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Recent Articles from Jim Small
Court perfect at the plate in 2010 – 5 of 5 bills signed
To say the 2010 regular legislative session was different than the 2009 session would be an understatement of epic proportions. Gone was the Senate’s 2009 moratorium on hearing bills until after the budget work was completed. Gone, too, was the combative relationship between legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer.
Six state representatives say goodbye to Capitol
Six state representatives say goodbye to Capitol
Invigorated conservatives take a hard right with legislation
When the dust settled on the 2008 elections, one thing was clear: The Legislature was about to get considerably more conservative.
House speaker channels his ‘inner Russell Pearce’
Kirk Adams presided over the House of Representatives during what may go down as one of the most conservative legislatures in Arizona history. The past two years have seen more than $2 billion in spending cuts as lawmakers grappled with annual budget deficits totaling nearly three times that amount, as well as a raft of conservative policy decisions on everything from abortion to guns to immigrati[...]
House minority leader says more Democrats headed to Legislature
The past two years may not have shaped up the way David Lujan imagined when he ran for minority leader in the fall of 2008.
Trespassing law may turn more illegal immigrants into citizens
Arizona’s new immigration law may have been aimed at deporting as many illegal immigrants as possible, but an ironic side effect will allow more undocumented residents to apply for temporary work visas and permanent U.S. citizenship, according to research by the Arizona Capitol Times.
Burns orchestrated state comp fund privatization amid some concerns
Senate President Bob Burns helped hurry the passage of a bill, signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer on May 7, which cuts ties between the State Compensation Fund and state government.
Sides await ruling after Quelland Superior Court appeal
A superior court judge heard arguments this morning in the appeal of a Republican legislator who was ordered to be removed from office last year after it was determined he violated public campaign finance rules.
Phoenix Democrat’s role at Capitol differs from his father’s
Campbell Jr. grew up in the giant footsteps of his father, following the senior Campbell into both business and politics.
Sprint toward sine die
Of the 352 bills approved by lawmakers in the 2010 regular session, nearly 40 percent of them got their final thumbs-up during the two-day sprint toward sine die that saw lawmakers work late into the night in order to wrap up the year’s work.
Legislature sends nine referrals to ballot – initiative still coming
Lawmakers are asking voters to weigh in on seven items when they head to the polls in November, including revamping the way the state’s top two elected posts are chosen.
After five years, Ableser lands first bill on gov’s desk
Yesterday was a day of firsts for Rep. Ed Ableser. Sure, it was the first time in his brief legislative career that the House and Senate would end their annual... […]
