-register. Hey, at least he isn't state Senator Charlene Pesquiera, a Democrat from Tucson who is retiring after one term that she didn't expect to win. Pesquiera, it was revealed after she was elected, had never voted in her life until she voted in her own election to the Senate. Bouie just decided political party preference wasn't really that important to how he actually voted, a stand that an increasing number of Americans have taken, especially in this state where Independents will soon outnumber Republicans and Democrats in registration.

The trials and tribulations of insuring the sick and small businesses

2008-08-21T10:10:00.003-07:00

A new report from St. Luke's Health Initiatives, a health care think tank in Phoenix, says that 94 percent of the state's businesses are small businesses - with less than 50 employees - and that among those small businesses, only 30% provide health insurance as a benefit to employees. Meanwhile, an article in the Tucson Weekly chronicles the roller coaster ride of Healthcare Group, a state program administered through AHCCCS, that provides health insurance coverage to small businesses, most of whom are sole proprietors. Healthcare Group has raised its premiums significantly in the past year or two, even while the state has provided subsidies for the program, because, well, when most of the people you insure are too sick to get private health insurance coverage, it costs a lot of money that the sick don't have. The reason so many people stick with Healthcare Group is that they will insure you regardless of your pre-existing conditions.

Of course, one of the best ways to make health insurance affordable - even to the sick - is to spread out the risk among many people. Healthcare Group could take in more people, healthy people, and that would lower the premiums that people in it would have to pay, while reducing the amount of tax money the state would have to use to subsidize it. But private insurance companies don't like that. They have no problem with taxpayers subsidizing, or the government completely taking over, insuring the sick. But it's cheap - and profitable - to insure the healthy, and private insurance companies don't want to let some of them join Healthcare Group just so sick people can better afford insurance and the taxpayers can save a few dollars.

So what are we to do? Well, the uninsured drive up health care costs for the rest of us when they don't see primary care physicians, and wait until they end up in the ER, can't pay, and the hospital passes on the loss it incurs to the rest of us. So for those who truly need help paying for their health insurance, let's expand outreach for KidsCare, our state children's health insurance program (SCHIP), which provides low-cost health insurance for qualifying low-income children (citizens or five year legal residents). Let's allow families that are just above the income limit for KidsCare to buy into it. It won't be cheap, but it will cover their children regardless of pre-existing conditions, and private insurers just won't insure some kids for pre-existing conditions as common as asthma. Young adults, age 18 to 29 or so, are among the least likely to have health insurance, because they are off their parents' insurance and are working in entry level jobs that don't provide health insurance. This is a healthy, cheap group to insure, but occasionally they do get sick, let things slide until they end up in an ER, and can't pay. So Arizona should do as other states and require insurance companies to cover young adults up through at least age 25. Again, it's a profitable group, so it doesn't hurt insurance companies' bottom lines. The catch, if you voluntarily decide to drop health insurance and go uninsured, your parents' insurance company doesn't have to take you back, because you're probably coming back due to an illness you just found out about. Even when you're young, you're not invincible, and it's your responsibility to get health insurance if anything reasonable comes your way.

In 2,943 years, we can deport all folks in the country illegally

2008-08-19T10:46:00.002-07:00

According to Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-CA, even at the new record rate at which ICE is detaining immigrants in the country illegally, it would take another 2,943 years to deport them all. Meanwhile holding facilities are overcrowded, and U.S. citizens are being detained for hours without food or water in the process, according to the Washington Post.

Foreign corporations doing business in US getting off easy on their tax bills?

2008-08-15T15:35:00.001-07:00

From the Family Economic Self Sufficiency Project of Wider Opportunities for Women.

According to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on Tuesday, most corporations, including a majority of foreign companies doing business in the United States, pay no income taxes. During the eight-year period covered by the report, 72 percent of foreign-owned corporations went at least one year without owing taxes; the same was true for 55 percent of domestic corporations. The report covered the period from 1998 through 2005. During that time, corporate income taxes as a share of gross domestic product dipped, from 2.2 percent in 1998 to 1.2 percent in 2003, the lowest share since 1983. But receipts jumped after that, hitting 2.7 percent in 2006 and 2007, according to the Office of Management and Budget. That was the highest share since the late 1970s. Senators Byron Dorgan (D, ND) and Carl Levin (D, MI) requested the report, which may be found at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08957.pdf. In commenting on the report’s finding, Senator Dorgan said “It’s shameful that so many corporations make big profits and pay nothing to support our country. The tax system that allows this wholesale tax avoidance is an embarrassment and unfair to hardworking Americans who pay their fair share of taxes. We need to plug these tax loopholes and put these corporations back on the tax rolls.”

Maricopa County GOP: against their own moderate Black candidates?

2008-08-15T13:22:00.006-07:00

The Maricopa County Republican Party has taken the unusual step of involving itself in a primary race for the state House of Representatives. Usually they let their voters decide and they back whoever is their party's nominee, although they generally back incumbents in the primary. In this case, in north Phoenix's battle to represent district 6 in the Arizona House, there is one incumbent (with one Representative retiring) and two others battling for two seats. So assuming incumbent Rep. Sam Crump wins in the primary, will the other Republican on the slate be Carl Seel or Tony Bouie? Bouie has been endorsed by Congressman John Shadegg and uber-conservative state Senator Pamela Gorman. Yet those are not conservative enough credentials for Bouie, a former professional football player. He opposes a Ward Connerly-backed initiative on the ballot this year to ban consideration of race or sex in various programs, and although he supports the employer sanctions law, some of his donors do not. Oh yes, and Bouie is also African-American. Is opposing their own moderate African-American candidates the way for Republicans to maintain a majority?

Check out the diary of a political convention virgin

2008-08-14T21:19:00.001-07:00

My friend Katie Hobbs is attending the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer as a delegate. This is her first national political party convention. I went in 2004 in Boston and loved it. She will have a blast. Read about her experiences on her blog.

Fun website tool lets you choose how the presidential election comes out

2008-08-14T11:19:00.003-07:00

270 to win is a fun website that lets you click on a state on a US map and decide whether it goes for Obama or McCain. Your picks are automatically calculated to see what the results of the electoral voting are. The site already has states red or blue based on current polling, with several states being undecided. You can change any of the states. It's fun if you are a political junkie like me.

Napolitano's big staff shakeup a sign that her bags are packed for DC?

2008-08-12T14:08:00.003-07:00

Several of the highest level officials in Governor Janet Napolitano's inner circle are leaving their jobs, it was announced today. Let the speculation begin now that they are finding other jobs before Napolitano goes to work in the Obama Administration, and Republican Jan Brewer becomes Arizona's new Governor.

Chief of Staff Dennis Burke will work on various political campaigns, Deputy Chief of Staff for Finance and Budget George Cunningham will retire after a long career in state government, and Legislative Liaison and Deputy Chief of Staff Mike Haener will also move on, though the reason is not given. Jan Lesher, Director of the Department of Commerce, will become Napolitano's new Chief of Staff, and she will be replaced at Commerce by Marco Lopez, who 8 years ago, at age 22, was elected Mayor of Nogales.

Another report shows Arizonans pay less taxes

2008-08-11T12:12:00.002-07:00

A new report shows, yet again, that we are a low tax state.

The Klan supporting a Jewish Congressman?

2008-08-08T16:09:00.002-07:00

Congressman Steve Cohen won his racially charged Democratic primary for re-election from Memphis, TN, with 79% of the vote. Cohen, who is Jewish, was linked in ads by his opponent, who is African-American, to the Ku Klux Klan. This begs the question, how many KKK members are named Cohen? I guess Memphis voters were smarter than that.

