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Recent Articles from Hank Stephenson
House votes to restrict public access to autopsy photos
Arizona lawmakers want to exempt autopsy photos from the Arizona public records laws, so the House of Representatives approved a bill March 5 stating photos of the dead taken by county medical examiners cannot be released to the public or media without a judge’s approval.
Ballot reconsideration measure advances
A measure asking voters every eight years to reconsider ballot measures that require spending money was approved March 5 by the House of Representatives.
House votes to outlaw ‘aggressive’ begging
The Arizona House of Representatives on March 5 approved a bill that would place restrictions on where people can ask for spare change, and outlaw “aggressive panhandling.”
House approves “academic intervention” bill
Students with poor grades may have to buckle down on their studies before they can play in the football game or dance on the cheerleading team if a bill approved by the House on March 4 becomes law.
Legislative panel votes to increase cost of obtaining public records
Citing a need to protect government against the costs of excessive public records requests by citizens, lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a bill that would increase the cost of obtaining public records that take government employees more than eight hours to compile and redact.
Reality versus rhetoric in the SB1062 debate
Though the word “gay” appears nowhere in the innocuous-looking two-page bill that has placed Arizona in the national spotlight, opponents call SB1062, which is awaiting Gov. Jan Brewer’s action, an outright attack on gay rights of a monumental level.
Free market advocates still propose new regulations
Government regulations on business and the free market are a favorite target of scorn from Republicans in the Legislature, but members of the party of limited government have introduced legislation this year to increase and expand regulations on a variety of businesses.
Voting rights activists burn petitions, swarm House in protest of HB2305 repeal
Voting rights activists are putting lawmakers on the spot and trying to get promises that Republicans won’t do an “end run” around voters by repealing last year’s election reform law before voters have a chance to repeal it themselves.
Water experts warn of short-term, long-term shortages
Some of Arizona’s leading experts in water policy warned that the state is facing both a short-term and a long-term water crisis, and agreed that solving the problem will require political leadership and more money.
Money pouring into CD1 GOP primary, but Dem Kirkpatrick leads
Arizona’s first congressional district will be one of the hardest fought, most competitive races in the country, and the money is already coming in to prove it.
Election bills by party
Both parties have proposals to change Arizona's election laws.
Q&A with Rep. John Kavanagh
Republican Rep. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills was one of two legislators (along with Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson) to receive the honor of Humane Lawmaker of the Year from the Humane Society this week at its annual rally to encourage lawmakers to enact more animal-friendly legislation.
