In The Aggregate - Arizona's political blogs » Legislature

Consultant Legislators: A conflict of interest?

Rand McPherson — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:18:03 +0000

In the most general of terms, a conflict of interest is “a set of circumstances that creates a risk that professional judgment or actions regarding a primary interest will be unduly influenced by a secondary interest.” In Arizona, there really are no rules governing legislative conflict of interest statutes. Essentially, as long as at least [...]

AZ Illustrated Politics: State Lawmakers Talk Medicaid Expansion, Election Reform, More

AZ News — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:45:08 +0000

Read (watch) more here.

Republican state Rep. Ethan Orr and Democratic state Rep. Victoria Steele (both of Tucson’s District 9) stopped by AZ Illustrated Politics to bring viewers up to speed on the legislative session. Arizona Capitol Times reporter Hank Stephenson joined the panel to discuss Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to expand Medicaid to 133 percent of the federal poverty level, as well as the latest on the state budget, election reform bills and other legislation of ...

GUEST OPINION: Should Arizona expand Medicaid program? No

Jane Orient — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 10:00:32 +0000

NO, IT COULD END UP COSTING MORE THAN THE HYPOTHETICAL BENEFITS

Extravagant claims are made about the benefits of expanding the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state’s Medicaid program for lower-income residents.

But where is the evidence?

Arizona will purportedly get 15,000 new jobs. Really? Will some businesses please come forward and announce that once AHCCCS is expanded, they will put out “Hiring Now” signs? What kind of jobs, exactly? More people providing health care? It is asserted that care ...

Steve Kozachik–Hypocrite of the Year? Updated, he endorses misogyny too!

Ro Chambeau — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 06:06:41 +0000

We know it’s barely mid October but a clear leader is emerging in Gila Courier’s Hypocrite of the Year competition: Tucson City Councilman Steve Kozachik. Steve was featured on Arizona Illustrated, a taxpayer funded program filmed on his employer’s taxpayer funded campus, shot with taxpayer funded cameras and broadcast on taxpayer funded transmission equipment, on a taxpayer funded network broadcast over [...]

The Star’s omelet problem, Hershberger’s bully problem

Ro Chambeau — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 21:16:07 +0000

If you want to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs, unless you are a Republican–then the Daily Star comes after you. Thursday in the Arizona Daily Star, Tim Steller wrote a hit piece on state Senator Frank Antenori, which weakly tried to portray an “exodus” of Republican support for Antenori. Antenori is the Senate [...]