The Affordable Care Act needs serious improvements, and Congress should come together to find bipartisan fixes to improve this law. Rather than focus on real solutions to the problems embedded in this law, leadership in Washington has wasted many days – and millions of your dollars – trying to repeal the law rather than make the necessary changes.... Read more»
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From a former Board member, and student: Gov. Jan Brewer’s appointment Wednesday of five new members of the Board of Directors of the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind is a start to fixing the damage done to that institution’s reputation.... Read more»
ProPublica’s job is to report the news rather than to make news ourselves, but sometimes we find an article of ours to be itself a subject of public debate. Last week was such a time, when two articles we had published back in December and January became the subject of significant attention in light of the uproar over IRS oversight of the process for granting tax exemption to so-called “social welfare” groups.... Read more»
The House of Representatives is expected to vote for the 40th time this week to repeal Obamacare, not because anyone believes the 40th time will be the charm, but because the exercise will enable Republican freshmen to vote for repeal and brag about it during their campaigns next year.... Read more»
As President Barack Obama and his national security advisors continue to weigh the costs and benefits of providing greater financial and materiel support for elements of the Syrian opposition—potentially including lethal aid—it is important to understand the structure of the Syrian opposition, which remains plagued by many divisions.... Read more»
Arizonans awoke to tragedy this morning with the news that two of our state’s brave first responders — a Phoenix firefighter and police officer — died overnight following separate incidents in the line of duty. Both men were killed while in service to the community they loved; both leave behind a family that grieves; both are to be honored and remembered for the boundless sacrifice they have made.... Read more»
In a new poll from Public Policy Polling, 74 percent of Republicans polled said they think the actions of the Obama administration during the crisis in Benghazi were worse than Watergate. The results, however, might be taken with a grain of salt as half of that 74 percent appear to have no idea whatsoever where—or even what—Benghazi is.... Read more»
Latin America’s Catholics multiplied in past centuries. Now their numbers are shrinking. The new Argentine pope canonizing two Latina nuns sends a calling to the region.... Read more»
It’s springtime; the desert is in bloom, the new season of Dexter is beginning on Showtime, and Tucson Unified School District teachers are once again facing job uncertainty and loss of healthcare insurance. Layoffs are a spring tradition in the world of public education, but this year’s cuts have been deep and numerous, and the policy for deciding who to pink slip is questionable.... Read more»
For 22 years I worked for the Tucson Citizen newspaper, and for that experience I am eternally grateful. But today I’ll write about my first and last days at the Citizen, which ended when the press ground to a halt four years ago, May 15, 2009.... Read more»4
I believe I previously shared with you my analogy of the legislature as a middle school. That analogy is particularly apt as we approach approving a budget, as we began to do this morning. The Medicaid restoration has heightened the stakes dramatically this year, so this next couple of weeks are really gonna be something to witness.... Read more»
Recently the very fashionable turned out to bet on their favorites in the Kentucky Derby. But betting on horse races – economic horse races – has been all the rage in legislatures across the country for decades. Unfortunately, legislators are more like problem gamblers than successful high-dollar poker stars.... Read more»
An open letter to Councilmember Romero, Mayor and Council: I am strongly opposed to your proposal to sell or lease the El Rio Golf Course to the private Grand Canyon University. It appears that you and the Mayor and Council are rushing to discuss this drastically different vision for our community during a hastily planed executive session tomorrow.... Read more»3
Many public health experts say the administration deserves credit for increasing access to drug treatment. But others say despite an increase in funding for rehab, the administration has continued to push programs and policies built to punish drug users. As the administration lays out its latest plan on a new approach to drugs, here’s look at what’s in it, and what they’ve done so far.... Read more»1
In the debate over expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income Arizonans, we are being told that the costs for uncompensated care at Arizona hospitals are soaring, making Medicaid expansion necessary to prevent financial disaster from befalling our hospitals. A closer look reveals that this claim is simply untrue.... Read more»
Last week, there was a settlement in the State of Arizona’s case against two Tucson Transportation Department supervisors who misappropriated at least $83,000 in public resources for personal gain. They will each have to pay just $5,000 to the city. This result is a failing by state, rather than city, officials... Read more»
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