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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Major pension reform bill headed to Governor’s Office
The Senate beat the sine die clock on Monday to pass legislation that contains major changes to the state’s pension systems.
The measure, which backers said would head off a collapse of the public pension programs, advanced on a party-line vote, 21-9.
Pearce: Last day of session may be tomorrow
The Legislature is likely to wrap up its work on Tuesday, Senate President Russell Pearce indicated today.
Proposal to give Sheriff Babeu money for immigration enforcement advances
A proposal to give Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu money for immigration-related enforcement survived a rigorous debate in the Senate on April 14.
Brewer pitches personnel plan to lawmakers, but there may not be time
Lawmakers have been briefed about a plan by Gov. Jan Brewer to remove state employees from the state’s merit system.
Senate passes modified ‘birther’ bill
The proposal to require presidential candidates to prove they are natural-born American citizens before their names can appear on the Arizona ballot inched closer to the finish line on Tuesday, when the Senate approved it in a party-line vote.
Gould receives death threat
A senior Republican senator and proponent of controversial immigration bills has received a death threat.
Universities’ final appeal to Brewer — please veto gun bill
In an impassioned appeal, the state’s university regents are asking Gov. Jan Brewer to veto a bill that will allow guns to be carried on limited areas of college campuses.
Policy in the budget — by the bills
As amended, the bill allows AHCCCS to adopt rules necessary to implement a program given available funds, providing the agency the ability to make changes to its services, eligibility and rates. Also, the bill contains an intent clause for certain transplant services that were eliminated last year to be funded, and a “notwithstanding” language that the Governor’s Office says gives the agency[...]
Payback, policy changes included in budget bills
Lawmakers this year said they strove to keep non-budget policy changes out of the budget package and, while many that were originally considered were removed, they couldn’t completely insulate the final compromise from policies whose ties to the budget are tenuous, at best.
A balanced budget… for now: Threat of lawsuits could undo spending cuts
Fiscally conservative Republicans won the argument when the governor agreed to forego borrowing and other budget gimmicks to help shore up the state’s sagging revenues, and the budget-slashing proposal was also a vindication for legislators who saw themselves as lone voices in the wilderness, warning for many years that politicians’ appetite for spending would one day come back to haunt them. [...]
Heavily amended ‘birther’ bill gets green light during Senate debate
The Senate advanced a proposal requiring presidential candidates to prove they are natural-born Americans before they can appear on the Arizona ballot — but minus its most controversial provisions.
STO supporters won big, won twice this week
The Republican-led Legislature has approved a measure to increase the amount of tax credits that individuals can claim in exchange for contributions to groups that distribute private school scholarships.
