The election season is barely behind them, but freshmen Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Flagstaff, and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, have both raised more than $300,000 toward possible re-election bids in 2014, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Southern Arizona Rep. Ron Barber has raised nearly $300k himself.... Read more»
Federal spending on border security is at an all-time high—and it would get even higher under the Gang of Eight’s new plan. The Senate immigration proposal, released last week, would allocate $4.5 billion in the next five years to tighten control of U.S. borders.... Read more»1
An Arizona congressman and the Maricopa County attorney say the U.S. Constitution should be amended to protect the rights of crime victims.... Read more»1
A number of Republicans are using misleading numbers when they say the Federal Aviation Administration should cut consultants and travel before resorting to furloughs that are causing airport delays.... Read more»
A delegation of Arizona officials came to Washington to press for comprehensive immigration reform, saying the time to act is now while the nation is paying attention. “Congress is listening,” said one.... Read more»
Pro-gun organization increases influence spending as congressional debate rages.... Read more»
Interviews with the president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Glen Hamer; plus City Hall commentator Richard Studwell, TucsonSentinel.com’s Dylan Smith, Penelope Jacks of the Children’s Action Alliance, and Tucsoncitizen.com administrator Mark B. Evans.... Read more»
We always hear about how polarized the country is, but on most of the big issues there’s a clear public mandate to go in a certain direction. Congress just needs to listen. The budget is a good example. A Jan. 30 Reason-Rupe poll asked respondents what the country spends too much money on, and the most popular response — at 21 percent, the winner by several points — was “defense/military/wars.”... Read more»1
The Gang of Eight debuted their immigration reform bill; New York dairy farmers, religious leaders and tech industry leaders including Mark Zuckerberg weighed in on the debate; Mexico faces law enforcement challenges and business opportunities.... Read more»
A bipartisan group of eight senators unveiled an 800-page immigration reform bill Thursday, calling it a “fair, comprehensive and practical solution” to a difficult problem.... Read more»1
Our last election was not primarily, or even secondarily, about national security. But to the extent that a referendum was held on that issue, polls show that most Americans gave their vote to the Democrats. This was a sea change, and there are many reasons for it, but a major one is clearly the legacy of Iraq.... Read more»
In a op-ed posted Wednesday evening by the New York Times, Gabrielle Giffords excoriated senators for blocking more restrictive background checks for weapons purchases: “These senators decided to do nothing. Shame on them ... Speaking is physically difficult for me. But my feelings are clear: I’m furious. I will not rest until we have righted the wrong these senators have done, and until we have changed our laws so we can look parents in the face and say: We are trying to keep your children safe.”... Read more»4
A new bipartisan immigration bill has been unveiled by the U.S. Senate, which if passed into law would provide a legal path to immigration for millions of illegal immigrants formerly denied such an opportunity.... Read more»
President Barack Obama blasted the Senate for blocking a tightened background checks on firearms purchases, and said the gun lobby “willfully lied” about the bill. Before saying “this was a pretty shameful day for Washington,” Obama was preceded by the father of a victim of the Newtown, Conn., shooting. (with video)... Read more»
The full text of the immigration reform bill released by the Gang of 8: “Our immigration system is broken and it is time for a national conversation about how to fix it. We believe common-sense immigration reform is vital in order to secure America’s borders, advance our economic growth, and provide fuller access to the American dream.”... Read more»
7444322
