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Recent Articles from Ben Giles
Senator wants to broadly expand law designed to punish wayward cities
A law that allows the state to withhold the revenues from communities that don’t do as Arizona lawmakers please has been called illegal coercion. Sen. Steve Smith wants to expand it.
JLBC chief cautions lawmakers on governor’s spending plans
Legislative budget analysts pumped the brakes on Gov. Doug Ducey’s spending proposals this week, cautioning lawmakers that the governor’s projection of available revenues is far rosier than their own.
Ducey proposes first step toward restoration of all-day kindergarten
A coalition of educators, business figures, politicians and others advocating for full-day kindergarten in Arizona could see their vision take a step toward reality in 2017.
Q&A: New Senate President Yarbrough focused on fiscal stability
Senate President Steve Yarbrough takes the helm of the Senate this session, culminating 14 years of service in the Arizona Legislature.
Q&A: Democratic leader Hobbs proposes tax reform to fund Ducey’s priorities
Entering her third year as minority leader, Sen. Katie Hobbs must juggle something new — Senate President Steve Yarbrough, the first new leader of the chamber in four years — with something old — the same 13-vote minority that Democrats have held for three of the past four years.
School advocates to Ducey: Show us the cash
Advocates for Arizona public schools say Gov. Doug Ducey needs to back up his stated intent to better fund teachers with cash for years to come.
Lawmaker: Treat violent rifts over Trump, political views like hate crime
Sen. John Kavanagh wants judges to consider political affiliation, beliefs or opinions in the same way they consider crimes motivated by factors like race and gender.
New legislator avoids constitutional question by resigning from town council
Maria Syms has resigned from the Paradise Valley Town Council, a move that allows her to avoid violating the Arizona Constitution when she is sworn in as a state representative.
Ducey pursues damage control in dealing with flawed agency heads
Three agency directors appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey were forced out by the governor in 2016 amid concerns they acted out of line right under the governor’s nose.
Arizona Chamber of Commerce sues to block new minimum wage law
The state chamber, joined by several local chambers, and two Arizona taxpayers and restaurant owners, filed a complaint this morning seeking an immediate injunction against Proposition 206.
State will provide emergency funds to offset minimum wage hike
Arizona health officials announced an emergency infusion of funds to help offset the costs of the state’s new minimum wage.
Stealing an American flag would be a felony under Kavanagh bill
Stealing an American flag could soon be a felony in Arizona.