Cooter writes a book

2008-08-06T13:22:00.003-07:00

The left is finally finding humor. Ronald Reagan was good at it. Mo Udall was good at it. Now former Democratic Congressman and actor Ben Jones, better known as "Cooter" from the Dukes of Hazard, has written a funny book (disclaimer: I haven't read it myself yet). So think the southern, Protestant Christian version of John Stewart (is that possible)?

97 year old still upset she can't vote; predates voter ID

2008-08-05T12:12:00.002-07:00

Shirley Freeda Preiss was profiled months ago by a Phoenix TV station, and now is featured in a column by Anne Denogean in the Tucson Citizen. Read about how the 97 year old woman is barred from voting due to the state's voter ID laws, because she predates birth certificates being issued in the state in which she was born, and nobody who witnessed her birth is still alive. Her old Texas driver's licenses do not count for identification in Arizona. Thanks to the Arizona Advocacy Network for bringing her case forward.

Bashas' takes my advice, raises money for hungry

2008-08-04T16:40:00.002-07:00

Okay, Bashas' probably didn't get the idea from me, but several months ago I suggested that grocery stores should stop asking for an extra dollar at checkout to fund the disease of the month, and instead should put aside medical research briefly and ask people to give to help the hungry and those facing foreclosure on their homes. Bashas' is doing just that, with money going to St. Vincent de Paul and local food banks, and those donating getting a chance at prizes. And to my union friends upset about Bashas' anti-union views and tactics, this isn't a plug for them specifically or a statement on that battle. I simply am glad someone is doing something to help those truly in need right now. I hope other retailers who ask for donations at the checkout line will do likewise.

Good news from Congress: reauthorization of Higher Ed Act

2008-08-04T16:23:00.002-07:00

Congress is making small steps of progress. They have passed and will send to President Bush a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which had been operating under temporary extensions for the past 4 years. Reauthorization gives Congress a chance to make some major policy changes, and they did just that, and in the right direction. Among other things, there is now loan forgiveness for those who go into highly needed but low paid professions such as early childhood teachers and CPS caseworkers. Together with a reauthorization by Congress of Head Start several months ago that increases access and improves teacher training, this is good news for children. Ninety percent of a child's brain develops in the first three years of life, yet most of our investment in our children happens later.

Sheriff Joe and the illegal Mexican...corn

2008-08-02T17:15:00.002-07:00

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has begun a crackdown on unlicensed food cart vendors. If you live in my neighborhood, or one similar, you know the guys. They sell elote (which, for those of you who don't live in neighborhoods like mine, is corn). Channel 15 caught Arpaio's deputies on tape checking people for their papers and detaining them if they could not prove their legal status in the United States - even if they are in the U.S. legally or are citizens. The man profiled (in the story, and I suppose, by the Sheriff's deputies) insisted he didn't have to say whether he was legally in the United States when he was stopped for having an unlicensed food cart. After hours in detention, he proved he was in the U.S. legally, and was let go. What is more funny is that Sheriff Joe says in the story that this is an issue because the corn is not just corn, but rather it comes from drop houses. Huh? It's illegal corn from drop houses? Perhaps Channel 15 cut the Sheriff off in that clip before he said something that actually made sense, or perhaps he is just really off his rocker. I suppose if the new rule is to ask to prove the legal status of anyone stopped by the Sheriff, then it has to be equally enforced. So if you are more fair skinned than me, and have been stopped by Sheriff's deputies lately and had to prove your legal status/citizenship, please post your story as a response on here. I want to know if the Sheriff's office is enforcing this policy equally. Most law enforcement agencies do check citizenship/legal status when arresting people (some only when arresting for felonies), but when confiscating an unlicensed food cart? Is that a bit extreme?

Bipartisanship lives in the Arizona legislature?

2008-07-30T11:33:00.002-07:00

Rep. Rich Crandall, a Mesa Republican, had a very nice guest column in the Arizona Daily Star today thanking his liberal Democratic colleague from Tucson, Rep. Tom Prezelski, for his help on a bill to aid small bed and breakfasts. Prezelski realized that, being a Democrat in a Republican-controlled chamber, he wasn't likely to get any legislation passed that he introduced. So he met with Rep. Crandall and had him introduce the bill. Crandall could have taken all the credit. Many Republicans do this when they criticize Democratic legislators as ineffective because none of their bills ever pass, when the reality is that the Republican majority won't let Democrat-sponsored bills pass, no matter how good the idea. Kudos to Prezelski for sharing his good idea, and to Crandall for giving credit in Prezelski's hometown paper.

Massachusetts to compete with California for wedding-tourism dollars

2008-07-30T09:46:00.003-07:00

California is the only state in the nation that allows same sex couples who are not residents of the state to marry, and in the couple months since same sex marriage has become legal in California, there has been a tremendous boost in couples from out of state flying in and spending money on wedding ceremonies. When Massachusetts legalized gay marriage a few years ago, then Governor Mitt Romney pulled out a 1913 statute that said a marriage was not valid in Massachusetts if it would not be valid in the state in which the marrying couple resides in. This was meant to keep inter-racial couples from the South from fleeing to Massachusetts to get married, and now keeps gay couples from out of state from flocking to Massachusetts to get married. Howver, a bill on its way to Governor Deval Patrick would now allow out of state same sex couples to marry in Massachusetts. I guess they wanted a piece of the tourism dollars that California has been getting?

Quote of the day

2008-07-29T17:20:00.002-07:00

Ok, she didn't say it today, but Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, ,my Democratic Representative in Phoenix did sometime recently say, as quoted in the HRC monthly magazine:

"It's kind of like being a deer and joining the NRA. Because come hunting season, they're going to shoot you."

This was in reference to GLBT voters backing McCain.

NAU: Northern Arizona University or North American Union?

2008-07-29T09:40:00.002-07:00

According to the Kingman Daily Miner, a local man is walking from Kingman to Bullhead City to protest NAU. Really? Are they so anti-education that they oppose Northern Arizona University, which provides statewide distance learning in Arizona, including in Kingman and Bullhead City? No, but it is sad that the state's main source of college degrees in those communities is not the most recognized NAU. No, NAU is the evil North American Union that the conspiracy theorists believe is ultimately a klandestine attempt to simultaneously bring Canadian socialism and Mexican corruption to America. So if you are xenophobic, move to Mohave County? Sadly, this isn't the stuff just of crazy talk radio or bloggers, but of the main newspaper in Kingman.

New home energy standards pushed to combat climate change

2008-07-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

From the Sierra Club:

Homes and other buildings are America’s largest consumers of energy and a major contributor of global warming. That's why the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities Campaign is joining with local governments, businesses, and energy efficiency advocates to support the most important opportunity in decades to adopt "green" building codes for new homes.

This September 17-23, building code officials from around the country will meet in Minneapolis to vote on a bold proposal to strengthen building code energy-efficiency standards in new homes by 30%. These federally-recognized residential building codes, developed by the International Code Council (ICC), establish the recommended health, safety and efficiency standards for new home construction in most cities and states in the U.S.

If the 30% Solution is approved by the ICC, then local and state governments will be able to enact these new building codes. Once adopted by communities nationwide, the 30% Solution would have a significant impact. By 2030, the 30% Solution would save an estimated 8 quadrillion BTUs of energy and $88 billion in energy costs; reduce CO2 by 464 million metric tons; and create new clean-energy construction and service jobs in the building trades and energy-efficiency product industries.

