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Recent Articles from Hank Stephenson
Lawmaker and girlfriend leave Plumlee to fend for herself in Tempe
There’s a bitter primary brewing in Tempe’s Legislative District 26, but not the one politicos were expecting.
Voters approve changes to public safety pensions
Arizona’s dangerously underfunded public safety pension system will undergo a substantial reform after voters approved Proposition 124 in Tuesday’s special election.
Former Arizona Lawmaker arrested on suspicion of murder
Former Arizona lawmaker Mark DeSimone has been arrested in connection with a homicide in Alaska, according to court documents posted on the website of the Juneau Empire newspaper.
Gowan OKs, then bars controversial group from meeting on House floor
America’s civil rights legacy has been “hijacked” by blacks, and revisionist history unfairly denigrates “English-speaking white citizens” even though they freed the slaves and ended segregation, according to a group planning a “civil rights conference” on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives later this month.
GOP fundraiser with ties to anti-pot campaign arrested in massive drug bust
Emily Pitha, a fundraiser for establishment Republicans, was arrested this week following a police raid on her Phoenix home that found a meth lab, cocaine, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and the beginning of a marijuana grow-house.
Timeline: How budget negotiations are unfolding
Last year, lawmakers approved a state budget in record-breaking time and adjourned the shortest legislative session since 1968. But this year, the process is going much slower.
Congressional fundraising: A sneak peek at who has the cash and who doesn’t
Congressional candidates filed their first fundraising reports of 2016, giving a sneak peek at who has the cash to run for Congress and who is lagging behind.
State universities slated to get $5M for little-known ‘freedom schools’
One of the few reprieves the universities are getting is a $5 million addition specifically earmarked for “economic freedom schools.” However, many lawmakers have no idea what an “economic freedom school” or center is.
WHAT’S LEFT? A lot still on the docket for 2016
Monday, April 18, marks the 99th day of the 2016 legislative session and begins what, by lawmakers’ own rules, is supposed to be the final week of work. But there is still a lot to get done.
Appearance in a front row seat creates a stir at DBacks opener
When House Speaker David Gowan was spotted on live TV sitting in the front row directly behind the batter at the Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day game, tongues started wagging.
Campaign finance overhaul cedes ‘dark money’ authority to feds
Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law a massive overhaul of Arizona’s campaign finance laws, which opponents fear will usher in a wave of anonymous campaign spending and add to the rising tide of money in politics.
Ducey vetoes cursive instruction mandate
Gov. Doug Ducey has vetoed a bill to require schools to teach cursive handwriting to all Arizona students.
