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Recent Articles from Hank Stephenson
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.
Tobin, Kwasman push Medicaid bills, but neither measure has much of a chance
House Speaker Andy Tobin wants to enact more stringent regulations on who can use the state’s Medicaid system, while freshman Republican Rep. Adam Kwasman wants to repeal last year’s Medicaid expansion altogether. And on top of it all, they both want to be the next congressman from Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.
Sheriff’s death photos spark restriction debate
Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever lay dead in the driver’s seat of his wrecked pickup truck, his head turned away from the camera, his body slumped over toward the passenger’s side and his left arm bloody at the elbow. The shock of seeing the respected lawman dead sparked lawmakers to review what kinds of images should be considered public records.
Lawmakers look into legislative replacement process
Vacant political seats attract would-be politicians like manure attracts flies. Arizona lawmakers are stepping into a big pile of statutes governing how to deal with vacant seats with a pair of bills approved by a House committee last week.
House panel OKs repeal of referendum-targeted elections law
A House committee gave preliminary approval on Jan. 30 to a bill repealing last year’s controversial elections law, HB2305, despite objections from opponents of the law who gathered more than 110,000 signatures to put it on hold until voters weigh in during the 2014 election.
Lawmakers navigate maze of legal questions with proposed election law repeal
Faced with the threat of voters turning out in droves to rebuke them, Republican lawmakers who drafted and approved the election reform law HB2305 are preparing to repeal the controversial measure before the voters have a chance to repeal it themselves in the November election.
House committee to consider repeal of election reform law
A House panel is scheduled on Thursday to consider a pre-emptive repeal of last year’s election law changes, HB2305, before it goes up for a referendum vote this November.
Tobin faces challenge of uniting House Republican caucus
House Speaker Andy Tobin is entering his final year in the House, and it will be a busy year. Tobin must bring together the two factions of the Republican Caucus and maintain control of the House, while simultaneously hitting the campaign trail for Arizona’s massive 1st Congressional District.
Campbell hopes Democrats can play key role in budget, legislative process
House Democratic Leader Chad Campbell of Phoenix is entering his eighth and final year as a lawmaker, coming off of a huge win last year when Democrats were able to pass a budget including some of their key priorities with the help from a few Republicans and Gov. Jan Brewer. Campbell is hoping it won’t be a one-time deal and the minority party can become a real part of the budget and legislative[...]
