Debbie Lesko | Tucson Progressive

Category Archives: Debbie Lesko

Prop 122 & Backers Ducey & Brnovich Are Too Extreme for Arizona

Brought to you by the Goldwater Institute and the Koch Brothers, Proposition 122 is the worst idea since the Civil War, and true to form with other Koch Brothers initiatives, … Continue reading →

October 13, 2014 · 1 Comment

A Truly ‘Christian’ Nation Would NOT Deport Refugees (video)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, … Continue reading →

July 8, 2014 · 5 Comments

Tobin & Other AZ Republicans: 82 ALEC-Funded Trips Since 2011

From Progress Now Arizona… The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has spent at least $41,000 over the past three years hosting Arizona legislators on lavish out-of-state policy retreats – including … Continue reading →

April 29, 2014

Hidden-Camera Investigation Shows ALEC Wining & Dining Arizona Politicians (video)

A Phoenix television station’s “Candid Camera” catches Arizona Republicans eating $70 steaks and drinking bourbon while schmoozing with ALEC lobbyists. Check out the TV news video here and listen to Arizona … Continue reading →

March 26, 2014 · 3 Comments

Financial Reports: Cathi Herrod & Center for Arizona Policy Give AZ Lege More than Ideas

The nationwide outrage generated by highly discriminatory SB1062 shined a harsh light on the Arizona Legislature and on the bill’s creator– lobbyist Cathi Herrod and her non-profit political group, the … Continue reading →

March 3, 2014 · 3 Comments

Farnsworth, Kavanagh, & Lesko Are Among 17 AZ Legislators Courted by ALEC

At least 17 Arizona state legislators attended a lavish recruitment dinner on Tuesday for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an out-of-state right-wing corporate bill mill that wields a heavy influence in … Continue reading →

February 26, 2014 · 1 Comment

Protesting cuts to education

A giant poet’s head made up of stainless steel letters marks the stop near the UA Poetry Center.

In the 1980s, the Tucson Weekly called Tucson the “Baked Apple”.

Arizonans for New Economy co-directors Jim Hannley and Pamela Powers Hannley with UA Tech Park VP Bruce Wright.

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley with Red For Ed

Giving the LD9 update at the June meeting. What a great crowd!

Occupy encampment in Armory Park– before it was cleared out in the middle of the night by Tucson Police.

This is a broken sink in the Ladies’ Room at the Arizona State Building in downtown Tucson. One of the elevators also was broken. It’s time to fix Arizona government.

Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley with members of the Tucson Chapter of NOW on opening day at the Arizona Legislature, 2018.

PDA Tucson Coordinator Jim Hannley speaks against both the crowd management ordinance and the urban camping ban at the City Council meeting.

It was truly a honor to meet Nevada State Senator Patricia Spearman (center) in October and to confer with her regarding our efforts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in Arizona. Spearman led the successful Nevada efforts to ratify the ERA in 2017. Here we are with activist and NOW leader Dainne Post after the ERA workshop at the We the People Conference in Phoenix. There are a lot of Arizona women who are ready to make history in 2018. Watch my blog here and my Facebook page here for ERA updates.

Governor Ducey had proposed increasing prison beds and funding, while cutting education. Protesters took issue with that short-sighted idea.

We are the 99%.

Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales and I were interviewed by NBC at the Phoenix rally.

Protesting migrant deaths in the Arizona desert.

Jobs with Justice marching with Occupy Tucson in support of postal workers.

The Living Economy event was very informative; we had a great time hob-nobbing. My husband Jim is a small business owner and a member of Local First Arizona. I have owned two small businesses in the past– Powers/Queen Associates and Wind Dancer Design. We support Local First Arizona and buying/investing locally. We believe that supporting local small businesses with low-interest loans through a public/private partnership between a public bank and community banks and credit unions is the sustainable route to improving our local economy. Trickle down economics doesn’t work; it’s time for new ideas.

A homeless man sleeps in the shadow of corporate America.

PDA members, including Advisory Board Chair Mimi Kennedy, protested food stamp cuts in front of Congressman Henry Waxman’s office.

