The Senate today skipped voting on legislation to allow employers with a religious objection to deny contraception coverage to their workers, which indicates that proponents have yet to persuade enough lawmakers to back the controversial proposal.

The local chapter of Americans for Prosperity has rolled out an expensive campaign to oppose the establishment of a health care exchange in Arizona, a move that puzzled some Republicans who noted there’s no legislation advancing at the state Capitol to set it up here.

Critics of an Arizona proposal to limit birth control coverage have given a personalized gift to more than a dozen state lawmakers — a fuzzy, knitted uterus with googly eyes.

Senate President Steve Pierce doesn’t think legislation allowing employers with religious objection to deny contraception coverage to workers will return for a second vote.

Pierce previously indicated he was willing to cast the required 16th “yes” vote to pass the bill last week if supporters could get 15 senators to support the bill.

Arizona’s largest hospital group announced today it is dropping a lawsuit that seeks to undo the state’s decision to cut reimbursement rates to Medicaid providers, a move that comes just days after a federal judge upheld the cuts.

Arizona legislators have approved a bill to prohibit use or possession of medical marijuana at public universities, community colleges or child-care facilities.

The CEO of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association is holding a press briefing with Senate President Steve Pierce today about the lawsuit it filed against the state over cuts in reimbursements to health providers.

Supporters of a bill to allow more Arizona employers to drop health plan coverage for contraceptives for birth control plan to make changes to the legislation when it is considered Wednesday by the state Senate.

A Senate committee is expected to vote Wednesday on a House bill aimed at allowing the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy to ban chemicals used in manufacturing the synthetic drug known as “bath salts.” It has side effects similar to methamphetamine or cocaine.

A bill to allow more Arizona employers to drop health plan coverage for contraceptives for birth control is on the move again in the Legislature.

The bill is scheduled for review Monday by the Senate Rules Committee. Approval by that committee would allow the bill to be considered by full the Senate.