More information about joining the ICC is available at www.thirtypercentsolution.org . For activist resources, including a sample letter to your mayor, visit our 30% Solution forum at http://coolcities.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=389 .

IRS: incomes of wealthiest 1% up, their taxes down

2008-07-23T14:31:00.002-07:00

According to the IRS, as published recently in the Wall Street Journal, the top 1% of income earners in America make up a greater share of the nation's earnings than at any point in the past 20 years, while their average tax rate has declined to its lowest level in 20 years.

Arizona Republic still alive, but downsizing

2008-07-21T10:26:00.002-07:00

Of course the Arizona Republic won't go away anytime soon, but its local coverage will continue to thin. Richard De Uriarte and Joel Nilsson were among those told to take a buy out or be fired. They were given cake and bottled water as a going away present after 35 years with the Republic and the old Phoenix Gazette.

Arizona ties Minnesota for last in bridge spending

2008-07-18T12:01:00.002-07:00

Are bridges full of rush hour motorists going to collapse in Arizona as happened in Minnesota last year, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100? A new report prepared for the U.S. House Transportation Committee, chaired by Minnesota Democrat Jim Oberstar, ties Arizona for dead last with Minnesota in the amount of federal bridge money we spend. Of course, Arizona probably has far fewer rivers, and as for upkeep, so many of our freeway overpasses are much newer than in most states. Still, it's been a good 15 years since many of our Valley freeways and their interchanges were built. That seems like a good time to check in on how structurally sound they are and what maintenance they may need.

My neighborhood is the third most walkable in Phoenix

2008-07-17T20:57:00.002-07:00

Who had the time to figure this out? Walkscore.com. Phoenix is the 28th most walkable city of the 40 largest in the country, while Tucson ranks 25th and Mesa 30th. My neighborhood is the third most walkable in Phoenix. What is yours? By far the most walkable area in Phoenix, as shown on this map, is the Central Corridor. Other areas? 44th Street and Thomas in East Central Phoenix (my general area), Sunnyslope, Metrocenter, parts of Alhambra and Maryvale, and the immediate vicinities of Paradise Valley Mall and 32nd Street and Bell Road.

You can also find maps for walkability in Mesa and Tucson.

Rich extremists trying to silence the voters...and let the dead vote

2008-07-16T10:11:00.003-07:00

Several wealthy right wingers have put forth a ballot initiative that would require a majority of all registered voters, and not just a majority of those who vote, to pass any initiative that taxes or requires the spending of any money. Had this been in place in the previous decade, the will of the voters would have been thwarted and thousands of children that the voters said deserved health care would not have gotten it, and our perpetually-bottom-of-the-barrel-in-funding schools would not have received the critical boost in funding that voters gave them in 2000. Moreover, since the initiative would mean that any registered voter who does not vote automatically votes "no" on a proposition that costs money, anyone who is dead and hasn't yet been taken off the un-audited rolls would be casting a "no" vote on any future proposals that require spending money. Anne Denogean of the Tucson Citizen hit the nail on the head with her column on this nasty initiative that you should vote against in November. You know, the Tucson Citizen does a better job of covering local news than most papers out there, and I will miss them after they fold, the way most afternoon newspapers have (and increasingly, non-afternoon papers too).

But Walmart doesn't have deer heads on the wall!

2008-07-15T12:06:00.002-07:00

The Daily Yonder has a blog on how the competition from super grocery stores and higher fuel prices mean that many food distribution trucks won't stop at grocery stores that purchase less than $10,000 a week in inventory. This is threatening the survival of grocery stores in small towns. But Walmart just doesn't have deer heads on the wall, nor the passe wood paneling that my parents have finally removed from their 1963 home.

I'm back

2008-07-15T09:14:00.003-07:00

I am finally back from a few weeks in Michigan attending my cousin's wedding, and a couple conferences I attended in Flagstaff on issues facing rural Arizona. I should be blogging a little more frequently now, although I am busy getting signatures to get on the ballot for Creighton Elementary School District Governing Board in this November's election. In the mean time, here is a letter from my friend Tom Alston about the Goldwater Institute's attack on solar power and Arizona's renewable energy standard.

Poll: most blame legislature for budget impasse; McCain's lead in AZ narrow

2008-06-25T09:44:00.004-07:00

A Bruce Merrill Channel 8 poll found voters overwhelmingly would find the legislature, and not the Governor, responsible if state government were to shut down next week due to the lack of a budget. The poll also found a narrow 10 point lead for McCain over Obama in Arizona, with a third of voters undecided. However, McCain's lead grows to 15 points if Obama has Clinton on the ticket as VP.

State budget deal near; but who gets cut?

2008-06-24T09:18:00.003-07:00

With the clock ticking to the new fiscal year that begins July 1, and the threat of state employees not getting a paycheck next week, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Jim Weiers yesterday announced a budget proposal to bridge the state's roughly $2.2 billion budget deficit. However, it remains to be seen whether Weiers has the votes to pass the budget through his House of Representatives, let alone through the Senate, where Senate President (and congressional candidate) Tim Bee has put together an alternate budget proposal, that appears to be more to the Governor's liking as well. Weiers held a press conference yesterday, while Bee will announce his this morning. Votes are likely tomorrow.

So what's the difference? The Bee/Napolitano proposal relies a little more on borrowing, and appears to not entirely close the full $2.2 billion deficit as required by the state constitution. Bee and Napolitano's proposal will likely rely on revenue estimates from April of what the state will take in for tax collections, rather than more up to date estimates that show a slowing economy producing less tax revenue. If the latest estimates turn out to be true, the legislature will have to "fix" the new budget in the middle of the fiscal year, meaning sometime after the election. Can you blame them for not wanting to make the difficult decisions before the election? Well, perhaps you can. Meanwhile, Speaker Weiers makes those difficult decisions in his budget proposal. Well, Weiers' budget only involves difficult decisions if you think it was difficult for him to propose eliminating health insurance for 14,000 low-income parents and several hundred low-income pregnant women. Details of the cuts in each proposal are still forthcoming.

Racial gap in AP exams narrowing in AZ; Rural students less likely to take AP exams

2008-06-18T11:16:00.003-07:00

Data from the College Board, shows the racial gap that exists in AP exams is narrowing in Arizona. For example, African-American students made up a 12% greater share of Arizona's student population in 2007 than they did in 2002, but the share of students taking AP exams who were African-Americans jumped by 63% during the same period. Latino students grew 18% as a share of the student population from 2002-2007, but 41% as a share of those taking AP exams. Those scoring a 3 or above did not increase by as much as those taking the exams, however, but it at least indicates schools (or somebody) is encouraging more students of color to take AP exams, with many passing.

The state still lags the nation in the percent of students who take AP exams, which is not a good sign if we intend to be the Sillicon Desert and not a minimum wage wasteland.

The rural blog The Daily Yonder points out that rural students are less likely to take AP exams. This is a big issue for rural economic development, since AP exams indicate a head start on college, and a head start on better jobs. But it is a chicken or the egg argument: are there not good jobs in rural areas because people don't go to college, or do people not go to college because (at least if they intend to stay in their community) they don't see a need to do so for the low wage jobs available in their community?

Arizona still lags the nation in the percent of students who take AP exams, which is not a good sign if we intend to be the Sillicon Desert and not a minimum wage wasteland.

