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Recent Articles from Jim Small
No budget yet, but some details slipping out
Republican lawmakers hoped to have a budget plan approved by March 4, but were apparently unable to cobble together the support needed to paper over $3.4 billion in deficit.
UpClose with Stan Barnes
Reporters often turn to Stan Barnes as someone who can talk about the infighting in the Republican Party, for two main reasons: Not only does he have a snappy way with words that makes for good quotes, but he's brutally honest about what he sees happening.
Brewer wants tax hike or targeted cuts to schools, cities
In an attempt to curry public support for her sales tax increase proposal, Gov. Jan Brewer has sought to make deep cuts to education and to allow the state to keep some of the money it normally shares with cities if voters reject the temporary tax increase in May's special election.
GOP budget plan includes more than $1B in cuts
Details of the Republican budget plan given to majority party lawmakers this week show they and Gov. Jan Brewer aim to close a nearly $2.7 billion budget gap with more than $1.1 billion in cuts and wholesale elimination of a number of state programs.
Budget plan shifts cost of jailing juveniles to cities, counties
Lawmakers are tossing around a budget plan that would shutter the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, put counties in charge of incarcerating juveniles and shift some of the cost to municipalities.
Budget plan includes dramatic reduction in AHCCCS enrollment
Republican leaders say they hope to get approval by the end of the week for a proposal to fill in yawning deficits in both this fiscal year and the next, though the spending plan has yet to be made public.
Foreclosure scams add to homeowner misery
Gregory Nave wanted justice after he was bilked out of $3,495 by a foreclosure consultant, but the state Attorney General's Office told him there were no laws to protect against the kind of scam that victimized him and thousands of other Arizonans.
Bennett backs campaign reporting requirements, stiff penalties
Arizona's elections chief says the state needs to overhaul a portion of its campaign finance laws to maintain an informed electorate after the nation's top court gave corporations the ability to pay for political advertisements.
New House member Reeve a conservative, but not an ideologue
Arizona's newest state legislator said she sees beauty in the Socratic Method, by which opposing views on an issue submit to questions and debate ideas.
Rep. Amanda Reeve, a Phoenix Republican, said she doesn't subscribe to the my-way-or-the-highway style of politics.
‘Sanctuary cities’ bill ready for debate on House floor
A sweeping illegal immigration bill is set for debate on the House floor after receiving approval from a committee along a party-line vote Feb. 24.
Bill would restrict political activity of government employees
Teachers who gathered at the Arizona Capitol last year to protest budget cuts wouldn’t be able to do so again unless they took a vacation day under a bill approved by a House committee Feb. 23.
Panel OKs bill to track illegal immigrant students
A House panel has approved a bill that would require schools to annually report how many illegal immigrants are enrolled and how much it costs to educate them.
