Legislative attorneys believe a Corporation Commission policy intended to restrict campaign contributions by utilities violates the Arizona Constitution, and the lawmaker who requested that opinion is hoping it will persuade the commission to change course for next year’s election.... Read more»
On April 14 the commission voted 3-2 to preliminarily approve a package of measures regulating when utilities can shut off service for nonpayment. ... Read more»
Latinos are a growing force in the nation’s political landscape, even as they lag in election to public office in Arizona and elsewhere. Hispanics account for the nation’s largest ethnic or racial minority and more than half of the total U.S. population growth since 2010, with most of the increases in the Southwest. Hispanics make up nearly one-third of Arizona’s 7.3 million residents, although their last statewide representative was Raúl Castro, who was elected governor in 1974. That 46-year drought ended Jan. 4, when Anna Tovar and Lea Márquez Peterson were sworn in as Arizona Corporation Commissioners – Márquez Peterson as the chair – and became the first Latinas elected to statewide office in Arizona. ... Read more»
The Republican Party will have three candidates for the Corporation Commission after Jim O'Connor earned enough write-in votes to qualify for the November ballot.... Read more»
Although Arizona's largest academic medical network could see emergency room relief with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, the law could also lead to hospital staff reductions and more stress on the state's primary care doctors. ... Read more»
While addressing issues such as education, the economy and reforming Child Protective Services, lawmakers need to focus more on Arizona’s growing Hispanic population, the head of the Arizona Legislative Latino Caucus says. “The voters in our communities deserve better,” said Sen. Anna Tovar.... Read more»
Laid off and with a pre-existing medical condition, Tucson resident Sue Voelker said it was a struggle to get health insurance – until the passage of the Affordable Care Act. Voelker said that under Obamacare she was able to sign up for a Gold Plan policy at the same price as lesser coverage that had previously been offered to her.... Read more»1
Despite the troubled rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Arizona Democrats touted the law’s “many, many positive aspects” and showcased one woman Monday who successfully got health insurance through healthcare.gov.... Read more»
Interviews with: City Council candidate Ben Buehler-Garcia, state Sen. Steve Farley (D-LD9), Tucson Weekly Editor Dan Gibson, RNC Committeeman Bruce Ash, Middle East expert Prof. Stephen Zunes.... Read more»
Democrats and activists called on Gov. Brewer to drop an executive order she issued in August denying driver’s licenses to deferred action participants at a press conference in Phoenix Tuesday night.... Read more»1
Nearly 1,000 students over 26 schools in Arizona participate in the Jobs for Arizona's Graduates program, which helps them stay in school and teaches them how to get a job and enroll in college. The program assists students with low grades, legal issues and other at-risk factors. ... Read more»1
A new Republican plan dubbed the Achieve Act, offered by Sens. Jon Kyl of Arizona and Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, would offer certain illegal immigrants legal status without granting citizenship. But several Latino groups see the new plan as a ploy to gain Latino votes. ... Read more»
Arizona's delegation to the Democratic National Convention is organizing for stronger Latino voter participation. Members hope to attract more young people and capitalize on the promise of a platform that includes support for the DREAM Act.
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Democratic legislators criticized Gov. Brewer's move to deny drivers licenses to young illegal immigrants granted relief from deportation in a Thursday press release. "The governor is using her elected position to grandstand at the expense of finding real solutions to the issues our state is facing."... Read more»1
Arizona got a grade of D for its legal protections for employees who need to take family or medical leave, in a recent national report ranking states on their health leave laws. But the state was in good company: The report gave grades of D or F to 34 states.... Read more»1
Arizona state Reps. Chad Campbell, Steve Farley and Anna Tovar released brief statements on the Supreme Court's SB 1070 ruling. "SB 1070 is a far cry from reasonable. It lets politicians get away with political grandstanding instead of enacting real reform," Farley said.... Read more»
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