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Recent Articles from Ben Giles
‘Mass confusion’ led to death of revised revenge porn bill
The Arizona Senate’s unilateral decision to adjourn left numerous bills for dead, including a measure designed to outlaw “revenge porn” and settle an ongoing lawsuit against the state.
Bump in state revenues could be offset by new law
The state’s ending balance in fiscal 2016 could be better than the Legislature predicted when it adopted a budget in March, unless Gov. Doug Ducey signs a bill conforming state business taxes to the federal standards.
State Supreme Court rules in favor of medical marijuana users
Arizona government officials are barred from taking any actions that disallow medical marijuana patients from taking their medicine, even as a term of probation, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled April 7.
Bill making it tougher to recall elected officials sent to governor
The House on April 1 gave final approval to HB2407, which demands strict compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements for referendum and recall efforts – or else a judge may toss out the voter-driven effort.
Marijuana legalization advocate threatens to ‘harm’ business of former ally
The Marijuana Policy Project threatened “to harm” the medical marijuana dispensary owned by a doctor who is leading a splinter group pushing recreational marijuana legalization in Arizona.
Common Core support stalls Ducey nominee to Board of Education
A nominee for the Arizona Board of Education won’t be confirmed this year over one senator’s objections to his support of the Common Core education standards.
Senate again kills legislation to get rid of Common Core
Arizona lawmakers defeated yet another effort to prohibit the state from using the Common Core education standards.
Montgomery calls pot-smoking veteran ‘enemy’ of Constitution
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery told a veteran he has “no respect for you” and called him an “enemy” of the U.S. Constitution after the man admitted to recreational use of marijuana.
New group registers to push for legalized marijuana in Arizona
A new effort has emerged to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona, creating a fracture in the campaign to put the issue to a public vote in 2016.
First Amendment attorney warns of unintended consequences in police shooting bill
A police shooting bill approved by the Legislature and sent to Gov. Doug Ducey would strike the names of police officers from all public records – including everything from disciplinary records to police reports to traffic accident reports, an attorney who specializes in First Amendment issues has warned.
Critics urge governor to veto bill that would keep officers’ names secret
Critics are calling on Gov. Doug Ducey to veto a bill that would keep the names of officers who use deadly force a secret for two months.
Greg McKay confirmed as new Child Safety director
The state Senate confirmed Greg McKay as the new director of the Department of Child Safety despite objections from some legislators who say they lacked all the necessary information to vet Gov. Doug Ducey’s appointee.
