Feeling grateful for all those Democrats in the AZ Senate today
May 17, 2013 
So budget bills got through the Arizona Senate Thursday, which were surprisingly decent, and the Medicaid expansion won a decisive majority vote. Political strategist and former legislator John Loredo said it best on his Facebook page: Tonight Senate Democrats along Continue Reading
[...]Really, when they say who they are, believe them.
Craig McDermott captured an interesting thing Rep. Steve Smith said Tuesday about a ridonkulous bill before the Arizona Legislature, that prevents the evil Federal Government from sapping our Stately essences. Or something. Per Craig: The text of his “explanation” (emphasis Continue Reading
[...]Name games in the City Council 8 race
My friend Bob Lord has been taking flack from Phoenix City Council candidate Warren Stewart’s campaign over his posts about a disparaging comment that Maricopa County Supervisor and Stewart supporter Mary Rose Wilcox made about Kate Gallego, who is also Continue Reading
[...]Make it rain: The Scandals keep on coming . . . sort of
So let’s sort through the scandals raining down on the Obama Administration. Benghazi: Poor security at the American compound? Yep. An attempt by the administration to massage the message about Benghazi in the opening days? Yep. Anything criminal? Nope. Anything Continue Reading
[...]Possible budget deal illustrates how “bipartisanship” can be dangerous
AZ Eagletarian has a concise run-down of a rumored deal by AZ Senate President Andy Biggs (which I hinted at on my Sunday Square Off appearance) to ram a budget through the Senate by tacking a Medicaid expansion amendment on Continue Reading
[...]The crazy is strong in some Medicaid expansion opponents
Christine Bauserman, whose Facebook page proudly boasts all her conservative and Republican affiliations, believes that poor people getting health care in Arizona is a Marxist plot. She wrote a hilarious LTTE to the AZ Capitol Times about it. Just how Continue Reading
[...]Immigration Reform is all about Economics
Late last week the Senate Judiciary Committee made the first major change to the bipartisian immigration bill, requiring the government to achieve “effective control” of the Southern Border. I highly doubt this one amendment will really change the minds of Continue Reading
[...]Square Off!
Taped Sunday Square Off this morning. I was on the panel with David Leibowitz and Chip Scutari and the topics were Tom Horne’s legal troubles, Jeff Flake’s unpopularity, and the proposed Glendale casino (they always throw in one thing I’ve Continue Reading
[...]Killing solar, all in the name of principle
Governor Jan Brewer likes to call herself the “Solar Queen.” She often talks about her own personal use of solar power and the fact that under her administration, solar industries have been booming in Arizona. But just as they are Continue Reading
[...]Jodi Arias Trial: Everyone’s 15 minutes of fame
From Arias herself (who everyone, as if they knew her, called her “Jodi”) to the victim, Travis Alexander (“Travis” to anyone who showed up on camera during the past four months), to prosecutor Juan Martinez signing autographs to the gawkers Continue Reading
[...]Brewer’s Medicaid proposal is conservative? Really?
Gov. Brewers Medicaid program is fiscally conservative. So say her commercials. The claim is underlined and italicized so it must be so. Well, let’s see. Her program draws down a substantial short-term subsidy from the federal government, so if your Continue Reading
[...]There are lies and then there are damned lies
As the string of scandals involving the Obama administration continue to pile up the president flails about trying to find ways to shift the heat away from him. Yesterday, he was confronted on the two most recent scandals. Concerning the Continue Reading
[...]In Defense of neighborhood HOAs
Home in Queen Creek HOA. That cityeven has an HOA academy. Why would anyone move into a community that has a homeowner’s association (HOA) then later complain about the rules and regulations they signed on to uphold when they closed Continue Reading
[...]Just for something different, follow the law
Did you hear that the Obama administration higher-ups have instructed border agents to make sure that incoming students have valid visas? It seems a couple of the students involved in the Boston marathon terrorist attack were–ahem– in the country illegally. Continue Reading
[...]Shining light on public employee pensions
All the good stuff was there in the Republic’s series on the growing menace that is our government pensions. The outlandish pensions for Public Safety employees, the ominously growing expense lines for local government, the pitiable “I’m just following the Continue Reading
[...]An outrageous failure of command
Benghazi. The Obama administration told us for 2 weeks after the attacks that they were nothing more than a demonstration turned violent. Instead, it was a successful, well planned and well executed terrorist attack specifically targeting the U.S. Ambassador Continue Reading
[...]Our Legislature’s “Fast And Furious”
So our legislature has decreed that guns bought back by cities must be put back into circulation instead of being melted down. Let’s hope that these guns will be logged in, so that when one of them shows up as Continue Reading
[...]The NRA, a Murder Weapons Lobby
We’ve all heard it, from LaPierre and other mouthpieces of the NRA: “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy (and now a mentally ill person or other who would not pass a Continue Reading
[...]Who’s accountable for the Arias debacle?
Why couldn’t anybody do something about the Jodie Arias trial? It was an embarrassment to our local courts. The trial long since has degenerated into a media driven circus event, satisfying the needs of the tabloid press (a.k.a. the mainstream Continue Reading
[...]Rising Home Prices – Who Gains?
So the Real Estate Community is crowing about the 20+% recovery of home prices in the Valley. I don’t think that is a good thing at all. Not only are private residences way overpriced (I know, I built a house Continue Reading
[...]Azcvoices.com is a network of community bloggers created by The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com and 12 News to highlight diverse viewpoints. Members' opinions do not represent the views of Republic Media.