Family's religious involvement tied to less risky teen sexual behavior

2008-06-17T10:58:00.003-07:00

You may not expect to see this news from someone on the left, that teens in families with greater religious involvement are less likely to engage in risky sexual behavior, such as having multiple partners or becoming sexually active at an early age. However, male teens in families with high religious involvement are less likely to use contraception. The reason given for the generally lower risk sexual behavior is not because of a focus on abstinence. Rather, the study says, it is an issue of parental involvement and family connectedness, and of parents knowing who their children's social groups are. “This study shows the importance of parents who are involved in their children’s lives and know who their children’s friends are,” said Jennifer Manlove, Ph.D., lead author of the study. “Parents who monitor their children’s activities and peer environments, who engage their families in regular activities, and who foster strong parent-child relationships can help reduce risky sexual behaviors, regardless of family religiosity.”

An end to Father's Day?

2008-06-17T10:08:00.002-07:00

Usually it is better to be underestimated by your enemies than to be overestimated. And in my humble estimation, one of the problems facing non-heterosexuals in our country is that we have been overestimated by our enemies. After the LGBTQ community has been blamed for the 9/11 attacks and Hurricane Katrina, now those who dislike us are telling people that we are trying to eliminate Father's Day. Whew. No wonder so many gay people are so tired all the time! And I feel really sorry for my friends who are gay AND Jewish, because on top of masterminding all the aforementioned, they have to control Hollywood and Wall Street on top of everything else!

(And if you don't realize that this blog is tongue-in-cheek, then quit reading it and go back to watching Fox News)

Moving to the 'burbs to escape crime? Cops say it harder to patrol out there

2008-06-16T16:29:00.002-07:00

The Arizona Republic today had an article about police returning to walk the beat in certain neighborhoods, and in some cases, using Segways. Segways are silent, allowing officers to come stealthly upon criminals in the act, and also let an officer cover more ground in less time than on foot. They also don't use costly gasoline like patrol cars do. However, it's harder to put cops on the beat in sprawling communities, and the need for an additional precinct further north was one of the reasons Phoenix went to city voters for an additional 0.2% sales tax last year. Perhaps there are some safety advantages to living in the city?

When the Wall Street Journal sounds like Michael Moore, something is up

2008-06-16T11:23:00.002-07:00

The Wall Street Journal did a story and posted a blog recently about a patient in Texas who has leukemia and was asked for $45,000 up front before even being seen by the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and then another $60,000 up front to begin chemotherapy treatment. And the patient had insurance. But unfortunately, the patient's limited-benefit plan, underwritten by United Health and marketed by AARP, only covers $37,000 a year in benefits, so the hospital refused to bill the insurance company and demanded payment up front. This is part of an increasing trend of hospitals demanding cash up front for treatment, as they are swimming in rising mountains of bad debt.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) is usually a pretty practical guy, but has a temper and gets frustrated when he hears about such things. When this patient appeared via video link before the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley seemed to suggest that hospitals such as M.D. Anderson, which receive some government funding, should provide more charity care. I am glad Senator Grassley shares America's frustrations, but don't we need some more comprehensive solution to America's health care problems than saying hospitals should just provide more charity care?

Some elderly losing the right to vote

2008-06-12T13:13:00.004-07:00

Shirley Preiss was born in Kentucky in 1910, a decade before the ratification of the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote, and decades before the right to vote was given to 18 year olds. Shirley voted for the first time in the election of 1932, and was eager to vote for Hillary Clinton in the Arizona presidential primary in February of this year. However, she was unable to. Shirley is one of the native-born American citizens who are losing their right to vote in Arizona due to relatively new voter ID laws. Those who were born before birth certificates were common, including many Native Americans born more recently on reservations, are unable to prove their citizenship and obtain the necessary ID to vote in Arizona. Shirley attempted to find elementary school records, but found her elementary school in Kentucky has long since closed. Watch the video from Channel 5.

Americans and Don Rumsfeld looking to save gasoline

2008-06-11T11:48:00.002-07:00

The nice thing about blogs is that we can crib from each other. There is a reason the word "net" is in internet. This is from the Center for American Progress:

With soaring oil prices, Americans are increasingly turning to Amtrak, which "saw record numbers in May when ridership rose 12.3 percent from a year earlier." The Bush administration, however, is threatening to veto legislation that would fund the passenger railroad for the next five years.

And finally: Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has bought a new, fuel-efficient Vespa. According to the DC Examiner, "Mr. Macho recently stopped by the Vespa dealership in Glover Park and took home a LXV 150 scooter, which can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour." When asked about his purchase, Rumsfeld refused to comment.

We can't continue this trend - population vs. vehicle miles traveled

2008-06-10T10:14:00.002-07:00

Clinton's graceful concession

2008-06-08T10:06:00.003-07:00

I want to share Hillary Clinton's concession speech, for those of you who did not see it. Of course, it is 30 minutes, but you can fast forward if you wish. Sometimes the best speeches are concession speeches. Candidates don't have to listen to their handlers, and they can say what they really want to say. Yes, to my LGBT friends who said Hillary refused to specifically talk about the rights of gays, she did actually use the word "gay" several times in the speech. And although I voted for Barack Obama, I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton would have been a dogged fighter for the opportunity and rights of all Americans.

Message to Obama: 90% of success is just showing up

2008-06-04T10:59:00.003-07:00

A recent blog post in the Daily Yonder explains the major reason Barack Obama did so poorly in poor, rural areas: he didn't show up. He showed up in a few cities in Kentucky and West Virginia, but snubbed rural voters. The blog also takes to task one of my favorite columnists, Leonard Pitts, for criticizing the roughly 20% of West Virginia voters who said race was a factor in their decision, and in those cases, voted overwhelmingly for Clinton. However, that percent was virtually the same across the country, and in many states those who said race was an important factor voted for Obama. Jesse Jackson, probably more polarizing than Obama, actually did show up in rural, white Appalachia in 1988, and won more of the vote than Obama did in '08, in spite of the fact that Jesse Jackson ran in a crowded field. So everyone else is saying right now that what Obama needs to do to unite Democrats and our nation is to pick Hillary Clinton as his running mate. In fact, the answer might be more simple for Obama: just start showing up.

An idea to help those in need

2008-06-02T12:54:00.003-07:00

Yesterday at Safeway, I was asked if I wanted to donate a dollar on top of my grocery bill to their cause of the month (or more appropriately, their disease of the month), which this month is prostate cancer. I said no, in part because my personal budget is a little squeezed right now and I plan my charitable giving and actually give outside of the grocery store. But occasionally, when it's the right organization or cause, I give to it. Costco usually hits me up for a dollar donation when I check out as well, and it usually goes to fund research for some disease.

Does anyone else find it odd that grocery stores don't raise funds to immediately help those in need? Perhaps a domestic violence shelter? At last count, about half of those fleeing domestic violence and seeking to stay at a shelter are turned away in Arizona for a lack of space. Isn't this a far more immediate problem that we could fix far more quickly than, say, curing cancer? I'm not saying cancer or heart disease aren't important priorities. But I sat in a meeting a couple months ago with a representative from Arizona's food banks, and she said that they are faced with the dual problem of more families in need due to layoffs, foreclosures, etc., while also having higher food prices and fewer donations to food banks. With the high price of food, retailers and wholesalers are far less likely to donate food to a food bank. A year ago, food banks in Arizona could get 10 pounds of food for a dollar, while now they can buy about 3.5 pounds for a dollar. So why not collect money at the checkout stand for the Association of Arizona Food Banks, the Salvation Army, or other organizations to whom we normally give during the holidays? I think, unfortunately, that part of the answer is that in higher income neighborhoods, people see diseases as something that may affect them. They may have had a friend or family member affected by a disease, or they may be at risk of it themselves. They are helping "us." In helping the hungry, the homeless, or those down on their luck, they are helping "them" out of a situation they feel they will never personally experience. It's easy to blame "them" for not working harder, not making better life choices, etc.

