ARIZONA IDEAS; Policies from A-Z for a competitive and livable state
BYLINE: Rob Melnick
Business and government circles are abuzz these days with cries for innovation.
The argument is simple: Innovation will keep the United States in top fighting form for success in the highly competitive global economy.
Just as innovation can enhance a company's profitability, an entire nation or a single state becomes more competitive when it constantly invents ways of improving its public services, environment and economy.
Ultimately, innovations can make a region or state more livable and, thus, increase its attractiveness as a place to live and work.
Livability is a concept increasingly discussed in public policy circles. It embodies many tangible and intangible inputs that shape residents' daily lives and takes into account what gives a place distinction, what is worth protecting and what needs improving.
Innovative public policies can, and should, improve both competitiveness and livability at the same time.
Arizonans could cite a long list of public policies that have made a positive difference to those who live here.
This book, "Arizona Ideas: Policies from A-Z for a Livable and Competitive State," presents 26 policies and programs that served the state as a whole and improved the quality of our place and the quality of our lives.
A unique "big picture" emerges when one considers this entire collection of separate, disparate pieces. The entries tell stories of efforts to act in the public interest, of political processes that turned policy choices into public programs, and of people determined to innovate.
"Arizona Ideas" presents instances when innovation - or, occasionally, downright stubbornness - provided the "something extra" that was necessary to address a complex public problem.
It includes ideas large and small, homegrown and borrowed, current and historical. Each one - invented here or adapted from elsewhere - contributes to Arizona's competitive position.
This is not to say that the 26 policy ideas have been implemented perfectly or are without flaws. In fact, Arizonans excel at highlighting where our policies have gone wrong or fallen short.
But "Arizona Ideas," nevertheless, demonstrates that the public policy process, so derided at times, can and has produced outcomes that give our state distinction
Few people know that our state's name is said to be derived from two words of the Tohono O'odham dialect of the Pima language, "Aleh" and "Zon." Their combined meaning is "little spring."
The ideas presented in this report are examples of Arizona innovations that grew from this spring into public policy solutions to problems.
It is worth pausing to think about the spirit that created these 26 public policy experiments and how that drive will inspire future ideas to make Arizona a better place.
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About the author
Rob Melnick, Ph.D., is director of the Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University. He also is associate vice president for economic affairs at ASU. E-mail: rob.melnick@asu.edu
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AHCCCS to health care: Arizona in 1965 didn't join Medicaid, the new state-federal health care program for low-income Americans. Ironically, however, the costs of the state's county-based system of indigent health care soon became too much to bear. Arizona's answer was the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which set up a managed-care program that "mainstreamed" Medicaid recipients into private medical practices. Today, AHCCCS remains a national model for managed care and for reducing costs.
Basic to Arizona: The development of the Salt River Project and the Central Arizona Project serve as prime examples of the successes of engineering and government enterprise in the 20th century. These massive water projects did more than reclaim the desert for large-scale settlement. SRP and CAP also shaped Arizona's economy and political culture.
Citizen-led government: Arizona's Constitution reflected the Progressive Movement's belief in empowering citizens and keeping government close to the people. The resulting devices include the initiative, referendum, and recall, the election of many administrative officials, and a part-time "citizen legislature." Such measures reflect Arizona's early leaders' desire that citizens be leaders, too.
Dark skies over Arizona: Many people can barely find a star because of big-city lights. But Arizona still possesses a healthy measure of dark skies, thanks in part to state and local policies that continue the state's long-time devotion to astronomy. The Arizona optics industry includes more than 180 companies and contributes some $650 million to the state's economy.
Education standards and accountability: Arizona was among the first states to develop clear standards for determining what should be taught and learned in school. In 1990, Arizona began to identify the "minimum course of study competencies for excellence in essential skills." Although still under development, Arizona's assessment system gets high marks nationally for the variety of approaches used to gauge student achievement.
Forest health: Arizona's arid climate and cycles of drought, fire, disease, and insect infestation - along with its more than 15 million acres of forested land - have made the state fertile ground for academic forest expertise. Several statewide initiatives are developing principles for restoration efforts, monitoring projects, and evaluating sustainable options for advancing forest health.
Groundwater management: Approximately 40 percent of Arizona's water comes from under the ground. The key to managing this precious resource is Arizona's 1980 Groundwater Management Act, widely regarded as one of the most significant statutes in Arizona history. The GMA, created the Arizona Department of Water Resources to administer new rules including a requirement that new developments have a 100-year "assured water supply."
Heritage Fund: In 1990, Arizona voters set aside up to $20 million per year in state lottery funds for often underfunded state parks, historic preservation projects and wildlife programs. So far, the Heritage Fund has received more than $200 million.
Integration of public agencies: In 1972, the Arizona Legislature created the Arizona Department of Economic Security to replace eight agencies then administering federal and state welfare, unemployment and social programs. In 2005, a new nonprofit organization called TREO (Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, Inc.) merged the economic development programs of government, the private sector and higher education across city and county boundaries.
