Newsmaker New & Views
Feb. 14, 2024
NOTABLE QUOTE
“It may not look like it, but they’re
smarter than we give them credit for.”
~ Sen. Juan Mendez chiding fellow Democrats
Arizona should start thinking more like San Francisco (yes, seriously)
Opinion: Arizona’s extremists are on the right. San Francisco’s are on the left. But political moderates hold the key to throwing both out of power.
New AI-powered doctor’s office allows patients to draw blood, take vitals
Now coming to a mall, gym or office building near you: A self-contained doctor’s office, powered by artificial intelligence, where you — the patient — draw your own blood and take your own vitals.
RELATED: Arizona lawmakers take first steps to legalize psychedelic mushroom use
“It is encouraging to see bi-partisan support to allow the option for psylocibin therapy for our fellow citizens struggling with mental health issues. AZ’s tightly controlled medical marijuana program is a perfect example of how we can responsibly enable alternative treatment options for patients while protecting public safety. With the passage of this bill, AZ can be at the forefront of this emerging mental health revolution.” — Ryan Hurley, Chair Rose Law Group Cannabis Dept.
RELATED: State lawmaker wants to change Arizona law related to drug use and homelessness
The bill would create harsher penalties for drug dealers who deal in drug-free service zones
RELATED: States are introducing 50 AI-related bills per week
Nearly all of the state legislatures currently in session are considering AI-related bills and nearly half of those bills address deepfakes, according to an analysis by software industry group BSA, shared exclusively with Axios.
Arizona Republican’s bill kicks Joe Biden off the ballot if Donald Trump is disqualified
Opinion: This is what happens when governing in Arizona goes from being political theater to just being theater.
GOP campaign arm endorses Kari Lake in “toss-up” Arizona Senate race
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Steve Daines (R-Mont.) has thrown support behind right-wing firebrand Kari Lake in the Arizona Senate race.
RELATED: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) announced Monday that they would be endorsing
RELATED:Kyrsten Sinema is running out of time and money to enter the Senate race
Since quitting the Democratic Party in December 2022, Sinema’s fundraising has plummeted and she is about 20 percentage points behind her challengers in most of the polling on the race.
RELATED: Rep. Gallego, Black business leaders talk challenges in Arizona
How does Arizona vote for presidential nominees? Your questions answered.
Early voting is about to begin for the state’s March 19 presidential preference election, but only Democrats and Republicans can participate.
State officials call for federal funds to protect election systems, workers
The comments by Maricopa County Supervisors Bill Gates and Jack Sellers and Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes came at a National Association of Counties discussion on elections, which Fontes called “the most egregious unfunded mandate in the American political system, or any political system.”
Arizona’s low union membership rate takes another dive
Arizona was one of the least unionized states in the country last year, and its union numbers are on the decline.
‘Fox guarding the henhouse’: Why Hobbs, faculty are wary of regents’ fix for UA’s finances
When Gov. Katie Hobbs came forward last month in an open letter to the Arizona Board of Regents, the body overseeing the state’s public universities, she said change was needed to avoid a “fox guarding the henhouse” situation.
From X
BALLOTS MADE PUBLIC? SB1653, sponsored by Ken Bennett (R-1), would require copies of digital ballot images to be made publicly available online. This was recommended by Cyber Ninjas after their failed ballot review. Other than the obvious privacy concerns, including vigilantism, this may only generate more mistrust in our democracy. Not all ballots can be made public, so there’s no way a random person could replicate the results of an official election count. Part of a continued wave of efforts to restrict and undermine Arizonans’ freedom to vote. Bennett (R-1) introduced the sam bill last year, which Gov. Hobbs vetoed. Scheduled for Senate Elections Committee, Monday and Thursday.
Yellow Sheet
SPLIT OPINIONS AMONG EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNT GROUPS and education stakeholders are already coloring a hearing on a bill scheduled for Senate ED tomorrow requiring private schools accepting ESA funds to disclose and provide services to students with disabilities and issue a tuition refund if they fail to do so. SB1354 (ESAs; children with disabilities; requirements) puts in law a requirement for private schools accepting ESA funds to notify parents of students with disabilities of services offered, requires a school meet the needs of student’s IEP or 504 plan if they have one, gives parents an opportunity to waive services and allows a student to transfer out and obtain a tuition refund if the school fails to meet their needs. The bill, sponsored by Marsh, is one of Hobbs’ proposed accountability measures for the ESA program, and one of two proposals to get a hearing so far. …more:
