In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman steps away from the Capitol and into the studio to unpack a debate that surfaced during caucus: Arizona's Rainy Day Fund — and whether it should even exist.

The discussion began around stabilizing funding for the Department of Public Safety (DPS). A proposal was floated to use interest earnings from the state's $1.5 billion Rainy Day Fund to support DPS operations. But that quickly sparked a bigger philosophical question raised by Representative Neal Carter - District 15

Why does the state need a Rainy Day Fund at all?

Birdman breaks down the numbers:

• $1.5 billion sitting in reserve

• What 1% interest generates annually

• How many Arizona taxpayers actually pay income tax

• What that reserve represents per taxpayer

The episode explores broader questions:

• Should the government operate like a business?

• Is holding large reserves responsible fiscal policy — or idle taxpayer capital?

• If a Rainy Day Fund exists, what qualifies as a "rainy day"?

• Should disaster relief, DPS funding, or economic downturns trigger its use?

This isn't framed as a partisan debate — but as a taxpayer's perspective on government budgeting, reserves, and accountability.

If you care about Arizona's budget, fiscal philosophy, tax policy, or government reserves, this episode dives into the numbers and the bigger question:

Should the government save money — or spend only what it collects each year?

In this episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman sits down once again in the office of Walt Blackman for a wide-ranging conversation during one of the busiest weeks of session — Crossover Week.

The discussion begins with Blackman's morning press conference recognizing Pediatric Cancer Awareness and addressing the funding gap between federal research dollars and Arizona's state budget priorities. Inspired in part by his nephew's cancer battle, Blackman argues that with a $17 billion state budget, Arizona can find room to prioritize pediatric cancer research and nonprofit support.

From there, the conversation shifts to:

• How the legislative process actually works

• Why the 4,000 number don't mean 4,000 bills

• The role of caucus meetings and "Committee of the Whole" (COW)

• What happens during second and third reads

• Why some bills pass unanimously while others split strictly along party lines

• The mechanics of Crossover Week between House and Senate

Blackman also discusses veterans legislation, including a unanimously passed veterans mental health measure, disability-based property tax reform proposals, and pilot programs aimed at reducing VA backlog wait times in Arizona.

Listeners get a real-time look at how legislation moves — and how it doesn't — including what it means when a bill clears committee, why Twitter doesn't equal lawmaking, and how constituents influence votes through direct outreach.

If you've ever wondered how bills really move through the Arizona Legislature — and what happens behind the scenes during the busiest part of session — this episode breaks it down.

In this special "West Lawn Compendium" episode of Birdman at the Arizona Legislature, Birdman spends four hours—10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—interviewing advocates, parents, candidates, and citizens during Early Childhood Legislation Day at the Arizona Capitol.

Unlike official legislative agendas set by the House or Senate, advocacy days are organized by individuals and groups who come to lobby, educate, and share lived experiences with lawmakers. This particular day centered largely on early childhood development, childcare access, and family policy—but as always at the Capitol, the conversations extended beyond a single issue.

In this final segment from the West Lawn of the Arizona House of Representatives, Birdman speaks with an entire family advocating for House Bill 4032 — legislation aimed at expanding Arizona's tobacco tax to include vaping and other nicotine products.

The current tobacco tax funds early childhood health and development programs through First Things First, supporting children ages 0–5 with services like home visitation, professional development for early educators, and childcare access. But as cigarette use declines and vaping rises, funding has begun to shrink.

Amber Jones, a regional council member with First Things First, explains why advocates believe updating the tax structure is essential to maintaining critical early childhood programs.

Her daughter, Genevieve, shares her experience witnessing the legislative process firsthand — connecting what she's learning in social studies class to real-world policymaking. Meanwhile, her father, Travis Jones, reflects on civic engagement, grassroots advocacy, and why teaching children how government works is just as important as the policy itself.

This episode captures more than a policy debate — it highlights how families engage in the legislative process, how bills move (or stall) among 4,000 proposals, and why advocacy is often a marathon, not a sprint.

From early education funding to civic participation, this West Lawn conversation brings the legislative process into real life.

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