Gay Marriage Could Boost California Economy

2008-06-02T12:52:00.001-07:00

From the Center for American Progress:

CIVIL RIGHTS -- GAY MARRIAGE MAY PROVIDE BOOST TO CALIFORNIA ECONOMY: Last month, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said that he hopes his state's Supreme Court ruling allowing gay marriages would encourage more couples to come to the state to be wed and boost the state's economy. Indeed, the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau also expects a tourism boom this summer, and its website now "promotes a gay travel section." The Los Angeles Times reports today that "one UCLA study projects that same-sex unions could provide a $370-million shot in the arm to the state economy over the next three years." The Times adds, "By some estimates, weddings and commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples generate $1 billion a year in revenue." PlanetOut, a media and entertainment company that conducts surveys about gay and lesbian consumers, "says gay consumers...spend about 10 [percent] more on nuptials" than their straight counterparts. Tom Rosa, owner of the Cake and Art bakery in Santa Monica said, "Being in West Hollywood, we've been inundated...after the ruling, the phone really picked up."

Is Matt turning libertarian? Perhaps it's TIME.

2008-05-23T11:39:00.005-07:00

To take the partisanship out of this, I made sure I wrote libertarian with a small "l", in part because I am at work right now (although it is lunch time), and, well, even if I weren't at work I would not confess to joining the Libertarian Party. My thoughts on that political party can be saved for another time. I am a strong believer in funding necessary government services, but I am also a believer in well-run government. I worked on an efficiency review of state government under Governor Napolitano, and I very much agree with her and the business community on the need for more money to pay for infrastructure as Arizona grows, because growth does not pay for itself. But I have increasing concerns about the TIME Coalition, which is seeking to raise Arizona's sales tax by 18% (an additional percentage point) to pay for transportation projects over the next 30 years. After a deal the Governor made with homebuilders to support the transportation initiative in exchange for not funding the initiative through a tax on homebuilders, now non-profit groups of gamers (not the video kind, but the kind with real guns) and environmentalists will have tax money funneled into their organizations to protect some of the wildlife and game that is killed off by motorists when we put new highways through their habitat. I am not opposed to using some tax money to help protect wildlife, but when the Arizona Department of Game and Fish is not consulted on how the initiative would impact wildlife, some out there are going to wonder if the TIME folks are just using public money to buy support from various groups for their initiative. Of course, without that kind of buy off (or buy in, depending on your point of view), initiatives don't usually pass. But again, the average consumer is going to be stuck with the bill for sprawl and growth, and the industries who profit off of sprawl will not have to pay for any of its costs.

My bigger concern is not a few million for non-profit groups to do wildlife conservation. I just quetions whether I-40 needs to be 6 lanes through Holbrook, or I-10 needs to be 6 lanes through Willcox. But again, would rural voters pay the tax if they didn't get something out of it?

Will California gay marriage ruling lead to "marriage amendment" in Arizona?

2008-05-16T12:06:00.001-07:00

With the court ruling this week in our neighboring state of California that same sex couples shall be allowed to wed, you might think that would speed up plans to put on the Arizona ballot this fall (again) a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman. A bill to put such a constitutional amendment on this fall's ballot has been moving through the legislature, but so far Senate President Tim Bee, who is running for Congress in a very competitive district in southern Arizona once represented by openly gay Republican Jim Kolbe, has not brought the bill up for a final Senate vote. He has said he will not deal with anything referring proposals to this fall's ballot until after the Legislature and the Governor have agreed to a budget, which apparently won't be anytime soon. Bee publicly has his priorities right, but Representative Jonathan Paton, a Republican who is seeking to replace Bee in the Senate when he leaves, has said that Bee may not bring the "marriage amendment" up for a vote at all. If a constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man-one woman is on this fall's ballot, look for Representative Kyrsten Sinema, a central Phoenix Democrat, to put an initiative on the ballot banning discrimination in hiring and public accommodations against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered persons.

Why are we afraid of a highway across North America?

2008-05-16T12:00:00.002-07:00

Maybe I am just not enough of a conspiracy theorist lately. As one who likes to occasionally vacation in Mexico, one foreign country where my American dollar is still worth something, I really do not understand how building a superhighway linking Canada, the United States, and Mexico means that we are necessarily moving toward world government and a loss of sovereignty. Apparently it is a major concern of a majority of Arizona's state Senators. Now if only these people could do something important, like pass a budget so our entire state doesn't close down on July 1.

Another legislator retires for financial reasons

2008-05-01T09:33:00.002-07:00

Representative Jennifer Burns, a moderate Republican from southern Arizona, announced that she will not seek re-election, saying that the $24,000 salary makes the job very difficult. Burns is one of the few in our legislature who actually devotes most of her time to her job serving Arizonans, while many other legislators have outside income from jobs they do when the legislature is not in session. Many of those legislators with outside jobs spend their time at the legislature working for legislation that benefits their industry. Jennifer Burns has been a rare, refreshing exception, fighting for the best interests of her constituents, as she sees their best interests anyway, instead of her own gain. But her district is larger than many states, and driving her Jeep around meeting with constituents is not getting any cheaper. She says she is considering going into lobbying, where she can make considerably more money. Her district is Democratic-leaning territory, perhaps making it a little easier for Democrats to gain the seats they need to take control of the Arizona House of Representatives for the first time in over 40 years. Still, a Democratic House is a bit of a longshot.

No, Fox News, Abraham Lincoln was not defeated by a Black man

2008-04-30T14:37:00.003-07:00

I love it when one network news show highlights the mistakes made by their competitors. This one is kinda funny, IMHO.

Is anyone in Prescott a doctor?

2008-04-29T12:46:00.002-07:00

The Prescott Courier newspaper was unable to find a primary care doctor in the area who would accept new patients with most insurance, saying that many primary care physicians are retiring or going to other, more profitable areas of medicine. While doctors may do better financially in other areas of medicine, the article points out that a lack of primary care physicians forces more people to emergency rooms, and drives up the cost of health care for everybody living there.

Taxes - one to support, one to examine carefully

2008-04-28T21:20:00.003-07:00

I know, I know, I am supposed to be a taxer and a spender, being that I am a Democrat and a liberal and all, or so they say. But I have grave concerns about how much our sales taxes in Arizona have increased in recent years, since sales taxes tend to hit the poorest the hardest. We tax goods, like clothing, diapers, and back to school supplies, but do not tax services, such as poodle grooming or spa visits. As we are now paying a combined state and local 8.3% on our purchases in Phoenix, I am hesitant to support any new sales taxes.

One sales tax deserves our support. That is the Phoenix Parks Preserve Initiative, being voted on Tuesday, May 20 (click here to get a vote by mail ballot). This continues for 30 years an existing 0.1% sales tax (in other words, your taxes won't change if it passes) in the City of Phoenix to fund parks, recreation, and nature preserves. Just as it was critical for past city leaders to preserve the areas now known as North Mountain, South Mountain, and Piestewa Peak, it is likewise important that we not turn hilltops and mountainsides in far north Phoenix into a sea of tile roofs. This initiative preserves open space, allows the City to develop new parks all over town, adds shade and other amenities to existing parks (very important given how much warmer our night time temperatures are compared to a couple generations ago...when there were fewer people and less cement), and expands youth activities during the critical after school hours when they may otherwise get into trouble.

