The Veridus Weekly

In Focus

Of the many, many shake-ups Nov. 8 brought us, one of the most significant happened locally when Maricopa County voters ousted Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Sheriff Paul Penzone, a Democrat, has wasted no time undoing the work of his predecessor as he takes the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in a new direction. Policy changes over the past five months include:

• Putting an end to “courtesy holds” - the practice of detaining suspected illegal immigrants 48 hours past their release date in order to give federal authorities more time to launch deportation proceedings;
• Ditching the infamous pink boxers, pink towels and pink sheets given to inmates;
• Reducing the use of “chain gangs” (fun fact: Sheriff Joe started the first and only all-female chain gang in U.S. history);
• Discontinuing round-ups and raids of individuals suspected of being in the country illegally;
• And, in perhaps the highest-profile policy shift, announcing Tent City will be closed after nearly 25 years in operation. Originally billed as a cost-effective solution to overcrowded jails, Tent City quickly became a signature of Arpaio’s tenure.

While the MCSO overhaul wasn’t unexpected, what’s less clear is how the changes enacted by Penzone will fare politically.

Love him or hate him, there’s no denying “Sheriff Joe” (“America’s Toughest Sheriff”®) was a popular figure who remains an icon to a large number of voters. He rode his tough-on-crime schtick to 6 successful re-election campaigns, after all.

The question now is whether Arpaio’s policies had become unpopular - or just the man himself. If it’s the latter, Penzone may pay a political price in 2020 for his MCSO Extreme Makeover.

Senate confirms Gorsuch to Supreme Court

Republicans triggered the ‘nuclear option’ a day before to kill the filibuster for high court nominees.

Politico

The Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court Friday, after a bitter partisan clash that culminated with Republicans unilaterally eliminating the 60-vote filibuster for high court nominees.

The 54-45 vote came 24 hours after a tense series of votes in which Democrats filibustered Gorsuch and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell invoked the “nuclear option” to allow confirmation of Supreme Court nominees with a simple majority. Three Democrats joined every Republican in supporting the conservative judge from the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

[...] Gorsuch, who’s expected to be sworn in as soon as Monday, will bring the Supreme Court to its full complement of nine justices for the first time since the February 2016 death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

[...] Read more HERE

Governor Ducey Signs Bill Guaranteeing Right To Earn A Living

News Release April 5, 2017

PHOENIX – Governor Doug Ducey today signed legislation to expand economic freedom by guaranteeing Arizonans the right to earn a living. Senate Bill 1437 empowers individuals to challenge in court unfair licensing requirements that limit competition and create unnecessary barriers to work.

“The opportunity to earn a living and pursue the American dream is a right promised to every citizen,” said Governor Ducey. “But too often, government stands in the way, imposing unnecessary barriers meant only to serve entrenched interests. Today’s bill is a positive step toward ending that unfair practice. As I’ve said before, professional licensing exists for one purpose and one purpose only – to keep the public safe. We need real root and branch reform of boards and commissions that stifle economic opportunity and keep individuals from achieving their full potential. I look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature to achieve that goal.”

Last week, Governor Ducey signed an executive order requiring regulatory boards to justify barriers that make it harder for Arizonans to find, keep, and create jobs.

Read the executive order HERE

Read more HERE.

City of Phoenix Honored as a Pacesetter for Early Literacy Work

The city of Phoenix is being honored as a Pacesetter by the Grade-Level Reading (GLR) campaign for its exemplary work in eliminating barriers faced by low-income family children on their path to becoming proficient readers.

"The future of our city and our economy is directly tied to the success of these children," said Mayor Greg Stanton. "We have a duty and a moral obligation to do all we can as a city and as a community to make sure our children learn how to read."

The Read On Phoenix initiative was recognized in the following areas:

• Identifying most proven and promising literacy strategies, programs and practices.
• Supporting parent success and addressing the health determinants of early school success.
• Driving with data to establish baselines, set targets, track progress and ensure shared accountability.
• Building cross-sector collaboration, community-wide mobilization and a coalition of local funders committed to achieving the result.
• Prioritizing children and families in public housing and reaching those children who are especially vulnerable.
• Utilizing technology to expand reach, mobilize constituencies and improve service delivery.

"This recognition shows the commitment that the city of Phoenix has in creating lasting partnerships to address critical learning gaps among our most vulnerable youth and see to it that they succeed," said Vice Mayor Laura Pastor, District 4.  "Through our efforts, we can truly be a shining example of how to move the needle and increase access to the best education and jobs possible, and a brighter future for everyone."

