Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

It’s good to be president. Senate President Andy Biggs of Gilbert was the most successful lawmaker of the year – at least in terms of his legislative batting average.

Democratic Sen. Ed Ableser of Tempe retook his crown for missing the most votes of any lawmaker this year, after losing the title last year to former Democratic Sen. Steve Gallardo. Ableser voted on only 73 percent of the bills that came before the Senate this year.

After only a few months on the job, Arizona House Speaker David Gowan is still getting his footing. Gowan, a Republican from Sierra Vista, sat down with the Arizona Capitol Times to discuss the trials, tribulations and successes of his first year leading the House.

Now in his final term as a representative, House Democratic Leader Eric Meyer discussed his first session leading House Democrats. The Paradise Valley Democrat also looked back on how things have changed for Democrats in his time at the Capitol, and looked ahead to the future of his caucus, as well as his own plans for the future.

Reaction was quick and decisive when House Republicans learned of Speaker David Gowan’s plans for a second large-scale renovation of the chamber in the past six months.

Republican Rep. Bob Thorpe of Flagstaff is the new poster child for the Republican insurrection against President Obama, at least according to a pair of recent editorials in national newspapers.

House Speaker David Gowan’s Republican colleagues don’t trust him with the power of the House purse. Gowan told the Arizona Capitol Times that the House has plans in place for a large-scale construction project. The project, which Gowan said is still in the planning phase, will include installing showers and building a new “multi-purpose” room, a massive overhaul of the House basement and offices there, along with new carpet throughout the House.

Just months after the Arizona House of Representatives received a $375,000 facelift, House Speaker David Gowan is planning another massive renovation of the chamber.

Early in the morning of April 3, Senate President Andy Biggs decided he and the state Senate had waited long enough. He unilaterally pulled the plug on the legislative session.

Democrats were smitten when the House voted down Democratic Sen. Carlyle Begay’s bill to expand Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to all students on Native American reservations.