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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Senate approves measure restricting Spanish-language voting information
The Senate approved legislation on Monday mandating that government documents, including all voting materials except the actual ballot, be published in English.
Immigration bills are ‘dead’ — for now
Supporters of the five controversial immigration measures that the Senate killed on Thursday made no attempt to revive the measures on Monday.
As a result, the bills are dead — but the ideas may still be resurrected.
Senate approves bill prohibiting sex-selection abortions
The Senate passed legislation on Monday to prohibit abortion based on the sex or race of the fetus, or the race of a parent – but not until amending it to criminalize violations.
Budget and immigration, an inseparable diptych?
Senate President Russell Pearce, Arizona’s most prominent anti-illegal immigration firebrand, has always argued that illegal immigration and the state’s budget woes are inseparable. But the two issues may have formed a diptych in ways that many, including Pearce, probably did not anticipate.
Senate cuts $118M, OKs unbalanced budget
The Senate budget’s most novel aspect is the clearest indication of the chamber’s ideological moorings yet.
Senate rejects immigration bills
The Senate today resoundingly rejected five controversial immigration bills, including a proposal that supporters say is aimed at getting the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit the issue of American citizenship.
Senate Republicans finally pass budget
In a move that potentially sets the stage for a showdown with Gov. Jan Brewer, the Senate late Wednesday passed a budget proposal that cuts more than what the governor called for in January and rejects many of her accounting maneuvers to erase the fiscal deficit.
Bundgaard is out, Biggs is in
Sen. Andy Biggs, an eloquent speaker and conservative legislator from Gilbert, emerged as the new majority leader following a closed-door meeting this afternoon.
Senate budget plan deliberately ends FY11 in the red; Republicans call it transparent, honest
Instead of balancing the budget by borrowing money, deferring payment to schools or resorting to any other accounting maneuver, the Senate is proposing to cut spending as much it can, even if it means the current fiscal year ends with the state in the red.
Republicans advance immigration bills
A slew of immigration measures, including legislation that supporters say would get the U.S. Supreme Court to decide the issue of American citizenship, survived rigorous questioning on Tuesday, when senators conferred with party-mates to discuss them.
Bundgaard is out
Embattled Sen. Scott Bundgaard was removed from his position as Senate majority leader during a closed-door meeting with colleagues on Tuesday morning.
Immigration on the agenda
On the heels of saying he expects the Senate to vote on a budget as soon as tomorrow, Senate President Russell Pearce yesterday added three controversial immigration bills to the docket for today’s caucus discussions, signaling the bills may soon be debated by the entire body.
