Recent Articles from Evan Wyloge
Redistricting chairwoman explains shredded documents, vote corralling
Testifying in federal court, Colleen Mathis finally had her chance to give a direct explanation for events that, over the past two years, have been woven into a full-blown conspiracy theory by Arizona Republicans.
Brewer sales tax overhaul moving in Senate
Gov. Jan Brewer's proposed overhaul of the state's complex sales tax collection system is moving forward in the Senate, even as negotiations continue to change it to allay fears from cities and towns and some lawmakers express concern it is too sweeping to be accomplished in one session.
Supreme Court deals potentially fatal setback to Arizona medical marijuana lawsuit
The Arizona Supreme Court today denied a request to have the state’s preeminent medical marijuana lawsuit skip an appellate court review and move directly to the state’s high court, leading advocates of the system to declare victory in the more-than-two-year legal struggle over the voter-approved law’s legitimacy.
Redistricting commission almost out of money as legal fees stack up
The state’s redistricting commission will run out of money before legal fees accrued in multiple lawsuits can be paid, the commission’s staff said Thursday. The commission’s director has begun negotiating with the Legislature over another supplemental appropriation.
Redistricting commission to consider appeal of legislative privilege ruling
The state’s redistricting commission is set to discuss the lawsuits it is embroiled in today, and weigh an appeal of a recent ruling that forced commissioners to answer questions from attorneys who want to prove a conspiracy led to a legislative map that critics say favors Democrats.
Report: Gov’s sales tax plan may hit general fund
A study by the Arizona Legislature's independent financial analysts shows Gov. Jan Brewer's proposed overhaul of the state's sales tax collection system could cost the general fund nearly $140 million a year. A second new study by an outside group puts the number at $125 million.
AZ Dem Party director pulled into redistricting conspiracy lawsuit
With less than two weeks before the start of the trial over whether a Democratic conspiracy rigged Arizona’s legislative map, attorneys representing each side are engaged in an 11th-hour fight over what testimony will be included and what evidence each side will get to introduce.
Judge orders additional release of redistricting commission’s internal documents
Attorneys hoping to prove that three of Arizona’s five redistricting commissioners intentionally designed legislative districts to favor Democrats made progress March 7 in their fight to get the commission’s attorneys to release more of the commissioners’ internal documents and communications.
Courts: Redistricting lawsuits to move forward, commissioners cannot invoke legislative immunity
A series of court rulings issued late last week in two lawsuits against the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission further pave the path for Republican litigants who hope to prove the commission illegally created maps to favor Democrats.
Lawmaker drove school bus in her campaign for student safety
Defeated in 2010 in her re-election bid, McGuire went back to her home in Kearny and got a job as a school bus driver for the Ray Unified School District. She returned to the Capitol this year armed with the experience she gained from a year spent driving students to and from schools.
Colorado City shows bizarre voting trends
Nearly every person in Arizona who voted in the 2012 election cast a ballot for some presidential candidate, whether Mitt Romney, Barack Obama or some other candidate — except in the polygamist community of Colorado City.
Fred DuVal files for AZ gubernatorial run
Fred DuVal’s gubernatorial campaign is semi-official after filing an exploratory committee today, making him the first Democrat to test the waters for the state’s top office in 2014.