GCI Launches Effort to 'Keep Redistricting Independent'

More than a decade ago, Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved a decision to take partisan politics out of the process our state uses to draw its legislative and congressional districts.  Unfortunately, the hard-won, independent process created by Proposition 106 is the target of coordinated attacks specifically designed to plant misinformation and undermine the credibility of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.  Not only do these attacks threaten the independent process, but they also threaten Arizona’s economic future.

To combat this, the Grand Canyon Institute has launched the Keep Redistricting Independent effort to provide Arizonans and the media with a reference guide complete with accurate, sourced information about the AIRC and the redistricting process, and to correct misinformation in the public record.  The Grand Canyon Institute has launched the Keep Redistricting Independent effort to provide Arizonans and the media with a reference guide complete with accurate, sourced information about the AIRC and the redistricting process, and to correct misinformation in the public record.

Analysis: IRC's Draft Congressional Map Passes the Constitution's Test

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Arizona Heralds Arrival of New Bipartisan Think Tank

Too often ideology, rather than economics, has guided policy in Arizona, with the result being a state that finds itself caught in an unsound fiscal situation with one of the worst structural deficits in the country.  Arizona continues to lag in the development of a diversified, education-led economy, and relies on a greatly atrophied tax system that fails to provide the resources needed to sustain critical investments for the state’s future.

To remedy the dire situation, Arizona now has a new nonpartisan think tank, the Grand Canyon Institute, led by a bipartisan group of former state lawmakers, economists, community leaders, and academicians. The Grand Canyon Institute will serve as an independent voice reflecting mainstream American values and a pragmatic approach to addressing economic, fiscal, budgetary and taxation challenges confronting Americans with a special emphasis on Arizona issues.  As Arizona begins its second century, the Grand Canyon Institute aims to bridge this immense gap between policy and results by providing sound research expertise from a network of fellows to help inform the public and lawmakers regarding paths for Arizona that will:

• Elevate consideration of the economic implications of public policy initiatives above other considerations, including ideology.
• Accelerate Arizona’s economic recovery and formulate a vision of shared prosperity for all Arizonans.
• Promote quality job creation with a competitive business climate, making sure public sector investments are both well designed and accountable.
• Stabilize Arizona’s fiscal condition and workforce development by investing in, rather than imperiling, K-12 and university education as well as protecting critical safety nets for families.
• Link government expenditures with quantifiable outcomes for taxpayers.

Over time, the board of the nonprofit will expand and be composed of an even more diverse, broad based, bi-partisan group of business, community, and academic leaders who share the Institute’s vision during the 21st Century.