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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Luige del Puerto discusses the transplant funding in the current budget
Arizona Capitol Times reporter Luige del Puerto talks about how the current budget, passed by the Legislature and awaiting Gov. Brewer's approval, addresses the issue of transplant funding.
Revised data show recession hit AZ harder than previous estimates
Revised unemployment data indicate that the national recession hit Arizona’s job market far harder than previously believed, and the sputtering job growth continues to dampen reports of positive growth in other sectors of the economy.
Legislature passes budget
After two days of marathon work and intense deliberation, the Republican-led Legislature has approved a budget plan that cuts $1.14 billion and gives the governor broad latitude how to address funding for the state’s Medicaid program.
Bill would expand religious rights on college campuses
Two years after Arizona enacted a policy that sought to prevent discrimination against religious viewpoints in K-12 schools, the state is poised to adopt a similar set of rules for state-supported colleges and universities.
Bumpy road for flat tax proposal Supporters call it fair, but opponents say it raises taxes on the poor
With Republicans firmly in control of the Capitol, the proposal to flatten the state’s individual income tax enjoyed a renaissance of a sort this year, albeit a brief one.
Final plans reflects conservatives’ clout at the Capitol
The tentative budget agreement legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer reached late Wednesday night slashes $1.14 billion from the budget and more forcefully reflects the ascent of fiscally conservative Republicans at the Capitol.
House Appropriations plans to hear budget bills Thursday
The House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to hear budget bills Thursday, which could mean the governor and legislative leaders are inching closer towards a final budget compromise.
Arizona Senate OKs bill restricting abortion services
The Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation that broadens the definition of abortion and adds requirements before a woman may undergo the procedure.
Legislature poised to challenge Brewer on federal money
The Senate gave its preliminary approval on Monday to a bill that seeks to wrestle control over federal funds from the governor.
Watered down ‘birther’ bill advances
Legislation requiring presidential candidates to submit proof of citizenship before appearing on the Arizona ballot is advancing in the Senate, though it has been stripped of its most controversial provision and has been substantially tweaked since the original version died in committee in February.
The Art of Budgeting: Spending bills often include issues beyond money — like policy changes
It may be free from gimmicks and other accounting maneuvers, but the Senate’s budget could not escape the perennial inclusion of policy changes whose ties to actual budgeting are, at best, tenuous.
With defeat of immigration measures, some supporters threaten to go the ballot
Critics defeated five controversial immigration measures at the Capitol this month. But their legislative victory might have only spawned a bigger, more public battle. Some of the bills’ supporters are now threatening to bring the fight to the ballot box.