One possible statewide tax increase that may greet you on the November ballot is being put together by the TIME Coalition, a group of business and community leaders working to address the fact that, if Arizona does not raise revenues for transportation, there will be no money left to build new highways in most of this state by 2015, but only enough to maintain current highways. Kudos to our business community for addressing this. However, with Governor Napolitano's veto of a property tax cut that will largely benefit business, the business community has vowed to take that property tax cut to the voters this fall as well. How will it look for the same leaders who are advocating for one tax cut (for themselves, mostly) on the ballot to be advocating at the same time for a tax increase (paid by you, the consumer)? I think many voters will vote both down, and perhaps that is the best option. The tranportation plan that will likely be on the ballot this fall will have $42 billion in transportation project all over Arizona over the next 30 years. Fortunately, it will include a chunk for mass transit (expanded bus rapid transit in various cities, as well as a train between Phoenix and Tucson, and commuter rail in both cities), but 58% still goes for highways. And all this would be financed by a 1.0% sales tax, meaning you would now be paying 9.3% in Phoenix, and similar rates elsewhere. Since Arizona has not raised the gasoline tax, which is one of our main sources of highway funding, since the early 1990's, it is time to at least let that tax keep up with inflation and the cost of building roads. And those who choose to live close to their work will not only contribute less to air pollution, traffic congestion, and climate change, but won't be hit as hard in the pocket book for their responsible lifestyle. I will be analyzing the proposal as it evolves, and will let you know where I stand. Let's meet our state's transportation needs, and take away the time tax of being stuck in traffic. But let's not open up pristine areas of the state that should be preserved as God made them, let's move people around in an efficient and cost effective way, and let's make sure the responsibility for paying for it is shared equally.

State Democratic Convention picks delegates in long, low key meeting

2008-04-28T21:00:00.003-07:00

You may have heard that the Arizona Democratic Party picked the remainder of its delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer at a meeting on Saturday at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix. Yours truly was on the credential committee, so I missed some of the action, but there were lots of rounds of voting, keeping us there 9 hours. Notably, for perhaps the first time ever in the history of the Democratic National Convention (at least in the Arizona delegation), there will be an openly transsexual delegate. Also, former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini (served 1977-1994, and was Arizona's last Democratic U.S. Senator), who is not seen at too many Party events these days , showed up and was elected as a delegate. He had some choice words about his former Arizona colleague, Senator John McCain, and let Arizona Democrats know that he had personal stories of McCain's temperament (or lack thereof) that show this man should not be President of the United States. DeConcini said in a letter to the Democratic State Committee "I know firsthand just how clever, deceitful and misleading of a leader (McCain) can be, is, and would be if elected President." He sited an article in the Financial Times chronicalling encounters McCain has had with Senators of both parties. Former Republican Senator Bob Smith of New Hampshire was quoted in the article DeConcini distributed as saying that McCain was not suited to be President. No word if those Republican Senators have recanted since McCain tied up the nomination, but DeConcini has no love lost for McCain.

There was no great tension between Obama and Clinton supporters. The numbers of how many pledged delegate each gets from Arizona were already determined by the primary several months ago. However, unpledged Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEOs) were elected. Also, a new Vice Chair was elected for the Arizona Democratic Party to fill a vacancy, and this person gets a vote at the convention. The winner, Charlene Fernandez, has pledged her support for Obama.

The myth of suburban affordability

2008-04-22T14:04:00.006-07:00

In addition to data showing an increasing number of America's poor and financially strapped families living in suburbs rather than central city and rural areas, and local data showing much higher foreclosure rates in the suburbs, the Center for Neighborhood Technology has put together a mapping tool for many metropolitan areas, including that of Maricopa County, AZ, showing that housing and transportation costs are often lower in central cities than in suburbs. This runs counter to the belief of many who purchased homes a few years ago that they had to "drive 'til you qualify" and find cheap housing in far flung locations. Of course, some of the most affordable housing is in areas of town in which you do not want to live, but as an urban dweller, I stand by the idea that there are many affordable neighborhoods in central Phoenix (and older areas of Tempe, Mesa, Glendale, and other Valley cities) that are worth living in, and our governments should focus on making those affordable areas more liveable (better city services, better public schools) instead of building costly new infrastructure to support new, far flung exurbs.

The following map shows the average monthly cost to own a home in the Valley of the Sun. The darkest areas have the highest cost.

Of course, people who live closer to work also spend less on transportation costs. So in addition to cheaper housing, the central city areas are cheaper for transportation, especially with gasoline over $3.50 a gallon in many places. In the blue areas, people spend more than 45% of area median income on housing and transportation combined.

This seems intuitive, but it goes against what many tell us here. Perhaps it is just easier for the "real estate industrial complex," as former Arizona Republic columnist Jon Talton used to call it, to make a profit in outlying areas, so they perpetuate the myth. You know, the Republic hasn't much been worth reading since Jon Talton left.

Unauthorized workers helping prop up Social Security, Medicare

2008-04-11T13:48:00.004-07:00

Although it has been reported before, a new report confirms that people working with incorrect or mismatched Social Security numbers are paying $9 billion a year in federal taxes. It is likely that most are immigrants working without authorization in the United States. They pay into Social Security and Medicare, but federal law prohibits them from collecting Social Security or Medicare benefits. Since the federal government profits off of this, does anyone wonder why the government has been slow to enforce immigration laws? Of course, this doesn't even touch those who are working under someone else's Social Security number, perhaps even yours. So if your next Social Security earnings statement shows you having far more income than you remember earning, there could be someone else working with your Social Security number, but you will see the higher benefit when you retire thanks to their work. I guess not all identity theft is a bad thing?

Bush, Dems looking to help ex-cons re-enter society

2008-04-10T09:54:00.001-07:00

From the Center for American Progress: "President Bush yesterday reached across traditional political dividing lines to sign into law a broad program that provides federal grants for assistance to ex-convicts, pointing to his own struggle with alcohol addiction as an example of redemption."

Ever wonder where your tax dollars go?

2008-04-08T14:49:00.003-07:00

Just in time for tax day, the National Priorities Project released a state-by-state, city-by-city summary of where our federal tax dollars go. They do not include Social Security and Medicare, which are paid out of separate funds (or so it is said).

Good news: wind power in America up 45% last year

2008-04-03T11:06:00.001-07:00

No, the increased wind power did not all come from Washington, but installed wind power rose 45% last year.

Conservative Goldwater Institute takes aim at Sheriff Joe

2008-04-03T10:38:00.002-07:00

The conservative Goldwater Institute has taken aim at Sheriff Joe Arpaio over spending and management practices which they infer make the jobs of local police departments more difficult. I am more fair and balanced than most bloggers, linking to an opinion piece from the Goldwater Institute. Just don't expect me to do this on a regular basis. ;-)

Another study shows Arizona toward the bottom in education

2008-04-02T09:53:00.003-07:00

The Census Bureau today released a study showing Arizona having the 3rd lowest per-pupil funding of K-12 education. The two states that spend less than Arizona, per-pupil, were Idaho and Utah. The highest spending states were New York, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia. How much we spend, or how much we have to spend, depends of course on the local cost of living, since schools have to buy land, build buildings, and pay teachers based on local costs. Clearly it is more expensive to do all three in New York, New Jersey, and DC. And while Arizona may not be up there with the east coast, it is clearly not in the bottom three places in the country in terms of cost of living, which leads me to believe we are shortchanging the future of our state.

Majority of doctors now favor health care for all Americans

2008-04-01T13:30:00.001-07:00

A survey found that 59% of doctors in the U.S. support universal health care, up from 49% in 2002.

