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Recent Articles from Ben Giles
Abortion medication bill before Ducey based on obsolete FDA standards
A bill awaiting Gov. Doug Ducey’s signature or veto would require doctors to administer medication abortions using outdated federal standards.
State measure would prevent cities from setting their own minimum wages
The Arizona Senate tomorrow is set to consider a measure that would strip Arizona’s counties, cities and towns of the ability to set their own minimum wages and their explicit right to adopt employee benefits of their own liking.
Adoption process complicated by disparity between state law and Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage
At least one Arizona judge claims courts can’t certify same-sex married couples to jointly adopt, as long as state law grants that right only to a husband and wife.
Jim Covarrubias: Adorning hallways of the Senate
If you’ve ever wandered beyond the first floor of the Arizona Senate, you’ve likely seen the work of Jim Covarrubias, a Phoenix-based artist whose paintings have adorned the hallways of the second and third floors for more than a year. Covarrubias, whose downtown Phoenix studio is full to the brim of paintings, has a wide variety to choose from, and has curated and adjusted the work on display[...]
Lesko bill would eliminate most school desegregation funding
Sen. Debbie Lesko is again trying to eliminate a tax mechanism that allows some Arizona school districts to raise millions of dollars in funding allotted for desegregation and student achievement efforts.
Ducey halts advance of JTED restoration bill
Gov. Doug Ducey put a swift stop to a vote on a bill that aims to restore funding for technical education districts, sparking a standoff between him and legislators.
Driggs opts not to seek re-election; Brophy McGee to run for his seat
Sen. Adam Driggs won’t seek re-election this fall. The Phoenix Republican and son of former Phoenix mayor John Driggs announced his decision not to seek a sixth term in the Legislature in a press release Tuesday afternoon.
Panel advances bill to ease child safety caseloads
A House panel advanced a bill that would exempt the Department of Child Safety from investigating certain non-criminal reports of abuse or neglect.
Child Safety agency pushes for new way of measuring case backlog
The Department of Child Safety has been judged since its creation by the number of cases it has left behind, but now agency leaders are asking to be monitored by a new metric.
Prisons received nearly $1 million to cover leap year costs
The only agency in Arizona that requires leap year funding was allocated more than $900,000 to cover the costs of one extra calendar day.
Open for comment: Lawmaker lets people talk, and they have plenty to say
Hours after the experts had their say – the budget analysts, representatives from the Arizona Board of Regents, and the presidents of the Grand Canyon State’s public universities – the public had a chance to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27. Senators got more than they bargained for.
Bill criminalizing filming police actions killed by sponsor
Sen. John Kavanagh said he won't pursue legislation that would have criminalized filming law enforcement activity from a close range.
