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Recent Articles from Evan Wyloge
‘Future of education’ panel previews education reform debate
Implementing new technology, competition, accountability and effective funding will be the key to preparing Arizona’s children for the complex global marketplace that now awaits them, a panel of education experts said Tuesday.
Lawmakers’ voting participation remains high in shorter session
Records from the past three legislative sessions point to a simple truism of the citizen-legislature model: The shorter the session, the better the attendance.
By keeping a 100-day session — the length prescribed by legislative rules — 27 of the Legislature’s 90 members voted on every bill that was brought to the floor, and only one lawmaker missed more than 20 percent of floor vo[...]
Redistricting commission’s attorney selection prompts criticism from Republicans
Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commissioners split along party lines Friday over who will serve as the group’s legal counsel, with the commission’s independent chair siding with the Democrats to select the firms Ballard Spahr and Osborn Maledon.
Redistricting commission moves closer to mapping work
Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission will publicly interview representatives from six law firms Thursday, and could select their legal counsel directly afterward.
Commissioners eye free mapping software, say it could be used differently than creators intended
Although all five members of Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission have said they're either aware of, or had logged into, the online mapping software that was released to the public recently by the Arizona Competitive Districts Coalition, which has a stated goal of increasing the number of “competitive districts,” they don't all agree about how it will be used.
IRC hires deputy director; attorneys and map consultant up next
Although the five-person panel has been fully constituted since early March, Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission will only be ready to begin their work recasting Arizona’s political districts once they’ve finished making key staff hires.
And given the pace the commission is moving toward being fully staffed, it could be early- to mid-June before commissioners begin to c[...]
Competitiveness advocates launch online mapping tool for public
Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission system was established in 2000 to bring transparency and accountability to what had traditionally been a behind-closed-doors process, and to eliminate the incentive to protect incumbent lawmakers’ election odds using creative line drawing.
Now, two former state lawmakers are spearheading a campaign that uses online software to up the a[...]
Brewer signs bill authorizing volunteer state militia
Gov. Jan Brewer has signed a bill creating a state militia that she could deploy at any time, and for any reason.
Mortgage bill striker draws ire for Reagan and McLain
A pair of Republican lawmakers was on the defense yesterday after bloggers began weaving a tale of conspiracy, alleging a piece of real estate legislation was killed in exchange for a lawsuit against one of the lawmakers being settled.
But according to the two lawmakers, the issue is an overblown case of coincidence and ignorance about the mechanics of how bills move through the Legisla[...]
As recommendations roll in, state health officials begin tricky task of identifying impropriety in medical marijuana system
Dozens of hopeful medical marijuana patients got their medical marijuana recommendations April 15 at a large medical marijuana expo in Glendale, but the recommendations signify what may become a struggle to allow only legitimately ill people into the medical marijuana program, and to discipline or strip the licenses from doctors who wantonly sign marijuana recommendations.
Regents ask Brewer to veto bill taking away their authority over university hospital
University regents are asking Gov. Jan Brewer to reject a proposal that aims to wrestle away their direct authority over the University Medical Center in Tucson.
Arizona politicos #starttheirownrumors
On the afternoon before sine die, House Speaker Kirk Adams decided to fire back at the political railbirds who have been speculating about a potential congressional run for the Mesa Republican.
