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Recent Articles from Hank Stephenson
Despite last session’s failed bill, ridesharing keeps rolling along in Arizona
When Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a bill earlier this year that would have authorized rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft to operate in the state and regulated them differently than taxis, Uber declared that “ridesharing as we know it is dead in Arizona.”
Burgeoning beer business seeks lifeline from Legislature
There’s a battle brewing over microbreweries. For Arizona’s two largest craft beer brewing companies, business is booming. In fact, Four Peaks and San Tan brewing companies are producing so much beer that they’re pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a microbrewery. They’re brushing up against state-imposed caps on the amount of beer a microbrewery can brew.
Incoming lawmaker’s warrant quashed after friend pays fines
After getting a little help from her friend, Democratic Rep.-elect Ceci Velasquez is no longer wanted by police for a bench warrant from unpaid fines stemming from a trio of traffic tickets in 2010.
Caught in the middle: Democrats, Republicans rejoice in defeating Orr
In his attempt to walk the middle road in the highly partisan Arizona Legislature, Republican Rep. Ethan Orr of Tucson united the conservative right and the liberal left against him, creating strange bedfellows and a perfect storm that swept him out of office.
Lawmaker on the run from the law
Democratic Rep.-elect Ceci Velasquez is a wanted woman. Florence Municipal Court records show that Velasquez has a warrant out for her arrest due to her failure to pay fines associated with a trio of traffic violations in 2010, when she was cited for driving on a suspended license, in a vehicle with suspended registration and no mandatory insurance.
Democrat Randall Friese retakes Lead over Republican Rep. Ethan Orr
Democrat Randall Friese has taken a 233-vote lead over Republican Rep. Ethan Orr in what has become a seesaw race for the second House seat in Tucson’s Legislative District 9.
House Dems choose Meyer, Wheeler, Rios for leadership
House Democrats in their leadership meeting on Thursday chose Rep. Eric Meyer of Paradise Valley as their new leader, replacing the outgoing minority leader, Rep. Chad Campbell of Phoenix. Meyer is in his fourth term at the Legislature, and hails from the Republican-leaning Legislative District 28.
House GOP selects David Gowan as next speaker
Arizona House Republicans who won their elections met this afternoon to select a new leadership team, and chose Republican Rep. David Gowan of Sierra Vista for speaker of the House.
Meyer, McGee to return as incumbents carry the day in LD 28
Democratic Rep. Eric Meyer will return to the Capitol after maintaining his solid lead over Republican challenger Shawnna Bolick in Phoenix’s Legislative District 28, where he has won three straight elections despite a 12 percentage point Republican voter registration advantage.
No safe district: 2 Republicans poised for upsets in Dem-heavy districts
A pair of upsets are catching the political establishment by surprise: Two southern Arizona Democrats in heavily Democratic legislative districts are trailing Republicans in state House races.
Tobin concedes CD1 race to Kirkpatrick
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is widening her lead over Republican Speaker of the Arizona House Andy Tobin in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, up to more than 5,000 votes, or nearly 5 percentage points, from 2,000 votes earlier in the night.
Voters reject Prop. 304 – no pay raise for lawmakers
Arizona lawmakers won’t be receiving a pay increase, as Proposition 304, which would have increased lawmakers’ salary to $35,000 annually from $24,000, was soundly defeated.
