Over the past several months I’ve spent a fair amount of time with governors from both parties. The advice from all of them has been consistent: “No matter what, get your state’s budget balanced first. Once that’s accomplished then you can tackle everything else.” Working with the Arizona Legislature we did that this week, passing a budget that puts us … Read More
Arizona Democrats Have A New Slogan: You’re Too Dumb
A Philosophy Enshrined In Opposition To Financial, School & Healthcare Choice Prospective 2016 GOP nominees for President get asked it a lot. What does your party stand for? Ronald Reagan Redux. Freedom. American exceptionalism. Liberty. Those are a few of the familiar refrains. It’s not quite clear what Hillary Clinton and the Democrats stand for. But here in Arizona it … Read More
Big Announcement
Governor Scott Walker will sign legislation to make Wisconsin a “Right to Work” state, prohibiting employees from being forced to join a union against their will. It’s the right thing to do for job creators and employees alike. But you know how it is: It threatens the power the Big Government Labor Bosses crave and they are going to come … Read More
Feingold's back
Friend – Democrat Russ Feingold was in the United States Senate for eighteen years before I defeated him in 2010. A “creature of Washington,” he compiled a voting record that had him joining the ranks of Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barbara Boxer, and Hillary Clinton as the #1 liberal in the nation. Feingold has now quit his job in the … Read More
More Teachers? Better Education? Not if Mayor Stanton gets his way
By Sal DiCiccio 4551 new teachers for Phoenix… that is how many NEW teachers we could hire for the cost of just one new mile of rail. Mayor Stanton and others are pushing a new $30 billion tax and spend proposal for transit costing $209 million per mile to build and operate. Make no mistake about it, every penny taken … Read More
A Better Fate For South Scottsdale
Since the closing of Los Arcos Mall some 15 years ago and a number of automobile dealerships more recently, Scottsdale’s primary political sport has been hand wringing about the future of McDowell Road. An arena for the Phoenix Coyotes, SkySong, large new apartment projects, light rail, a New York City-like “High-Line” trail. There has been no shortage of ideas big … Read More
COGS Membership letter request
Dear Friends: For those of you who are concerned about Scottsdale’s future and the direction it has been moving (or not moving) over the last few years, I offer you a way to keep in touch and up-to-date on what is going on in Scottsdale. For you Clint Eastwood fans, discover “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.” Please take … Read More
Real Tax Reform
By Scottsdale City Councilman David Smith Dear Friends… This Tuesday evening, February 24, the Scottsdale City council will debate the first real tax reform in recent memory. A workshop has been scheduled to discuss the proposal I made last month to eliminate the sales tax imposed on retail sales of food for home consumption. Scottsdale’s food tax collections amount to $11 million … Read More
From Sal DiCiccio Buyer Beware. Phoenix wants to raise your taxes…..again
Over $209 million per mile to build and operate. Yes, that’s the cost to build and operate one mile of the new train system being proposed to the Mayor and Council. I’m guessing you didn’t know this was being pushed forward by the bureaucrats and politicians. This is being proposed for the Phoenix ballot this year and will be sold to … Read More
Democratic Hypocrisy: Mesnard Right. McCune Davis Wrong.
Republicans are evil. Single handedly they are responsible for squeezing the middle class. This is the constant Democratic Party refrain. Except in Arizona, apparently. Here, the donkeys are skewering the middle class via their opposition to HB 2611. On this issue they are being led by nanny state sycophant Debbie McCune Davis. Once upon a time she led a proper … Read More