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Benjamin Barr

0-Federalism
Muddy Waters: Deconstructing the Clean Water Act in Arizona

Arizona faces an environmental challenge: take responsibility for its own environmental management or cede authority to the federal government. For some time, there has been a decided preference for the latter. With that acquiescence come substantial problems for the state. This study examines one such problem: the heavy-handed regulation of water in one of the nations driest states.

0-Federalism
Arizona’s Struggle for Sovereignty: The Consequences of Federal Mandates

​Arizona is awash in federal money. In fiscal year (FY) 2007, Arizona received close to $8.5 billion in federal funds. This money funds programs that most Arizonans are familiar with, such as Medicaid and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Even though the inflow of federal dollars appears attractive, there is a catch: As federal dollars flow in, state dollars are fixed to ever-growing demands connected to these programs. In 2000, the State of Arizona used general funds at close to $463 million for Medicaid alone. By 2005, that figure had risen to $914 million, and it is projected to grow to $1.3 billion in FY 2008.

Free Speech
Look Who’s Talking Now

State-sponsored messages on license plates raise constitutional questions

0-Related Reforms
Rediscovering the ACC’s Roots: Returning to the Original Purpose of the Arizona Corporation Commission

The Arizona Corporation Commission was established through the state constitution to regulate corporations, public utilities, securities, and other investments. But in an unprecedented move, the Arizona Corporation Commission sought to single-handedly determine alternative energy policy in Arizona with a bold and unconstitutional energy mandate in 2006. This mandate forced energy producers to embrace state-favored alternatives instead of deciding for themselves which options are most attractive in Arizona.

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