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Recent Articles from Hank Stephenson
Ballot initiative warning bill revived in House
Your November ballot will contain a new warning that lawmakers cannot nullify voters’ decisions on citizen initiatives if a bill approved by the House becomes law.
Lawmakers build on state’s reputation as a great place to own guns
Guns and Ammo Magazine didn’t name Arizona the best place to live for gun owners for nothing. Republican lawmakers have consistently deregulated gun ownership, making it possible to have more people carrying guns in more places with less training. That all adds up to some of the most relaxed gun laws in the country, which the magazine cited when putting out its 2013 analysis of state gun law[...]
Party bike bill goes to governor
Gov. Jan Brewer will have to decide if a three-wheel motorcycle should require a motorcycle license to operate, and whether party-goers can continue to drink and peddle on “party bikes.”
Despite lots of clucking, chicken bill doesn’t come home to roost
Republican Sen. David Farnsworth’s bill to allow a chicken in every backyard captured the imagination of Arizonans and was one of the most talked-about bills of the legislative session.
A massacre narrowly averted: Lawmaker can’t stop talking about life-changing weekend at Nevada ranch
Republican Rep. David Livingston of Peoria frustrated his fellow representatives on Tuesday when, during voting on a half-dozen bills, he stood to “explain his vote” but actually described his experiences over the weekend at the Bundy Ranch in Nevada.
Committee considers causes of cops shooting suspects
Two Phoenix City Council members at a special legislative hearing on police-involved shootings blamed an uptick in those cases on low police staffing levels and the lack of respect youths have for police officers.
From trampolines to Teslas, lawmakers’ work remains unfinished
Besides the budget, what’s left for Arizona lawmakers to do this year? Well, almost everything. From big issues such as income tax reform, to niche ideas like allowing backyard chickens in neighborhoods throughout the state, the Legislature set out with an ambitious agenda.
House GOP reach compromise, approve $9.2B budget
After a week of political bargaining over the state budget that included a failed attempt to consider the spending package on the floor and an emotionally charged press conference declaring negotiations had broken down, Republicans in the House of Representatives banded together to approve a $9.24 billion spending plan for the 2015 fiscal year late Thursday night.
Moderates walk out as House budget negotiations break down
Six moderate Republicans put on a show of force this afternoon, marching out of the House to announce that budget negotiations between them and House Republican leadership had officially reached an impasse on the Senate budget proposal.
House panel quickly approves budget similar to Senate’s
The House Appropriations Committee today approved a package of House budget bills that were amended to directly mirror the spending proposal approved by the Senate last week.
Taxi apps and pink mustaches: Rideshare battle heats up in Senate
The Senate was swarming with people wearing little pink mustaches stuck to their shirts on March 19 when a Senate committee considered a bill that would allow free market competition into the transportation industry, or provide an unfair competitive advantage for companies operating outside the law – depending on your point of view.
House preparing to move own budget as Tobin expresses concern about Senate plan
The House is taking its first steps toward introducing its own budget proposal as a counter to the proposal the Senate introduced late Monday.