What's good for the goose is good for the gander

2008-03-28T16:31:00.002-07:00

Next week, the House Transportation Committee will hear a bill, SB1495 by Senator Pamela Gorman of Anthem, to audit light rail if it is not completed by January 1, 2009 (it is currently scheduled to open December 27, 2008). My question is, why is light rail being singled out for auditing when there are delays or cost over runs in construction? If it is such a good idea, why don't we audit the construction of our freeways that have taken far more money and far more time to complete than we taxpayers were originally promised? Is this an effort for good government, or simply a shot at public transportation? As a Central Phoenix resident and taxpayer with a 4 mile commute, I am footing the bill for freeway improvements so that Ms. Gorman won't have to wait in as much traffic on her daily commute from Anthem to downtown Phoenix, a commute made by many of her neighbors as well. Of course, I think it is a giant mistake to build giant master planned bedroom communities far from the city when the builder conveniently forgets to master plan any jobs in the area or any decent transportation to the nearest job center (yes, I'm referring to Anthem here). If we aren't auditing Ms. Gorman's freeway, we shouldn't audit light rail.

Something non-political: last chance to play Magic Carpet Golf in Tucson

2008-03-26T09:48:00.002-07:00

If you are from or have lived in Tucson, you are probably familiar with Magic Carpet Golf, the mini-golf place on Speedway west of Wilmot. The giant, unusual figures are being saved, even though the place is being closed. I bet a few children have even been conceived on that golf course. I know it was always a great place to take dates and climb to the top of the giant tiki head and see the city lights while waiting to play through. So here is the info on the fundraiser to save all the figures from Magic Carpet Golf, courtesy of State Representative Steve Farley of Tucson (to add to the bipartisan-ness of the event, Representative Jonathon Paton is also a big fan of Magic Carpet Golf):

The big news this week is you can now purchase your tickets online for One Last Round at Magic Carpet Golf, the big fundraiser to save those great statues and also preserve the Valley of the Moon.
The event will be on Saturday, April 26, and you can reserve your tee-time for a group of 6 (groups of less will be joined together), teeing off every ten minutes. Since this is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Valley of the Moon, each round is $20 per person and you will need to pay via PayPal on the website to confirm your reservations. Reserve soon -- the slots will disappear quickly.
You can point your browser to http://www.valleymoon.info and click on the words in red on the upper right that say "Magic Carpet Reservations". You can pay with any credit card, and donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
Aficionados will be coming in from all across the country for this huge event, and there will be live bands on stage all day and night along with memorabilia, food, silent auctions, and theater performances. The course is at 6125 E. Speedway, just west of Wilmot. This is one party you don't want to miss--let's celebrate some of what makes Tucson special, and ensure that future Tucsonans can still treasure these unique creations. I will see you there!

Eating healthy while dining out may get easier in Arizona

2008-03-25T09:53:00.002-07:00

State Senator Amanda Aguirre of Yuma, fresh off a legislative victory with her bill the Governor just signed requiring health insurers to cover autism, has reached a compromise with the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association to get healthier choices identified on restaurant menus across Arizona. Aguirre had originally sought broad food labeling, which was opposed by the industry. But now restaurants may voluntarily agree to have healthy choices on their menu certified by the state, getting them publicity on the Department of Health Services website, and allowing them to put a label on the front door letting patrons know there are state approved healthy choices at that restaurant. Kudos to Aguirre, a nutritionist, for her efforts for a healthier and safer Arizona. Her victories are rare for a legislature beset by gridlock, and especially as a member of the minority party (Democrat), which usually has little power.

Inflation hitting poor hardest: cost for basic necessities up 9.2% since '06, faster than inflation for non-necessities

2008-03-24T12:06:00.003-07:00

The Washington post reported last Friday that the cost of basic necessities, including groceries, energy, and health care, are up 9.2% since 2006, while items which are easier to cut back on during times of economic duress (alcohol, eating out, new cars) are rising at a slower rate. Meanwhile, the average non-managerial worker has seen his or her pay rise just 5% in the same period.

McCain confuses Sunni and Shiites, al Qaeda and Iran

2008-03-20T12:18:00.003-07:00

Was McCain really this woefully ignorant, or was it just an age related (and repeated) slip of the tongue? From the daily Progress Report of the Center for American Progress:

IRAQ -- MCCAIN REPEATEDLY CONFLATES IRAN AND AL QAEDA: Despite Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) frequent assertions that he could "best address a national security crisis" and that he has "the most experience...when it comes to foreign policy," yesterday he severely undermined this claim when he conflated Shiite Iran with Sunni al Qaeda. Speaking to reporters in Jordan, McCain said he was concerned about Iranian operatives "training" al Qaeda in Iran "and sending them back" to Iraq -- a claim he made at least twice during that press conference. Only after Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) whispered a correction in his ear did McCain correct himself to say he meant "extremists," not al Qaeda. He made the same assertion on Hugh Hewitt's right-wing radio show as well. Despite the fact that McCain repeated this fundamental error at least three times and only corrected himself at Lieberman's urging, McCain's campaign insisted McCain "misspoke and immediately corrected himself."

A big step forward for workers and cleaner air in Southern California

2008-03-20T12:15:00.001-07:00

From the daily Progress Report of the Center for American Progress:

The Greening Of America's Busiest Port
Today, the commissioners of the busiest shipping port in the United States will vote on the Clean Trucks Program, a plan devised by a unique coalition of national and local environmental, labor, and community organizations. Despite fierce opposition by big-box retailers and the trucking industry, the commissioners of the Port of Los Angeles are expected to approve this plan to reform the Port's trucking policy. The Clean Trucks Program mandates that the Port only deal with trucking companies who employ, rather than contract, their drivers (a major labor and national security reform) and maintain high-efficiency trucks running high-grade diesel fuel (a major environmental reform). If approved, this plan will mark a significant milestone in the ongoing fight for "green growth" of the port and provide a model for the progressive movement.

Yuma the next Silicon Valley?

2008-03-14T20:55:00.002-07:00

Forbes just released its list of the top 10 up-and-coming tech cities in the United States. Not surprisingly, the Phoenix metropolitan area was not on the list. In my still young lifetime, I have seen Walmart replace Motorola as our state's largest private sector employer. The good, and surprising, news is that Yuma ranked 10 on the list of the 10 up-and-coming cities for tech. Why? Mostly the presence of the Yuma Proving Grounds, a long time military presence in the community. For those who think the private sector does it all and government does not bring new ideas to the market or create good jobs, well, those people shouldn't be reading this, since the internet was an invention of the U.S. government that eventually was expanded for other uses. Although I am about to embark upon graduate school through Northern Arizona University's distance learning program, perhaps our state should recognize that it may well be time to invest in a real university in Yuma. While Western Arizona College teams with NAU to offer university degrees to Yumans, the offering is limited, and the research that takes place through the program is nil. Ultimately, it comes down to politics. After all, most of the opposition to the 1958 ballot initiative changing Arizona State College's name to Arizona State University came from Tucson.

Commuter rail for Arizona?

2008-03-13T13:49:00.004-07:00

Last month, a study was released by the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG, like the wheels) on bringing commuter rail to the Valley of the Sun, with possible high speed (up to 110 mph) rail service to Tucson. Among the opportunities of commuter rail are cleaner air from fewer auto emissions (and less greenhouse gas emissions) and quicker commute times than freeways. Commuter rail is different than light rail as it would bring people from far flung suburbs into the city with few stops at higher speeds along existing rail corridors. There will still be critics of the money it will cost, but as our city grows and land prices go up, building freeways won't be any cheaper.

