Recent Articles from Jeremy Duda and Hank Stephenson
Governor’s Office, Legislature refresh look of websites
The Arizona Governor’s Office and the Legislature got a digital facelift this week, as both debuted new websites.
Nest Eggs: Governor, Legislature plan to keep leftover funds
When times were tough and money was scarce, the Governor’s Office and Legislature held onto millions in leftover funds while cutting budgets elsewhere. Now that Arizona’s budget is back in the black, they’re showing little interest in changing course.
Ward to resign seat for U.S. Senate run
With the 2016 legislative session just a month away, Sen. Kelli Ward will resign her seat to focus full-time on her Republican primary challenge to U.S. Sen. John McCain.
Supreme Court upholds IRC authority over congressional districts
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled upheld the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission’s authority to draw congressional districts, defying expectations that it would return that power to the Legislature for the first time in more than 20 years.
Nest eggs: Governor, Legislature sat on millions during budget cuts
Gov. Doug Ducey and Republican lawmakers like to talk about the hard decisions they had to make regarding where to cut the state budget. But when it comes to their own portions of the state budget, they didn’t cut a dime.
Hashtag Activism: Social media war rages at the Capitol
For the #governor and #Democrats in the Legislature, 2015 may be remembered as the year of the hashtag. Policymakers embraced social media this session as never before.
Negotiations between Clean Elections, House leadership fell short
Disagreements over the Citizens Clean Elections Commission’s authority over nonparticipating candidates and independent expenditure committees derailed a possible last-minute deal with House Republican leadership over the future of Arizona’s system of public funding for political campaigns.
Lawmakers fell in line as the usual budget opposition failed to materialize
Gov. Doug Ducey and Republican legislative leadership’s quest for swift passage of their first budget was aided by unusually lackluster opposition from Democratic lawmakers and GOP critics.
Election bill lives on: HB2305, or at least parts of it, return
Last year, Republican lawmakers said they heard the public’s outcry loud and clear, and they repealed their high-profile, far-reaching 2013 election law, HB2305.
What now? Election losers look to the future
Life goes on after election losses. Some of those knocked down in the November election are already pulling themselves up, preparing for the next run for office. Others are moving on, disillusioned with politics. Still others are angling for jobs with new administrations
Brewer backs newcomers who could carry on her legacy
While Gov. Jan Brewer follows through on her pledge to help Republican lawmakers who backed her in her battle for Medicaid expansion, the governor is also lending a hand to legislative hopefuls who could fight for her vision after she leaves office.
AZ election laws overhauled in 2013
The past year included perhaps the most significant changes to Arizona’s election laws since the creation of the Clean Elections system and independent redistricting more than a decade earlier.