Reading proficiency by the end of third grade is a critical milestone toward high school graduation and career success because it marks the transition from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." National tests show that two-thirds of U.S. fourth graders (four-fifths of whom are from low-income families) are not reading proficiently. Students who have not mastered reading by that time are more likely to drop out of high school and struggle throughout their lives.

Read more HERE.

Veridus clients in the news
April 05, 2017 05:21 PM

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced today its selection of Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) as a 2017 Legislator of the Year. Congresswoman Sinema will receive the award in conjunction with BIO’s Legislative Day Fly-In.

“Arizona is home to some of the best innovators who work every day to create life-changing, life-saving technology,” said Congresswoman Sinema. “I am honored to earn BIO's Legislator of the Year award and will continue working with Arizona's bioscience industries to support innovation, create good jobs, and grow our economy.”

“Congresswoman Sinema has been a stalwart advocate for sound public policy that advances the jobs creating potential of America’s biotechnology industry. She has distinguished herself through leadership on critically important issues, including the JOBS Act and introduction of the Fostering Innovation Act," said BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood. “Her commitment to support the needs of America’s innovative emerging companies, allows small life science companies the opportunity to focus on what matters – delivering life-saving and life-enhancing products – rather than on excessive reporting requirements.”

“The life science industry in Arizona delivers an enormous economic impact and provides jobs, both directly and indirectly, to over 124,000 Arizonans. Congresswoman Sinema recognizes the tremendous economic and societal benefits this industry produces and has distinguished herself as a leader for national policy that ultimately benefits people everywhere. We thank the Congresswoman for her outstanding leadership in Arizona and throughout our country," said Arizona BioIndustry Association President & CEO Joan Koerber-Walker.

[...] Read more HERE.
April 05, 2017 07:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tucson Electric Power (TEP) will satisfy customers’ future energy needs by investing in efficient, innovative technologies, expanding renewable energy and exploring new ways to reduce reliance on coal-fired generating resources.

TEP’s long-term strategy to build a more responsive, sustainable resource portfolio is described in its 2017 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) filed this week with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). The plan describes TEP’s current resource portfolio, projects future energy needs, and outlines strategies the company will use to meet customers’ energy requirements over the next 15 years.

[...] TEP will continue to diversify its generation portfolio by expanding solar and wind generation with a goal of delivering at least 30 percent of its power from renewable resources by 2030 – twice the level required by 2025 under Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard.

[...] Read more HERE.

CVS Health Foundation Awards over $1 Million in Grants to Improve Americans' Access to Quality Health Care

WOONSOCKET, R.I., April 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The CVS Health Foundation today announced more than $1 million in grants to 33 Free and Charitable Clinics as part of a multi-year grant program with the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC). Over the past four years, the Foundation has donated nearly $5 million to NAFC to increase access to quality care and support the management of chronic disease.

"As a pharmacy innovation company, we are committed to helping people on their path to better health in the communities where we live and work," said Eileen Howard Boone, president of the CVS Health Foundation. "Our support for the National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics has yielded significant results over the past four years that demonstrate how increased access to quality care and innovative approaches to chronic disease management can affect the lives of the most vulnerable Americans."

New results released today by the CVS Health Foundation demonstrate how the support of previous grant recipients is making a meaningful impact on their goals of improving care coordination, managing chronic conditions and increasing access to care. Critical results from the past year include:

• SLO Noor Foundation (San Luis Obispo, CA) offered one extra day of services per week, providing care to an additional 241 patients that would otherwise not have been able to receive such necessary care in 2016.
• Through their smoking cessation classes, 70% of participants at the Miami Rescue Mission (Miami, FL) reported either quitting or significantly cutting back the use of tobacco.
• Good News Clinics (Gainesville, GA) recruited 22 additional physicians to expand availability of services for Health Access patients surpassing their goal of 10 and thereby lessening the wait time for patients requiring specialty care.

"The NAFC is extremely grateful for the support our members receive from the CVS Health Foundation and their recognition of the life saving work Free and Charitable Clinics provide to the medically underserved throughout this country," said Nicole Lamoureux, NAFC CEO. "Their unwavering commitment and investment over the years has allowed our Free and Charitable Clinics to expand health care access, coordinate health care efforts and build healthier communities."

Read more HERE.
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