List of Authors
Bodo Diehn
Bodo Diehn first came to Tucson in 1964 for postdoctoral work at the U. of A. and is a retired university professor. Chip Scutari
Chip Scutari is co-founder at Scutari and Cieslak Public Relations.Chuck Coughlin
Chuck Coughlin founded HighGround, Inc. in January of 1996. Today HighGround is recognized as one of the most successful public affairs firms in Arizona. Daniel Valenzuela
Phoenix City Councilman Daniel Valenzuela is blogging during a trip to Israel about his experiences in the tumultuous Holy Land. David Leibowitz
Since starting Leibowitz Solo in 2009, David’s client list has included winning statewide ballot initiatives plus writing speeches for Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and media relations and messaging for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon. David Schapira
David Schapira is the Arizona Senate Minority Leader. He has represented Tempe and South Scottsdale in both the House and Senate over the last six years. Deb Gullett
Deb Gullett, government affairs specialist at Gallgher and Kennedy, is a former Arizona State legislator; White House official, and chief of staff to Senator John McCain. Donna Gratehouse
I've been blogging for Democratic Diva since 2007 about local and national politics with a strong emphasis on women's issuesGeorge B. Brooks Jr.
Environmental/Agricultural Scientist, Dr. George B. Brooks, Jr. Ph.D. is a Phoenix native and recognized leader in the growing sustainability movement. George Cunningham
George Cunningham is a public-policy consultant. He is a former state senator who served as Gov. Janet Napolitano's deputy chief of staff for finance and budget.Hugh Hallman
The immediate past Mayor of the City of Tempe, Hugh currently serves as the Headmaster of Tempe Preparatory Academies.Innocent Abiaka
Innocent Abiaka is executive vice president of AMI Consultants and a contributor to The Arizona Republic's Plugged In blog. James Garcia
James is the owner of Creative Vistas Media, co-founder of the Real Arizona Coalition (therealarizona.org), and a Phoenix-based playwright.Jana Bommersbach
Jana Bommersbach is one of Arizona's most acclaimed journalists. The Arizona Press Club has recognized her lifetime of achievement with its highest honor--The Distinguished Service Award. Jay Heiler
A lawyer, journalist and political analyst, Jay Heiler is a political and media consultant serving a variety of private and public sector clients in public affairs, issue management, and crisis communications. Jim Barber
Jim Barber, who spent his career in the freight business, was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, went to Phoenix Union HS until joining the United States Marine Corps at 17. Jim McAllister
Jim McAlliser is a Scottsdale blogger, an Arizona Republic Plugged In contributor.Joel Nilsson
Joel Nilsson, a former member of The Arizona Republic editorial board, is a freelance writer. John Keegan
John Keegan is a former Arizona lawmaker, Peoria mayor and justice of the peace.Julie Erfle
I hope the differing opinions expressed by myself and others will both challenge and motivate individuals to work for the greater good.Kathleen Ingley
Kathleen Ingley, who retired this year from the Arizona Republic editorial staff, is a writer, desert lover, travel junkie, low-impact hiker, perpetual language student and recorder player. Kirk Adams
Kirk Adams is the former Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. Kristin Borns
Kristin Borns is a public policy professional with deep Arizona roots and owner of Borns Solutions AZ, an independent public policy and applied research consulting firm. Lisa Graham Keegan
Lisa Graham Keegan is a former Arizona lawmaker and former superintendent of public instruction.Lisa Urias
Lisa Urias is president and CEO of Urias Communications.Marshall Trimble
Official Arizona State Historian Marshall Trimble is the author of more than 20 books on Arizona. Mickey Greenberg
Mickey Greenberg is the retired editor of the Omaha Jewish Press. She has been a Scottsdale resident for 22 years.Mike McClellan
Mike McClellan has lived in Arizona since 1967 where he attended high school and the University of Arizona. McClellan taught high school English for 36 years, including 30 years at at Dobson High School in Mesa. Nathan Sproul
Nathan served as Executive Director for the Republican Party and as a senior government relations representative.Paul Bentz
Paul Bentz is Vice President, Accounts and Strategy at HighGround, Inc., one of Arizona's leading public affairs companies.Paula Pennypacker
Paula Pennypacker has been a conservative and independent political activist since 1990. She is the founder and president of Scottsdale-based Just for Redheads Beauty Products. Rev. Jarrett Maupin
The Rev. Jarrett Maupin is a Baptist Minister and a Political, Civil Rights, and Social Justice Activist. Robbie Sherwood
Robbie Sherwood is Director of Arizona Operations for Strategies 360 and brings his extensive knowledge of the state, media relations, writing and public policy to S360 and its clients.Romina Khananisho
Romina Khananisho moved to Arizona in 1994 with her family and attended college at Arizona State University. Almost 20 years later her career has thrived as a government relations professional serving both the private and public sector. Sandy Bahr
I am Chapter Director for the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter and have held that position for the last 15 years.Tom Patterson
Tom Patterson is the volunteer chairman of the Goldwater Institute and past chairman of the Arizona Advisory Committee to the United States Commission on Civil Rights.Zuhdi Jasser
Zuhdi Jasser is author of "A Battle for the Soul of Islam." He is a Phoenix physician, and founder and President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. Recent Posts
- Brewer’s Medicaid proposal is conservative? Really?
- Feeling grateful for all those Democrats in the AZ Senate today
- There are lies and then there are damned lies
- Really, when they say who they are, believe them.
- Name games in the City Council 8 race
- In Defense of neighborhood HOAs
- Make it rain: The Scandals keep on coming . . . sort of
- Possible budget deal illustrates how “bipartisanship” can be dangerous
- The crazy is strong in some Medicaid expansion opponents
- Just for something different, follow the law
- Immigration Reform is all about Economics
- Shining light on public employee pensions
- Square Off!
- Killing solar, all in the name of principle
- Jodi Arias Trial: Everyone’s 15 minutes of fame
- An outrageous failure of command
- Our Legislature’s “Fast And Furious”
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