The Veridus Weekly

In Focus

Call it the DeWit Domino.

Jeff DeWit, that is. The near-term political future of Arizona’s State Treasurer has significant implications for the 2018 elections.

Consider: If DeWit opts to join the Trump administration, the Treasurer’s Office would become subject to an appointment by Governor Doug Ducey. GOP Corporation Commissioner Tom Forese has been open about his interest in the Treasurer’s post. State Sen. Kimberly Yee (R-Phoenix) - a former senior staffer from the Treasurer’s Office - is also said to be eyeing the position, either via appointment or election next year.

If DeWit chooses, instead, to challenge U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake in the GOP Primary next year, multiple other dominos may fall. In that scenario, speculation abounds that Democratic Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (CD-9) would jump into the senatorial race in anticipation of facing DeWit in the Fall. The promise of an open congressional seat in a Democrat-friendly, metro-Phoenix district may then draw the interest of legions on the Left - especially, term-limited Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell, Tempe Councilman David Schapira and former state Rep. Eric Meyer, among others.

Of course, any and all of these announcements would have significant implications of their own among state and local officeholders of both political parties.

But, with apologies to The Clash, it all boils down to Treasurer DeWit and a simple question: Does he stay or does he go?


Democrat David Garcia challenging Doug Ducey for Arizona governor

The Arizona Republic

Democrat David Garcia, an education-leadership professor, announced his candidacy for governor on Wednesday, saying Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is systematically destroying public education in Arizona.

Garcia, 47, narrowly lost a 2014 bid for state superintendent of public instruction, and was expected to try to unseat Republican Diane Douglas in a rematch.

But Garcia shifted gears late last week, after watching Ducey and the Republican-controlled Legislature push through an expansion of the state’s controversial school-voucher program. As governor, Garcia said Wednesday, he would more directly influence the state’s future on public education.

He made the announcement at the state Capitol with his wife and two daughters by his side, and with cheers from supporters who included public-school teachers, parents, Democratic lawmakers, and others. Some held signs that read, "Educators for David Garcia," "Time to Dump Ducey!," and "A governor for all the people not just the rich."

[...] At least one other Democrat may jump into the race: Sen. Steve Farley of Tucson. Already, another Democrat unknown to practically anyone — Noah Dyer — has announced his candidacy.

Ducey, who rose from the treasurer’s post to the Governor’s Office in 2014, is raising money but has not yet formally kicked off his re-election effort. The governor will have considerable financial backing from the Republican establishment, industry groups such as the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and — if history shows — from “dark money” groups that do not have to report the source of their funding.

Garcia is widely seen as a candidate who can rival Ducey on education policy, but it is unclear if he can draw financial backing to match Ducey. Garcia said it will be difficult to match the money that Ducey undoubtedly will receive, but he said he will rely on in-state donors rather than out-of state "special interests," a reference to the out-of-state groups that helped Ducey win during the 2014 election.

And, in a red-leaning state, Garcia will have to win over a fair number of independents and moderate Republicans who may be unimpressed with Ducey's performance.

[...] Garcia was born and raised in Mesa and has lived in central Phoenix for two decades. He formerly worked as the associate superintendent for assessments and accountability at the state Department of Education.

[...] Read more HERE.

Uncertainty Persists About Future Of Arizona ACA Marketplace

KJZZ

Uncertainty persists in Arizona about the future of the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace.

After the U.S. House failed to pass the GOP’s replacement for the ACA, President Donald Trump said marketplaces would "implode," citing triple-digit premium increases in places like Arizona. While the majority of people did not feel that because of subsidies, it’s still unclear whether insurers will come back to the individual marketplace given the new administration's stance on the health-care law.

Last year, nearly every county in the state had only one carrier.

Andy Slavitt was director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Obama administration.

Slavitt said Trump can ensure Arizona again has a robust marketplace if he so chooses.

[...] Slavitt said the administration needs to work with insurers so they offer plans, enforce the individual mandate and commit to outreach efforts.

When asked what could happen if there are no insurers in the marketplace, Slavitt responded: "There's absolutely no reason for that to happen."

Read more HERE.

Sessions outlines immigration plan during border visit

Arizona Capitol Times

Attorney General Jeff Sessions toured the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday and unveiled what he described as a new get-tough approach to immigration prosecutions under President Donald Trump.

The nation’s top law enforcement official outlined a series of changes that he said mark the start of a new push to rid American cities and the border of what he described as “filth” brought on by drug cartels and criminal organizations.

The tour included visiting a port of entry, where Sessions exited an SUV in a white shirt and baseball cap before entering a restricted area.

Sessions has been steadily expanding the Justice Department’s role in the anti-immigration agenda of the Trump administration, but the border trip offered the most comprehensive look yet at his plans.

During his visit, he urged federal prosecutors to intensify their focus on immigration crimes such as illegal border crossing or smuggling others into the U.S.

[...] Following the border tour, Sessions spoke to officials at an International Association of Chiefs of Police conference outside Phoenix. He’ll also speak with service members at Luke Air Force Base near Phoenix.

Sessions’ immigration plans have long been foreshadowed. Even as it plans to cut the Justice Department’s budget by more than $1 billion, the Trump administration wants hundreds of millions of dollars to hire 60 federal prosecutors and 40 deputy U.S. marshals to focus on border cases.

It also wants to boost immigration courts by $80 million to pay for 75 additional teams of judges. That would speed up removal proceedings for people in the United States illegally and address a backlog of more than 540,000 pending cases. The proposal also calls for adding $1.5 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s budget to find, detain and deport immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, along with more than $300 million to hire 500 new Border Patrol agents and 1,000 immigration agents.

Read more HERE.

 

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