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Recent Articles from Caitlin Coakley Beckner
Q&A with House Speaker Andy Tobin
The timing for Andy Tobin’s ascension to speaker of the House was pretty favorable. The state is beginning to see an uptick in revenues due to a recovering economy, so the battle over the budget is likely to be less adversarial this session than it was in previous years.
But Tobin cautions against anyone getting the impression that the state has money to burn. As long as the state has[...]
Q&A with House Minority Leader Chad Campbell
It hasn’t been a banner past couple years for the Democrats. Faced with a Republican supermajority, their power at the Legislature has been limited.
Assessing this year’s session, House Minority Leader Chad Campbell has a similarly dim outlook. Democrats are still outnumbered two-to-one, and a looming election may mean lawmakers focus on more ideological issues. But there are some p[...]
Lawmakers, group want to hand big tax break to businesses
Businesses planning on purchasing new machinery in 2013 or later may get some tax relief under a referendum at the state Legislature. HCR 2009, sponsored by Rep. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, and developed by the Arizona chapter of the National Federation of Independent Businesses would exempt the first $2.4 million of new equipment or machinery purchased after 2013 from the business personal proper[...]
Yee running for Senate
Adding to the list of lawmakers who hope to switch chambers, Rep. Kimberly Yee announced today that she will be running for the Senate this year.
Seel plans scaled-down ‘birther’ bill
One of Arizona’s more notorious bills from last session will be resurrected this year.
Rep. Carl Seel, R-Phoenix, plans to introduce a new version of his so-called “birther” bill that was vetoed last year by Gov. Jan Brewer.
Tobin criticizes media, Dems in Chamber speech
The 2011 session may be over, but some Republicans are still holding a grudge over the criticism to which they say they were subjected. House Speaker Andy Tobin chastised the media and Democrats in the Legislature, arguing that Republicans made the tough decisions to cut the budget and pass the Arizona Competitiveness Package amid “abuse” from the press and the minority party.
Business group to focus on regulatory, tort, tax reform
With old battles settled, business advocates are turning their attention to some of the more “niche” issues for the business community during the 2012 legislative session.
Gray ends congressional bid, endorses Salmon
Former state Senate Majority Leader Chuck Gray announced today that he has withdrawn from the race rather than challenge the three other candidates for the seat. With Gray out, the race remains between former state House Speaker Kirk Adams, former Congressman Matt Salmon and Arizona Air National Guard Capt. Travis Grantham.
Tucson lawmaker considers bill to target ‘flash robs’
As videos go viral of teenagers streaming in and out of stores and grabbing merchandise off shelves, Rep. Terri Proud is working on legislation to bring conspiracy laws into the technology age. The Tucson Republican plans to introduce a bill to make it a felony to use electronic communication to plan or organize crimes.
ADOT seeks $97M from feds for 3 projects – gets zip
The third round of federal transportation grants has come and gone, and Arizona is left with an empty tank. The Arizona Department of Transportation applied for grants for three projects totaling $97 million, but didn’t get a piece of the $511 million doled out.
Scandal prompts bill to increase access to companies’ financial disclosures
As part of the state’s response to the Fiesta Bowl scandal, the Secretary of State’s office is planning to make financial disclosure statements more accessible to the public.
Revamp of legislative sessions proposed to get business interests more involved
Seeking some new perspective at the Capitol, a handful of politicos are looking at ways to bring more structure and efficiency to the legislative session in the hope that more people — particularly those in the business world — would be able to run for office.
