Category Archives: Special Interest Legislation

The Failure of Ideologically-Driven Public Policies: Minnesota vs. Arizona — Podcast January 11, 2016

Posted on January 13, 2016 by William Timberman

Red States and Blue States: Ideology vs. Service to the People. Democratic Perspective looks at why the ideological preoccupations of the Republican right have proven so disastrous for the people who live in red states. Mike Cosentino and Gary LaMaster compare unemployment, wealth distribution, health … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Federalism, Arizona Budget, Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Democratic Governance, Economic Policy, Education Policy, Federal Lands, Government, Income Inequality, Jobs and Employment, Movement Conservatism, Podcasts, Political Theory, Private Prisons, Public Education, Public Lands, Public Policy, Special Interest Legislation, States' Rights, Tax Law, Taxation, Unemployment, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Failure of Ideologically-Driven Public Policies: Minnesota vs. Arizona — Podcast January 11, 2016

Sandy Bahr Interview — Podcast November 2, 2015

Posted on November 5, 2015 by William Timberman

Conservation vs. Development: Follow the Money. Democratic Perspective welcomes Sandy Bahr, Director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter back the program for a discussion of the threat posed by an alliance of mining interests, anti-government oligarchs, and tea-party libertarianism to natural resource and wilderness conservation in Arizona. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Environment, Interviews, Podcasts, Special Interest Legislation, Sustainable Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Sandy Bahr Interview — Podcast November 2, 2015

Jan Nichols Interview — Podcast September 21, 2015

Posted on September 23, 2015 by William Timberman

Feeding at the Public Trough: The Sleazy Economics of Charter School Scams and Ripoffs. Jan Nichols, Arizona native, retired Phoenix teacher, and education activist, joins Democratic Perspective hosts Mike Cosentino and Gary LaMaster for a discussion of charter school funding abuses — discover how … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Corruption, Education, Education Policy, Interviews, Podcasts, Privatization, Public Education, Special Interest Legislation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Jan Nichols Interview — Podcast September 21, 2015

The Arizona Legislative Lunacy Report: Spring 2015 Edition — Podcast April 30, 2015

Posted on April 1, 2015 by William Timberman

The March of Ideology and Incompetence Continues in Phoenix: Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino and Gary LaMaster take a detailed look at the Arizona Republic’s recently published docket of bills pending in the Legislature. Listen as our intrepid analysts subject the moderately acceptable, the irredeemably awful, and the crazy ugly to the test … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-Federalism, Arizona Budget, Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Budget Negotiations, Campaign Finance, Child Protection, Citizens United, Constitutional Issues, Corporate Welfare, Corruption, Dark Money, Education, Education Policy, Elections, Federal Lands, Firearms Legislation, Fiscal Policy, Gun Control, Immigration, Industrial Policy, Nullification, Podcasts, Political Contributions, Public Education, Regulatory Agencies, Special Interest Legislation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Arizona Legislative Lunacy Report: Spring 2015 Edition — Podcast April 30, 2015

Terry Goddard Interview — Podcast March 2, 2015

Posted on March 6, 2015 by William Timberman

Dark Money: How Industrialized Lying Poisons the Well of Democracy. Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino and Gary LaMaster welcome Terry Goddard, former Mayor of Phoenix, Attorney General of Arizona, and twice Democratic Party candidate for Governor, to another in our series of discussions on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Politics, Citizens United, Constitutional Issues, Corruption, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Government, Interviews, Media Campaigns, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Propaganda, Special Interest Legislation, Supreme Court | Tagged | Comments Off on Terry Goddard Interview — Podcast March 2, 2015

Dark Money: Did Pinnacle West Buy Itself a More Favorable Regulatory Environment? — Podcast November 10, 2014

Posted on November 12, 2014 by William Timberman

Arizona Public Service, Pinnacle West, and the Arizona Elections: A Case Study in the Influence of Dark Money. Democratic Perspective’s Gary LaMaster and Steve Williamson take on the effect of dark money in the recent Arizona elections. How a private corporation, operating a monopoly public utility, … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Citizens United, Elections, Energy Policy, Environmental Issues, Global Warming, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Regulatory Agencies, Renewable Energy, Special Interest Legislation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Dark Money: Did Pinnacle West Buy Itself a More Favorable Regulatory Environment? — Podcast November 10, 2014

The Influence of Wealth on Public Policy — Podcast April 28, 2014

Posted on May 1, 2014 by William Timberman

Yes, the Rich Really Do Run the United States: Are You Surprised? Democratic Perspective’s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, and Steve Williamson discuss the implications of several recent studies on the influence of concentrated wealth on public policy making, including the very influential … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Economy, Campaign Finance, Capitalism, Class Conflict, Dark Money, Democratic Governance, Elections, Government, Income Inequality, Minimum Wage, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Contributions, Political Theory, Special Interest Legislation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The Influence of Wealth on Public Policy — Podcast April 28, 2014

The Crisis in Public Education, Arizona Edition — Podcast March 24, 2014

Posted on March 25, 2014 by William Timberman

You Get What You Pay For: the Consequences of Underfunding Public Education in Arizona. Democratic Perspective’s co-hosts, Mike Cosentino and Steve Williamson, are joined by DP producer Gary LaMaster, for an update on the Yavapai College controversy, and a discussion of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Budget, Arizona Economy, Arizona Politics, Citizens United, Continuing Education, Democratic Governance, Education, Education Policy, Jobs and Employment, Podcasts, Privatization, Public Education, Public Policy, Special Interest Legislation, Tax Revenues, Taxation | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Crisis in Public Education, Arizona Edition — Podcast March 24, 2014

Carolyn Warner Interview — Podcast January 27, 2014

Posted on January 29, 2014 by William Timberman

Carolyn Warner: Politics and the Future. Carolyn Warner has had a long and distinguished career in Arizona Democratic Party politics. She served three terms as Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, ran for the U.S. Senate 1976,  was the Democratic nominee for … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona Economy, Arizona History, Arizona Politics, Campaign Finance, Education Policy, Interviews, National Politics, Podcasts, Political Action Committees, Political Contributions, Political Polarization, Special Interest Legislation, Women's Issues, Women's Rights | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Carolyn Warner Interview — Podcast January 27, 2014

2013 Year in Review — Podcast December 30, 2013

Posted on January 1, 2014 by William Timberman

2013: What the Mainstream Media Did and Didn’t Tell Us. Democratic Perspective‘s Mike Cosentino, Gary LaMaster, Dick Searle, and  Steve Williamson look at the major stories of 2013 that were underreported or misreported by our major media. https://verdevalleyindependentdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/DemPerspective-12-30-13.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change, Democratic Governance, Disinformation, Energy Policy, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Genetically Modified Organisms, Global Warming, GMOs, Government, Journalism, Mass Media, Podcasts, Renewable Energy, Special Interest Legislation, Surveillance Programs, Tobacco | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on 2013 Year in Review — Podcast December 30, 2013