http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/tag/john+kavanagh john+kavanagh news from TucsonSentinel.com - Tucson's independent nonprofit online news en Copyright 2013 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/041313_lottery_winners/bill-keep-lottery-winners-names-secret-fails-senate/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/041313_lottery_winners/bill-keep-lottery-winners-names-secret-fails-senate/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A bill that would keep the names of Arizona Lottery winners secret failed to win state Senate approval Thursday but will get another vote. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/031913_asa_students/student-advocacy-group-faces-funding-loss-over-political-donation/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/031913_asa_students/student-advocacy-group-faces-funding-loss-over-political-donation/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Students in Arizona’s public universities have paid a fee every year since 1998 directed to an organization aimed at giving a student voice to higher education causes. Now the Arizona Students Association faces losing much of that funding over a decision to contribute $122,000 last year to the campaign supporting Proposition 204. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/030513_medical_marijuana/republicans-take-medical-marijuana-labeling-cultivation/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/030513_medical_marijuana/republicans-take-medical-marijuana-labeling-cultivation/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter For Sen. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, some edible medical marijuana products are too easy to mistake for candy and should be labeled clearly by law. Hers is among several bills legislative session addressing how the medical marijuana system approved in 2010 should work. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022113_dems_sb10710/az-dems-sb-1070-harms-individuals-economy/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022113_dems_sb10710/az-dems-sb-1070-harms-individuals-economy/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Republican leaders in the Senate and House are allowing Arizona’s people and economy to suffer by refusing to hear two bills that would repeal SB 1070, a Democratic state lawmaker said Thursday. Neither SB 1120, authored by Steve Gallardo, nor HB 2651, authored by Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson, were heard in committee. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021113_az_accounting/with-accounting-system-on-ropes-arizona-upgrading/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021113_az_accounting/with-accounting-system-on-ropes-arizona-upgrading/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter The state’s accounting system is on life support, but thanks to funding allocated last year by the governor and the Legislature it’s getting an overhaul that officials say is long overdue. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020813_mmj_marijuana/medical-marijuana-supporters-rally-against-plan-new-vote/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020813_mmj_marijuana/medical-marijuana-supporters-rally-against-plan-new-vote/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter On Thursday, a few dozen supporters rallied outside the State Capitol against legislation calling for a new statewide vote on medical marijuana. “I’m not an outlaw. I’m not a criminal, I just want to be well,” said Brian Anapol. “I got the card six months ago and it cut my pain medication intake in half.” 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013013_carnival_prizes/lawmaker-seeks-ban-awarding-animals-as-carnival-prizes/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013013_carnival_prizes/lawmaker-seeks-ban-awarding-animals-as-carnival-prizes/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Saying it’s cruel to send a live goldfish, rabbit or turtle home as a carnival prize, a state lawmaker is out to ban the practice in Arizona. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012413_lottery_winners/lawmaker-keep-lottery-winners-names-private/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012413_lottery_winners/lawmaker-keep-lottery-winners-names-private/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A state lawmaker wants to keep the names of lottery winners private, saying the change would protect them from criminals and scam artists. But media attorneys are raising questions of transparency. “If one chooses to participate, and if you’re not prepared to let the public know you won, then don’t play.” 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011513_medical_marijuana/kavanagh-plants-seed-medical-marijuana-re-vote/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011513_medical_marijuana/kavanagh-plants-seed-medical-marijuana-re-vote/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A lawmaker wants to have another statewide vote on medical marijuana. A resolution by Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, would put the issue on the 2014 ballot. Kavanagh said there’s good cause to believe most Arizona voters no longer support the program. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/110812_prop_204/prop-2048242s-defeat-puts-focus-education-funding-upcoming-legislative-session/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/110812_prop_204/prop-2048242s-defeat-puts-focus-education-funding-upcoming-legislative-session/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Now that voters rejected Proposition 204, the task of funding education when a temporary sales tax expires in May will remain with the state Legislature. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/092612_medicaid_report/report-expanding-medicaid-eligibility-would-boost-az-economy/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/092612_medicaid_report/report-expanding-medicaid-eligibility-would-boost-az-economy/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Under the Affordable Care Act of 2010, expanding Medicaid eligibility would boost Arizona’s economy and add jobs, according to the nonprofit Grand Canyon Institute. The group held a news conference Wednesday to discuss a report detailing three options for Medicaid under the federal health care law. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/091912_prop_204_education/prop-204-funding-education-voters-job-or-one-lawmakers/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/091912_prop_204_education/prop-204-funding-education-voters-job-or-one-lawmakers/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Is deciding how to fund education in Arizona best done by lawmakers or voters? That’s a key point of debate with Arizonans ready to decide whether to adopt a permanent 1-cent per dollar sales tax that would be earmarked primarily for education. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/090412_education_cuts/supporters-report-education-cuts-illustrates-need-sales-tax/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/090412_education_cuts/supporters-report-education-cuts-illustrates-need-sales-tax/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Arizona has the steepest education spending decreases nationwide in recent years, according to a new report. In November, Arizonans will vote on Proposition 204 which would enact a permanent 1-cent per dollar sales tax. The Arizona Education Network, hopes the permanent sales tax will be a solution to the state’s education funding woes. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/080112_az_governing/stealth-governing-transparency-missing-az-legislature/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/080112_az_governing/stealth-governing-transparency-missing-az-legislature/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Arizona’s legislative session this year was as hard to track as a Stealth bomber, even for many Capitol regulars. Technology is in theory giving Arizonans unprecedented access to the Legislature, but lawmakers are short-circuiting the public process. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/033012_az_parks_veto/brewer-vetoes-state-parks-revenue-bill/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/033012_az_parks_veto/brewer-vetoes-state-parks-revenue-bill/#When: 17:31:000 Wendell Potter Updated: Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill aimed at protecting Arizona State Parks’ revenue from legislative sweeps, but supporters said Friday they are optimistic about sending her a revised version this session. 2012-04-02T17:31:53+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/032712_az_sb1070/grijalva-dems-file-challenge-sb-1070-with-supreme-court/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/032712_az_sb1070/grijalva-dems-file-challenge-sb-1070-with-supreme-court/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter House Democrats, led by U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, on Tuesday filed a challenge to Arizona’s SB 1070, the immigration law to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next month. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/030912_az_heritage_fund/attempt-revive-heritage-fund-stalls-house/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/030912_az_heritage_fund/attempt-revive-heritage-fund-stalls-house/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A lawmaker’s attempt to have Arizonans decide whether to revive the voter–approved Heritage Fund is stalled in the House. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/030312_az_state_parks/bill-protect-state-parks-revenue-clears-key-hurdle/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/030312_az_state_parks/bill-protect-state-parks-revenue-clears-key-hurdle/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A bill that would protect Arizona State Parks from legislative sweeps of its gate and concession revenue won preliminary House approval Thursday after overcoming an attempt to narrow its scope. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020812_az_tuition/students-rail-against-proposal-financial-aid-tuition/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020812_az_tuition/students-rail-against-proposal-financial-aid-tuition/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A bill in the state Legislature would require full-time resident undergraduate students at Arizona’s universities to pay at least $2,000 per year toward tuition and mandatory fees. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020812_az_reauthorizing_referendums/initiatives-would-face-re-vote-under-retroactive-bill/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020812_az_reauthorizing_referendums/initiatives-would-face-re-vote-under-retroactive-bill/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A bill introduced into by state Rep. Chester Crandall, R-Heber, would require that all voter-approved statewide measures involving money be returned to the ballot after five fiscal years. If voters reauthorize a measure, it would face another vote after six years. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/120611_opinion/legislators-hope-you-arent-paying-attention-state-budget/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/120611_opinion/legislators-hope-you-arent-paying-attention-state-budget/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter House Appropriations chairman John Kavanagh made an appearance on a local radio station last week touting the news that our state’s budget situation won’t be nearly as dire next year as everyone thought it would be — and that this was done without raising revenues. Not quite. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/100511_az_open_elections/group-presses-open-elections-az/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/100511_az_open_elections/group-presses-open-elections-az/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A citizens group wants Arizonans to decide in November 2012 whether to scrap partisan primaries in favor of open elections that would send the highest-polling candidates, regardless of party affiliation, on to the general election. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/092211_american_dream/arizona-democrats-tout-plan-stimulate-state-federal-economy/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/092211_american_dream/arizona-democrats-tout-plan-stimulate-state-federal-economy/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A plan to revitalize the U.S. economy put forward by liberal groups would create jobs in Arizona and help the poor move to the middle class, a Democratic state lawmaker said Wednesday. (with video) 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/051111_birthright_citizenship/abolishing-birthright-citizenship-would-create-permanent-underclass/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/051111_birthright_citizenship/abolishing-birthright-citizenship-would-create-permanent-underclass/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter In a move contrary to the most cherished of American values, a band of ultraconservative activists are targeting the U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants—and others—to score political points. Their stated objective is to overturn a bedrock constitutional right: the right of citizenship by birth on American soil. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/120710_transplants/transplant-hopefuls-appeal-gop-restore-medicaid-funds/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/120710_transplants/transplant-hopefuls-appeal-gop-restore-medicaid-funds/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Democratic lawmakers held a news conference with a group of patients denied organ transplants to demand a special session to reinstate the $1.4 million program. They blamed Gov. Brewer for keeping new organs out of the reach of those whose survival hangs in the balance. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/2410_clean_elections/some-clean-elections-money-went-toward-laptops-hiring-relatives/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/2410_clean_elections/some-clean-elections-money-went-toward-laptops-hiring-relatives/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Some of the 107 candidates who received public money to run for the state Legislature this year bought computers, cameras and printers that are theirs to keep and paid relatives as campaign workers and consultants. Expenses included $60 for NRA dues, $650 for mariachis and $229.87 for a “post-debate discussion” with campaign staffers at T.G.I. Friday’s. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/110510_education_cuts/education-likely-target-after-prop-301-302-defeats/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/110510_education_cuts/education-likely-target-after-prop-301-302-defeats/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Facing a $450 million hole in their plan to close the state’s budget deficit, GOP lawmakers are likely to respond to the failure of Propositions 301 and 302 with cuts to education, two economists said. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/110310_prop301302/leaders-rejection-fund-transfer-propositions-means-deep-cuts/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/110310_prop301302/leaders-rejection-fund-transfer-propositions-means-deep-cuts/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Voters rejected two ballot propositions Tuesday that would have transferred almost $450 million from two voter-approved funds to address the state budget deficit. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/092910_prop111/prop-111-would-create-lt-gov-title-require-party-ticket/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/092910_prop111/prop-111-would-create-lt-gov-title-require-party-ticket/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Four years ago, few Arizonans would have supported a Janet Napolitano/Jan Brewer ticket. But under the state’s current succession plan, Brewer, the Republican secretary of state, replaced the departing Democratic governor in 2009. That would change if supporters of Prop. 111 have their way. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/091410_birthright_citizenship_op/birthright-madness-anti-immigrant-sentiment-fever-pitch/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/091410_birthright_citizenship_op/birthright-madness-anti-immigrant-sentiment-fever-pitch/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Well it’s happening again in Arizona. State Senator Russell Pearce and his side-kick, Rep. John Kavanaugh are getting ready to unveil their newest assault on undocumented immigrants, this time with a bill designed to eliminate birthright citizenship. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061510_anchor_baby_col/opinion-anchor-babies-and-nativist-pretzel-logic/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061510_anchor_baby_col/opinion-anchor-babies-and-nativist-pretzel-logic/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter It becomes apparent that this proposed legislation has some very disturbing and bizarre consequences that nobody has discussed yet. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/050410_immigration_crime/crime-argument-used-both-sides-immigration-debate/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/050410_immigration_crime/crime-argument-used-both-sides-immigration-debate/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Supporters of Arizona’s new immigration law say it’s designed to reduce crime in the state, but opponents say just the opposite will occur. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/041410_immigration/az-house-passes-immigration-id-enforcement-bill/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/041410_immigration/az-house-passes-immigration-id-enforcement-bill/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter Arizona police may soon be required to ask for immigration paperwork if they have a “reasonable suspicion” that a person is in the country illegally. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/040210_taxloopholes/closing-tax-loopholes-could-help-budget-democrats-say/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/040210_taxloopholes/closing-tax-loopholes-could-help-budget-democrats-say/ 01:34:00Z Wendell Potter A 1 percent sales tax hike is coming to a ballot near you this spring. Meanwhile, things like parking garages, driving schools and dog grooming will stay tax-free. Arizona’s tax laws include $9.1 billion in exemptions. Democrats think it’s time to close some of those loopholes to help ease the state’s budget woes. 2013-05-20T01:34:10+00:00