New survey shows big public support for fuel efficiency, renewable energy research

2008-03-13T13:27:00.002-07:00

Congress did pass the first increase in fuel efficiency standards for our automobiles in over 30 years in 2007, but the fight continues over whether or not to fund more research into renewable energy. A survey by Pew found strong support for both, as well as for funding mass transit. Since I am a nerd for these kinds of issues, I feel compelled to point out that there is a horsepower race going on in cars sold in our country that rivals even the muscle car era of the 1960's, in spite of the all-time record high fuel prices. Most 4 cylinder engines today have the horsepower that most V6 engines had just 10-15 years ago. Today's 4 cylinder engines also have the power that V8 engines had 30 years ago. Yet so many consumers continue to opt for V6 engines, because they think power is all about the number of cylinders. And who is going to tell them otherwise? The dealers and auto industry that has higher profit margins on V6 upgrades than on standard 4 cylinder cars? Most of the world has long been paying far more than the $3 a gallon we are now paying for gasoline, so there is no reason for us to complain about it. Also, it is sometimes easier to express our opinion for change in a public opinion poll than to, say, actually make some minor changes in our own lives that could tremendously benefit our environment and our nation's energy independence.

New blog from Good Jobs First

2008-03-12T10:05:00.002-07:00

Good Jobs First, an organization that believes government subsidies for economic development should actually benefit workers and not just corporate bottom lines, has started a new blog called Claw Back, which is also in my blog links at left (toward the bottom...keep scrolling). They not only want to hold businesses accountable for the government subsidies they receive by making sure they create jobs that have benefits and pay a living wage, but they also fight to ensure that subsidies do not go to projects that contribute to urban sprawl.

Arizona may not be a blue state, but we're more Starbucks than Walmart

2008-03-12T09:45:00.004-07:00

Arizona ranks in the top of the country for Starbucks per capita, yet toward the middle of the pack for Walmarts per capita. Starbucks is far more generous with employee health benefits than Walmart (did you think your $4 really just paid for coffee and milk?). So this alone does not explain our state being 36th in the country in percent of employers offering health benefits, or worse, 47th in the percent of non-elderly who are uninsured.

Democrats to have one less in Arizona Senate next year?

2008-03-12T09:39:00.003-07:00

Democratic state Senator Charlene Pesquiera of Tucson announced today she would not seek re-election. The Republican primary for her seat is already hotly contested, and this is one of the few truly competitive races in the Arizona legislature. Stay tuned.

Iraq turning into Saudi Arabia when it comes to women?

2008-03-11T09:52:00.004-07:00

NPR reports that before the invasion in 2003, there was a higher ratio of female drivers in Iraq than any other Arab country. Now, due to roadside bombs and radical insurgents, women are driving less in Iraq, and lament the loss of mobility.

Karl Rove: is he really expecting to be indicted this year?

2008-03-11T09:47:00.003-07:00

Karl Rove, speaking to a hostile crowd of college students in Iowa, states that he expects to be indicted by the end of the year. Whether or not it was in jest was unclear.

Cities won't be cut in state's budget

2008-03-10T21:57:00.002-07:00

I know it's pretty useless to repost things that were already printed in the Arizona Republic, but amidst all the budget cuts being thrown around as possibilities, cutting revenues the state shares with cities will not be one of the cuts. This is thanks to Tucson Democratic Representative Steve Farley. Voters in 1992 in AZ passed a constitutional amendment requiring a 2/3rd majority in the legislature to raise revenues (i.e. taxes). Farley asked the Legislative Council that writes bills for the legislature and gives them legal advice whether cutting tax revenue that is shared with cities so that the state can keep more of it amounts to a revenue increase that requires a 2/3rd majority vote. They said it would indeed require 2/3rd, far more votes than the legislature can muster.

Massachusetts health reform reduces unpaid hospital visits

2008-03-03T11:33:00.002-07:00

According to today's Boston Globe, the health care reform in Massachusetts that Mitt Romney signed into law before leaving office as Governor (of which he talked very little in his campaign) has led to a 16% drop in "free" visits to hospitals as 200,000 more residents of the Bay State now have health insurance. This is saving the taxpayers of Massachusetts $240 million a year in reimbursements to hospitals that treat the uninsured. However, the savings is not enough to cover the $869 million the state now pays in subsidies to help low income people purchase health insurance, also a key part of the health care reform enacted in Massachusetts.

I'm back...with a survey!

2008-03-02T22:55:00.001-07:00

I know, I know, it is the ever-important time of year when the Arizona legislature is in session and I should be telling you about the all the proposed new laws: the good, the bad, and the downright whacky! I suppose having the flu and then being out of town is part of my lame excuse, but frankly I just haven't been concentrating on the blog much lately.

But I do have something I would love for anyone reading this, who also resides in Arizona, to do. Please take my short survey on an issue of importance to Arizona! It should take 2-5 minutes.

Cuts in the Bush budget

2008-02-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

From the Center for American Progress

CRUEL DOMESTIC CUTS: To maintain his tax cuts for the wealthy, Bush's budget slashes 151 domestic programs. Poison control centers face a 62 percent cut, rural health programs are decimated 87 percent, and the Community Services Block Grant, "a $654 million program that provides housing, nutrition, education and job services to low-income people," is completely eliminated. A new health program for 9/11 rescue workers is slashed by 77 percent, "even though the administration has said that many workers were exposed to 'unprecedented levels of risk' for lung disease and other illnesses." The budget slices 22 percent from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. "The White House wants to eliminate spending for more than a dozen education programs, including Even Start, which promotes family literacy; grants to the states for classroom technology; Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, for needy undergraduates; and a scholarship program named for the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia." "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would lose more than $430 million, including...$28 million from chronic disease prevention and health promotion. A $301 million program that trains 4,700 pediatricians and pediatric specialists at children's teaching hospitals also would be eliminated, at a time when pediatric specialties, such as rheumatology and pulmonology, face critical shortages." The Safe and Drug-Free Schools Program loses $194 million, a cut of 64 percent, and "states and cities would see cuts of $1.5 billion from the $3.75 billion in grants for security, law enforcement, firefighters and emergency medical teams approved by Congress for this year."

Bush for tax cuts, except when he's not

2008-02-04T22:32:00.000-07:00

Bush promised in his State of the Union address last week that his budget plan would result in a surplus for 2012. However, the budget plan he delivered to Congress this week calls for no further funding of Iraq and Afghanistan operations after the summer of 2009 (which clearly is not the Administration’s position, or else they are doing major double talk; funding of Iraq and Afghanistan is likely to continue beyond that even under a President Clinton or Obama). Bush's budget also assumes a return of the Alternative Minimum Tax after 2008, which would result in higher taxes for many middle-income and upper-middle-income families. Bush is on record opposing a return of the Alternative Minimum Tax without a “fix” to prevent it from hitting middle class families. However, he is willing to briefly support things he otherwise opposes, but only for the purpose of adding up budget numbers to say that America will get to a “surplus.” Talk about intellectual dishonesty. Of course, being intellectual is not something this President is known for, although this Administration’s record for dishonesty is well known.

Representative Steve Yarbrough introduces bill to boost his employer's bottom line

2008-01-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

State Representative Steve Yarbrough (R-Chandler) is once again running a bill in this year's session of the Arizona legislature that would expand a tax credit to private student tuition organizations (STO's), a type of organization for which he works. Incidentally, while Yarbrough is proposing expanded public funding of private schools, his party's Appropriations Chairmen in the legislature are also proposing to halt public school construction and renovations until mid-2009.