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Recent Articles from Ben Giles
Session Wrap with Gov. Doug Ducey
In the first session of Doug Ducey’s second term in office, the governor experienced his longest session yet, though the results were much the same – Ducey got most of what he wanted, including a billion dollars tucked away for a rainy day.
Ducey says voucher fix is high priority next year
Gov. Doug Ducey wants to expand Arizona’s voucher program to allow Native American students to spend public monies outside the state’s borders.
Law or not, school voucher oversight in the works
A provision slipped into the budget directs state officials to contract with a private company to help administer Arizona’s school voucher program.
Lawmaker’s encounter leads to de-escalation training for school cops
Police officers patrolling school campuses will soon undergo new training on de-escalation and crisis intervention with students, thanks to a tweet from Rep. Alma Hernandez.
Clean Elections Commission on verge of losing quorum
Arizona’s Citizens Clean Elections Commission is months away from a crisis.
Question of revenge, fatigue surrounds final House vote
Depending on who you ask, a final vote by the House of Representatives was either a sign that weary lawmakers were ready to go home, a shot across the bow at Senate Democrats or a vengeful act by Republicans against a member of their own party.
Dem lawmakers say proposed law makes AG ‘kingmaker’ for ballot measures
Put another way, the attorney general could tweak language on the ballot to sway public opinion in favor of a citizen initiative, or against one.
Lawmaker warns against bill pushed by vaping industry
Some say a measure to increase the age for buying tobacco and vape products to 21 comes at too high a cost, at least if lawmakers agree to a proposal pushed by the vaping industry.
Fann blocks bill for special tuition rate for ‘dreamers’
After voting for a bill that would ensure immigrants covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program can affordably attend Arizona community colleges and universities, Senate President Karen Fann is blocking the measure.
Senate sours on lemonade as official state drink
Bill to make lemonade Arizona's state drink fails.
Ward: State GOP backs tax hike for education
The state Republican Party has staked out a rare policy position by backing a tax hike – as long as GOP lawmakers don’t have to do it alone.
100 days of session and no end in sight
Senate President Karen Fann is pursuing what a fellow Republican lawmaker calls “the impossible dream†– a truly bipartisan budget with spending priorities that reflect Republican and Democratic priorities.
