I believe I previously shared with you my analogy of the legislature as a middle school. That analogy is particularly apt as we approach approving a budget, as we began to do this morning. The Medicaid restoration has heightened the stakes dramatically this year, so this next couple of weeks are really gonna be something to witness.... Read more»
Only one in 20 Arizonans is a member of a union, but that hasn’t stopped several Republican state lawmakers from pushing bills aimed at restricting organized labor. Sen. Rick Murphy, R-Peoria wants to rein in unions representing public employees such as police officers, firefighters and teachers — groups he says take advantage of taxpayers.... Read more»
House Minority Leader Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, said he’s troubled that none of the bills making up his Safer Schools, Safer Communities plan has been scheduled for a committee hearing. He says that by ignoring his bill GOP leaders are avoiding discussion of the issue.... Read more»
Organizers released a report saying that 16.8 percent of Arizona’s jobs are connected directly or indirectly to aviation, with a total payroll of $21.1 billion.... Read more»1
Gov. Jan Brewer told business leaders Friday that her legislative agenda includes simplifying the “complicated and overly burdensome” process behind the state’s transaction privilege tax.... Read more»
Interviews with broadcaster Dave Sitton; Mark B. Evans Tucsoncitizen.com administrator; TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone; state House Speaker Rep. Andy Tobin and state Sen. Linda Lopez... Read more»
An obscure political group based in the Valley - Americans for Responsible Leadership - has spent nearly a million dollars against Propositions 121, which would replace Arizona’s party primary elections, and 204, that would continue a one-cent sales tax for education.... Read more»1
From 2001-2011, legislators spent an extra 455 days in office—over four extra years.... Read more»
State Rep. Daniel Patterson resigned his seat in the House on Wednesday, hours after a House Ethics Committee unanimously voted for his expulsion.... Read more»
The House Ethics Committee is recommending that a special investigator look into allegations against Rep. Daniel Patterson, D-Tucson, faces four misdemeanor counts of domestic violence stemming from alleged altercations with a former girlfriend.... Read more»
A lawmaker’s attempt to have Arizonans decide whether to revive the voter–approved Heritage Fund is stalled in the House.... Read more»
Five pieces of new legislation —introduced by Rep. Andy Tobin and passed out of committee this week — have taken power-grabbing to a whole new level, and would set redistricting back to a time of shadowy legislative deals.... Read more»1
Leaders of today are reaching out to potential leaders of tomorrow with a DVD explaining to kids how Arizona’s government works. The two-hour video, timed with the state’s centennial, features state lawmakers, Gov. Jan Brewer, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and others.... Read more»
With a new Senate president and a new House speaker, Arizona’s rural lawmakers are hoping for a shift in focus from Tucson and Phoenix to more concern over the state’s more sparsely populated communities.... Read more»
Taxpayers are giving Don Cardon a big raise to move from head of the now-defunct state Department of Commerce to president and CEO of the new Arizona Commerce Authority.... Read more»
It’s easy to get whiplash in the ongoing debate on the role of state government here in Arizona. Historically however, one area - maybe the only area - of agreement has been government should not, and cannot, operate in secret. Yet transparency seems to be an exceptional challenge for Arizona’s legislative leaders.... Read more»
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