If a proposed constitutional amendment wins voter approval this fall, the threshold for raising taxes at all levels of government in the state will be made significantly higher and could make it nearly impossible for tax increases or extensions to ever occur.

A tongue-in-cheek comment has landed one Arizona lawmaker some bad press – and some misdirected support.

Rep. Cecil Ash, R-Mesa, thought he was making a joke to lighten the tense mood when he spoke up during Monday’s floor session.

Gov. Jan Brewer last year rejected a proposal that would have allowed guns on campuses because it lacked “clarity.”

This year, gun proponents have revived the proposal — minus the provisions that led to Brewer’s veto.

After months of innuendos and hints about where he would run for reelection, U.S. Rep. Ben Quayle announced today that he would switch districts and run against fellow Republican Congressman David Schweikert in a neighboring congressional district.

One of former Sen. Scott Bundgaard’s most loyal allies filed paperwork last week to run for the state House of Represenatives.

Gary Filer was sleeping in the back seat of a minivan traveling through Tucson when it collided with a drunken driver going the wrong way on Interstate 10.

Arizona Department of Gaming Director Mark Brnovich points to the Tucson case as an example of a reason to be wary of the tribe’s plans to build a casino at 91st and Northern avenues in an unincorporated area adjacent to Glendale

Republican legislators are striving to mark Arizona’s centennial with a fundamental change to how the state spends its money that would effectively shackle future Legislatures from creating any new government program unless they found a corresponding place to cut spending.

A proposal by House Speaker Andy Tobin may give Republicans one last chance to rid themselves of congressional and legislative maps they’ve fought so hard to eliminate.

The Paulden Republican wants a November ballot measure that would overhaul the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. The proposal would expand the IRC to 12 members, eliminate a panel that nominates commissioners, and impose state open meeting law on the commission.

In what is shaping up as one of the biggest political fights this year, conservative lawmakers are pushing a slew of measures that would fundamentally weaken public-sector unions in Arizona.

Taken together, the anti-union bills that were approved this week by a legislative committee are more restrictive than what was enacted in Wisconsin, where political turmoil erupted after its governor proposed to curtail collective bargaining rights for most state and local public employees.

Recalled former Sen. Russell Pearce is eyeing a return to the Capitol and recently filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office that would set the stage for 2012 campaign.