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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto and Caitlin Coakley Beckner
Even legislative leaders face crowded primary elections
In the upcoming elections, party loyalty doesn’t guarantee an uncontested race.
The highest-ranking Republican and Democrat in the House of Representatives both face crowded primaries this August.
Legislative budget plan moves forward over Brewer’s concerns
Despite a clear sign that the governor is unhappy with their budget plan, Republican lawmakers swiftly approved the proposal during simultaneous committee hearings in the House and Senate this morning.
Legislature introduces budget after negotiation non-starter with Brewer
Legislative leaders are pushing ahead with their budget proposal after efforts to get the governor involved have failed.
But in going ahead, lawmakers risk alienating Gov. Jan Brewer, who has a competing budget plan.
The move could also spur the sides to begin meeting on the state’s spending plan.
Sweeping anti-abortion bills facing hurdles
The pro-life community suffered a setback Wednesday as proposals that would add a host of requirements before an abortion could be performed failed to get committee approval.
A bill to ban most abortions after 20 weeks and another that would define human life as beginning at conception stalled in the Republican-led Legislature.
Immigration, guns on campuses and ‘birther’ bills to return this session
Whether they were killed by lawmakers or the governor’s veto stamp, some of the bills that didn’t make it into law last year are being resurrected for another round this session.
Pierce says AZ is ‘bootstraps’ state; Dems working on ‘jobs’ plan
Shortly after he was formally installed as Senate President, Steve Pierce set the tone for the work ahead by telling fellow lawmakers it’s time to pull up their bootstraps.
GOP stalwarts stand by Arpaio; Dems say DOJ report not political
The investigative report by the U.S. Department of Justice may have ignited Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s critics, but his political allies said their support for the sheriff remains unwavering.
Lawmakers told to prepare for special session on IRC
Senate Republicans have been told by leadership to prepare for a possible special session on Tuesday to deal with the Independent Redistricting Commission, the Arizona Capitol Times learned today.
GOP lawmakers create panel to scrutinize redistricting maps
House and Senate Republican leaders announced this evening that they have each appointed three lawmakers to a committee charged with scrutinizing the maps created by the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission.
Unemployment benefits special session: No vote today
Arizona lawmakers have convened a special session to address extending unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work for more than a year, but there won’t be a vote today.
UpClose with Chad Campbell: House Dems strive for transparency, cite ‘broken’ budget process
With a mere third of the House of Representatives being Democrats, Minority Leader Chad Campbell knew it was going to be an uphill battle trying to put a dent in the Republicans’ agenda this past session.
Predictably, the Democrats couldn’t get their proposals for tax reforms into the budget, nor could they stop a torrent of conservative legislation. But Campbell said that they did [...]
Budget-cutting Legislature wraps up session
Conservative lawmakers who rose to power following the last election set the tone for this session and left significant marks on major pieces of legislation that have come to define the achievements and failures of Arizona’s 50th Legislature, which wrapped up the annual legislative session just as the sun was rising this morning.