Congressman Ron Barber and Pamela Powers Hannley at Cyclovia

We often hear that corporations need migrant workers because Americans “don’t want to do these jobs.” When I hear this statement, I picture farm workers picking vegetables. Recently, I toured two dairies and an animal feed packing plant in Pinal County. The photo above from the Zinke Dairy shows a giant cow milking carousel. Nine migrant workers milk 4000 cows three times a day at this dairy. Legislators watched the two men pictured here– working at a brisk pace– bend over and pick up, lift, and attach large electronic suction cups to the cows as they ride the carousel around the giant facility. This level of automation is the wave of the future for industrial jobs.

#RedForEd teachers and supporters in the Arizona House Gallery, 2018.

Pamela Powers Hannley, Progressive Democrat for Arizona House, LD9

John Nichols of ‘The Nation’ addressed progressives and unionists at a Tucson event.

Safe Park, downtown Tucson

Rev. Ron Phares and Pamela Powers Hannley

Jim and I were part of a contingent of Unitarian Universalists who came up from Tucson. Here I am with Rev. Ron Phares from the Mountain Vista UU Church in my district. (Jim is photobombing us.)

The Oberlin Rescuers outside of the Cuyahoga County Jail.

Visiting with PALF chairman Fred Yamashita at the 2016 Labor Day Picnic.

Desconocido (unknown)

Despite the sweltering heat, Jim and I had a great time at the Labor Day Picnic. We collected a lot of Clean Elections $5 donations and signatures. Here I am with LD9 chair Michael Dues.

Protesting anti-woman laws at the Arizona state capitol.

Martin Luther King, Jr. march.

Protesters hand deliver symbolic big check from corporate American to McCain.

Ironically, I posted this blog post on the anniversary of this election on June 19. 1970ish.

There have been many lively debates in the Arizona House in 2018. This team of House Democrats fought for consumer protections and fought against risky financial deals in a “regulatory sandbox.” (Pictured are Reps. Mitzi Epstein, Kelli Butler, Athena Salman, Pamela Powers Hannley, Ken Clark and Isela Blanc.)

I have a background in research. Help me build Tucson’s tech industry and grow our own local businesses.

@kyrstensinema Now it's time to vote to protect #ReproductiveRights and #VotingRights 3 months ago
RT @Rios_Rebecca: Turns out the Wave was Blue 💙 4 months ago
RT @albones520: I am humbled and honored for this opportunity to serve the people of Arizona! Thank you, Gov-Elect @katiehobbs for your tru… 4 months ago
RT @RaquelTeran: CONGRATULATIONS ATTORNEY GENERAL-ELECT MAYES! Every vote, every voice matters! 4 months ago
RT @ajflick: Since people have been asking me about the propositions this year, here's my take, which aligns with @P2Hannley, one of the sm… 4 months ago

Follow @p2hannley

The Tucson Progressive: Pamela J. Powers

I stand on the side of Love. I believe in kindness to all creatures on Earth and the inherent self-worth of all individuals–not just people who agree with me or look like me.

Widespread economic and social injustice prompted me to become a candidate for the Arizona House, representing Legislative District 9 in the 2016 election.

My platform focused on economic reforms to grow Arizona’s economy, establish a state-based public bank, fix our infrastructure, fully fund public education, grow local small businesses and community banks, and put people back to work at good-paying jobs.

In the Arizona House, I was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility a moratorium on corporate tax breaks until the schools were fully funded, increased cash assistance to the poor, expansion of maternal healthcare benefits, equal rights, choice, unions, education at all levels and protecting our water supply.

After three terms, I retired from the Arizona Legislature in January 2023 but will continue to blog and produce my podcast “A View from the Left Side.”

Tucson Progressive

Category Archives: Debbie Lesko

Prop 122 & Backers Ducey & Brnovich Are Too Extreme for Arizona

A Truly ‘Christian’ Nation Would NOT Deport Refugees (video)

Tobin & Other AZ Republicans: 82 ALEC-Funded Trips Since 2011

Hidden-Camera Investigation Shows ALEC Wining & Dining Arizona Politicians (video)

Financial Reports: Cathi Herrod & Center for Arizona Policy Give AZ Lege More than Ideas

Farnsworth, Kavanagh, & Lesko Are Among 17 AZ Legislators Courted by ALEC

Visualizing AZ Tax Giveaways

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