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Recent Articles from Caitlin Coakley Beckner
Necessity questioned of law sparked by controversial union contract provision
A law that took effect this week will either defend the state process of awarding public contracts from abuse by unions or do nothing but make Republican legislators feel good. It all depends on who you ask.
Tobin, House GOP support Kyl and McCain’s Wallow Fire recovery legislation
House Speaker Andy Tobin and 24 other House Republicans have sent a letter to Sens. John Kyl and John McCain voicing their support for legislation introduced earlier this week to help eastern Arizona recover from the Wallow Fire.
Lawmakers postpone meeting to discuss luring businesses from CA
In a meeting that was announced and canceled within the span of roughly three hours, lawmakers planned to push the message: Dear California businesses: Move to Arizona!
Court resumes monitoring TUSD desegregation efforts
The Ninth Circuit has re-instated court oversight of Tucson Unified School District’s desegregation efforts, with Judge Sidney Thomas writing in his opinion that the 2009 decision to grant the district “unitary” status was unfounded.
Lack of Internet sales tax pits small retailers vs. online giants
A 1992 Supreme Court decision ruled that online and mail-order retailers do not have to charge consumers sales tax if the company did not have a presence in the consumer’s state, opening the debate about what exactly constitutes a “presence.” A warehouse? A storefront?
Selling homemade food products gets green light
Starting next week, someone who wants to make a few bucks can whip up some tasty cookies in their kitchen and sell them down at the local farmer’s market with minimal regulations.
Corp. Comm approves slightly altered trash-incinerator waiver
The Arizona Corporation Commission today approved a waiver for a western Arizona utility to receive renewable energy credits for energy generated by a Phoenix-area waste-to-energy plant.
Corp Comm begins debate over giving garbage burning ‘renewable’ status
The Corporation Commission finally began hearing testimony surrounding a proposed waste incinerator today, after the item was pulled from two previous agendas and was bumped from yesterday’s hearing schedule due to time constraints.
Solar advocates say waste incinerators aren’t green enough
A proposed waste-to-energy plant in Phoenix is being touted by supporters as a source of renewable energy and a way to minimize the amount of trash in landfills. But critics of the project argue that the waste incinerators aren’t as green as supporters make them out to be — and the proposal has a loophole that could allow a utility to get renewable energy credit for burning fossil fuels.
Rural GOP legislators torn between ideology and helping jobless constituents
Not all Republicans are celebrating the special session as a victory over federal spending.
For representatives from rural areas, where unemployment is more than 20 percent in some pockets, it can be frustrating to hear their colleagues from urban centers like Phoenix denounce efforts to help the unemployed as unnecessary spending.
Tobin/Brewer tiff expected to heal
In his first real test in his new role, House Speaker Andy Tobin found himself battling Gov. Jan Brewer.
Six weeks after being chosen by his caucus, Tobin and Brewer squared off over an extension of unemployment insurance: Brewer wanted to extend the benefits by 20 weeks and make some limited reforms, while Tobin publicly challenged her to expand the special session to include corporate[...]
Arizona unemployment rate drops again
For the second consecutive month, Arizona’s unemployment rate has dropped, according to figures released today by the Office of Employment and Population Statistics