Jury reform: Arizona has played a leading role in a national jury reform movement aimed at encouraging and enhancing citizen participation in this crucial public duty. In 1996, jurors were authorized to question witnesses during trials. Jurors now may also take notes and study photographs and case summaries.
Knowledge economy: Arizona's economy was once dependent on what could be grown on or extracted from the land. Today, the state is racing to compete in a rapidly changing global knowledge economy fueled by innovation, research, advances in science and technology, and skilled, creative workers.
Literacy for families: Low literacy levels limit parents' employment opportunities and condemn children to start school at a disadvantage, thus promoting a cycle that contributes to trapping families in poverty. Breaking that cycle by helping parents improve their reading skills is at the heart of Arizona Family Literacy and its work with the state's neediest parents and children.
Master-planned communities: John F. Long, Del E. Webb and others have made master-planned communities an enduring feature of Arizona's metropolitan areas. These projects appeal to many buyers because a house comes with a ready-made lifestyle in a ready-made community, complete with hospitals, office parks, golf courses and shopping.
Nonpartisan council-manager government: Eighty-one of Arizona's 89 cities and towns (not including Tucson) use the nonpartisan council-manager form of government. By combining nonpartisan elected councils with appointed professional managers, municipal governments are more likely to make decisions based on efficiency and merit, rather than politics.
Out there with arts and culture: Arizona Highways, a 1920s invention of the Highway Department, shaped the world's view of the state and remains important to the tourism industry. In 1996, a public-private arts endowment fund strengthened the finances of arts organizations and supported arts education programs throughout the state.
Planning for economic growth: In 1991, the Arizona Strategic Plan for Economic Development was one of the nation's first to employ the idea of "clusters" - geographic concentrations of interrelated industries - supported by "foundations" like human resources, transportation, and tax and regulatory systems.
Quiet roads: In 1988, the Arizona Department of Transportation began using recycled tires mixed with regular asphalt to create a new "rubberized asphalt" on highways. It reduced cracking, had adequate skid resistance and excellent durability, reduced noise, retained less heat and used millions of tires destined for landfills.
Rivers in the desert: Attitudes toward desert waterways are changing from "just use it" to a desire to restore drained waterways, preserve washes and create urban amenities. Throughout Arizona, reinvigorating water flow is now a strategy for quality of life, economic revitalization and environmentalism.
School choice: Charter schools are Arizona's main school choice initiative among a number of policies that provide parents with education options. They are operated by for-profit and nonprofit organizations, receive public funds and have public oversight, but have greater decision-making authority in areas such as curriculum and personnel than "regular" public schools.
Transportation for a region: Maricopa County voters in 1985 approved a plan to speed up freeway construction. Mishaps, missteps and an economic downturn, meant that by 1994 less than 60 miles of freeway had been built. A new spirit of cooperation and urgency produced a new $16 billion plan in 2004.
University science and technology investments: In 2000, Arizona voters passed Proposition 301, which established a 20-year, 0.6 percent sales tax for educational institutions. Most of the money goes to improving K-12 schools, but approximately 13 percent has been set aside for cutting-edge university research.
Very important chips: Semiconductor manufacturing employs more than 24,000 Arizonans, and defense electronics 8,100 more. In 2004, semiconductors totaled $6.4 billion, accounting for almost half of all the state's high-tech exports.
Walk on the Arizona Trail: In 1985, Flagstaff schoolteacher Dale Shewalter persuaded the Arizona State Parks board to endorse his proposal for the Arizona Trail, an 800-mile hike along the length of the state. Today, the trail is 90 percent complete. It transverses 12 different life zones and climbs from 1,700 feet to 9,600 feet, providing greater diversity than any comparable route in the U.S.
Xeriscape: Combining "xeros," the Greek word for "dry," and "landscape," xeriscape refers to the principles of landscape design and planting - with an emphasis of native plants - that reduces water consumption and yard trimming. Tucson adopted a xeriscape ordinance in 1991 and other places have done so since.
Yours, mine, and ours - regional economic development: To compete in the global economy, Arizona needs a streamlined, coordinated regional approach to economic development. Efforts include the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Tucson's TREO, Greater Flagstaff Economic Council and Yuma's Economic Development Council.
Zeal for state trust land: A little over 9 million acres remains of Arizona's 10.9 million acres of trust land. Set aside at statehood to support education and other purposes, Arizona still has a larger percentage than any of the 22 states receiving them.
ABOUT THE REPORT
"Arizona Ideas: Policies from A-Z for a Livable and Competitive State" is available at www.morrisoninstitute.org or call (602) 496-0900.
The Morrison Institute for Public Policy is an Arizona State University resource for objective policy analysis and expertise. Morrison Institute, a part of ASU's School of Public Affairs within the College of Public Programs, researches public policy issues, informs policy makers and residents, and advises leaders on choices and actions.