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03 February
2010
Here and Now: Former Governor Jane Hull, Art Hamilton
Arizona lawmakers face what is perhaps their most difficult task in the history of the legislature. They must find a way to erase an estimated $4 billion dollar budget deficit over the next 17 months.
And considering lawmakers met in a number of special sessions last year to resolve the state's budget mess without much to show for it, the task at hand will not be easy.
Complicating matters is that this is an election year, where lawmakers are afraid to cast votes that may be used against them in the election. Can you say gridlock?
Before she became Arizona's first elected female Governor, Jane Hull served seven terms in the Arizona House of Representatives including two terms as Speaker of the House in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Art Hamilton served in the Arizona House from 1973 to 1999 - the last 18 years as House Minority Leader.
The two represent an era where legislators may not have agreed on policies, but put aside partisan politics to accomplish the task at hand.
If you don't see your question or comment appear right away, it's because we have to monitor submissions to keep out all those loves spams from pharmaceutical and other websites.
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30 September
2009
Here and Now - New Laws, Health Coverage Cutbacks
Did you hear about the dog that limped into a bar? He jumped up on a barstool and said 'I'm looking for the man who shot my paw.' Okay, that's lame, but walking into a bar and encountering someone holstering a gun may not be for those unaware of a new state law. A.R.S. 4-229 allows gun owners who are registered to carry a concealed weapon to take it into a place that serves liquor. That is, if there is no sign prohibiting it and the gun owner is not drinking alcohol. Which defeats the purpose of going to a bar in the first place. But, I digress.
It's not the only new law that goes into effect Wednesday. We'll go over a list of new laws, including ones that limit abortion.
We'll also find out what happens next to the 10,000 people who will lose health care coverage paid through the state's KidsCare Parents plan. Their policies end Thursday after the state eliminated funding due to the budget deficit.
Your comments and question are welcome!
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01 July
2009
Here and Now - State Budget, Transportation
The broadway musical RENT (which recently came to the valley) features a catchy number that starts like this:
"Five-hundred twenty-five thousand six-hundred minutes..." The refrain ends with the question "How to do you measure, measure a year?"
In legislative terms, as of midnight Sunday, lawmakers have "two-thousand eighty minutes and zero seconds... to approve a budget, a budget to begin the new year." Question is, will they?
And will it be enough to pay the RENT?
If Here and Now is starting to sound like a record that's skipping--playing the same song over and over--I apologize. There are plenty of other important topics to discuss. Just one problem. Nothing compares to the historic almost $4-BILLION budget deficit the state faces. And solving it is proving to be as elusive as finding DB Cooper and all the money he had with him when he jumped from a jet into the northwest wilderness.
Okay, I digress. But the point is, we know there are plenty of important topics to get to, but first we must make sense of what's going on a 1700 Washington west of downtown Phoenix.
That being said, one of the important topics we plan to discuss is transportation--buses, light rail, cars, roads, interstates, airplanes, etc. Fares for mass transit goes up Wednesday. And guess what? Revenues for expanding light rail and bus service is not going up. It's going down. Meaning there are fewer tax dollars to pay for it.
And not just mass transit, but for building roads, highways, freeways, and the like. Less driving is one option, (right?) but another is to speak the unspeakable word at the capitol. So I will spell it slow as not to cause such a fuss. Ready? T-a-x-es! Anyone shooting yet? The bottom line. If we want our roads and interstates, then we have to pay for them somehow. And even those in the transportation industry think one fair way is to tax gas more, so those guys driving tricked out 4X4 trucks, will have something else they'll have to compensate for.
So, we plan to talk budget (again) and visit an issue important to everyone --transportation. Have a comment, question, or clever retort? Please submit it! We do have to moderate comments to keep those darn spammers from filling up our pages with their stupid pharmaceuticals and the like. So, if you don't see your comment, right away, no worries, it will be up soon. Thanks! Paul
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17 June
2009
Here and Now: Budget Update; Ballot Props Re-vote; Arts Fundraising
Governor Brewer has had enough. She let lawmakers go through their normal course of developing a budget, but after a legislative leader walked out of budget negotiations, the Governor is taking a different tack. Brewer filed a special action lawsuit Tuesday to force legislative leaders to send her the budget bills lawmakers passed. Some capitol observers may joke that it's the latest move in a game of chicken, but its no laughing matter to the thousands of Arizonans who rely on state government for some kind of help and the tens of thousands of workers who draw a paycheck from the state.
