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Recent Articles from Jim Small
House speaker proposes first lawsuit against redistricting map
House Speaker Andy Tobin is planning to ask lawmakers to sue the state’s redistricting commission over the constitutionality of the legislative map the panel crafted.
Corp. Comm. attorney: Measure to restrict renewable standards is power grab
Legislation aimed at barring the Arizona Corporation Commission from adopting renewable energy standards that are more stringent than what is currently in place is an unconstitutional power grab by lawmakers, the Commission’s lead attorney says.
Brewer’s cornerstone bill delayed in House
The cornerstone bill in Gov. Jan Brewer’s 2012 agenda was supposed to be debated on the House floor today, but it was left off today’s House floor calendar, pushing off debate of the sweeping personnel reform legislation until later in the week.
Ethics Committee to meet on Patterson complaint
The House Ethics Committee will meet March 13 to consider an ethics complaint against Tucson Democrat Daniel Patterson after an ex-girlfriend claimed he physically assaulted her.
Patterson charged with 4 counts of domestic violence
A Tucson legislator is facing four counts of misdemeanor domestic violence stemming from a Feb. 24 physical altercation with an ex-girlfriend, even though his attorney says the Arizona Constitution prevents the lawmaker from being charged.
However, a Phoenix attorney says Rep. Daniel Patterson has no such protections under the Constitution.
House OKs measure to allow guns in school zones
Federal law prohibits weapons within 1,000 feet of a school, but a proposal that won approval in the House of Representatives today would allow most Arizonans to carry a gun right up to a school’s property line.
House Republicans OK texting ban – then reverse it
A majority of House Republicans today mistakenly voted to pass a bill that would outlaw texting while driving – and less than an hour later changed their votes to kill the legislation.
Brewer, GOP lawmakers at odds over budget negotiations
Legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer are hoping to jumpstart budget negotiations and thaw the relationship between them that saw the governor last month direct her staff not to meet with House and Senate staff.
Babeu defends sending naked picture to ex-boyfriend
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu today emphatically denied allegations that he or his attorney threatened to deport a jilted ex-lover after their relationship soured, as a Phoenix newspaper reported on Friday, and said he plans to remain sheriff and continue his campaign for higher office.
Guilty plea in case of Senate page killing
One of two men suspected in the fatal shooting of a Senate page in 2010 has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder to avoid the death penalty.
Heinz plans congressional run to fill Giffords’ seat
Tucson state Rep. Matt Heinz is the first Democrat to formally enter the special election race to replace U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who resigned Jan. 25 to focus on her recovery from an assassination attempt more than a year ago.
Republican Party selects Pearce to leadership post
Russell Pearce made his return to Arizona politics today, nearly three months after being the first legislator recalled in the state’s 100-year history, when Arizona Republican Party activists overwhelmingly elected him to the No. 2 post in the party.