Here and Now will examine the latest news concerning the state budget impasse.
Former Senate President and current Secretary of State Ken Bennett will discuss the idea of putting voter approved initiatives back on the ballot with Mark Osterloh, MD. The idea is for voters to re-approve ballot initiatives passed between 1998 and 2004 that require state spending but did not contain a dedicated funding source, other than the state general fund. Dr. Osterloh spearheaded an initiative that expanded state sponsored healthcare for thousands of Arizonans.
Finally, myartscommunity.org
was an attempt to solicate donations to help valley arts and culture organizations survive the recession. It ended up costing more than what it took to fund the initiative. Here and Now looks at the impact the down economy is having on performing arts, museums and the like, and how people can help.
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04 February
2009
Here and Now - Budget Cuts and Photo Radar
Governor Brewer had to postpone her appearance until next week. So, we're simply swapping shows.
The main focus will be photo radar. Our goal is to inform listeners about the pros and cons from an informed perspective. Let us know what you think of the state's new speed camera program.
We'll also go over some of the significant budget cuts and fund sweeps contained in the budget revision that lawmakers passed and Governor Brewer signed. Plus, we'll highlight budget cuts the Phoenix City Council is scheduled to make Wednesday night.
For those of you who posted comments for Governor Brewer. We will keep them for next week.
Thanks!
Paul
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25 June
2008
Arizona Capitol Policy and Politics
Some political analysts have described this as legislative session as one of the most difficult ever because lawmakers have had to deal not with just one budget shortfall, but two. Oh, then there's the 1200 or so bills put in the hopper. GOP political analyst and former lawmaker Stan Barns and Democratic analyst Barry Dill discuss the policy and politics of the second regular session of the 48th legislature. Have a comment or question? Jot it down below.
If you don't see your comment right away, it's because we have to screen comments to prevent unwanted SPAM from dirtying up our website (Not that politics doesn't do that already).
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09 January
2008
Here and Now - Legislative Preview
Lawmakers have their hands full. First up. Solving a billion dollar budget shortfall. Next. Paring next year's budget by more than a half billion dollars. Oh, and then there's a host of immigration related bills, including tweaks to the employer sanctions law. And did you know it's election year, meaning lawmakers will try to pass bills that make them look tough, kind, financially prudent, etc. Have a question, comment or concern about the upcoming legislative session. Post it below!
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27 June
2007
Here and Now - Legislative Wrap Up
We send them to the state's capitol to represent us when it comes to crafting new laws and setting a new state budget. This year, members of the 48th legislature tackled a number of significant issues. They increased penalties for drunk driving, developed a two-strikes and you're out law for businesses that hire illegal immigrants, and along the way managed to increase money for teacher pay, new roads/freeways and investments in bioscience. Here and Now looks at what lawmakers were able to do, and what they weren't. What do you think about the legislative session? Post your comment or question below!
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30 May
2007
Legislative Update; Fire Season Preview
Both the Arizona House and Senate have passed budgets. Now members of both chambers meet to hammer out the differences. Here and Now looks at budget negotiations and remaining bills lawmakers want to address before concluding their legislative session. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to wildfire season. Here and Now will look at what kind of season fire officials expect the summer of 2007 to be. The show will also look at the state's preparedness and what individuals need to do to prevent human caused fires. Your comments and questions are welcome!
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21 March
2007
Here and Now - The State Legislature
This Wednesday, March 21st on Here and Now from 11:00 am till Noon, we turn our attention to the state legislature. We'll find out how the new state budget is shaping up. We'll also look at what's being done to build more roads and freeways in addition to tackling the issue of illegal immigration.
That's this Wednesday on Here and Now. To ask a question during the show, call 480-774-8200 or you can post a question ahead of time by clicking on the "Comments" link below.
