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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Senate kills state ‘nullification’ bill again
Advocates for a more direct action against federal overreach suffered a major setback on Tuesday when the Senate once again rejected a proposal that would have allowed Arizona to nullify a federal law by a simple vote of its Legislature.
Pearce restricts news media access to Senate floor
Senate President Russell Pearce has decided to limit the media’s access to legislators while on the Senate floor, although he maintained it’s not a “new rule.”
Pressure mounts from both sides for Bundgaard to step down
The state Senate's majority leader refused to resign from the Legislature on Monday as he drew bipartisan criticism over a roadside altercation with a woman who was his girlfriend at the time.
Senate OKs easing of gun restrictions
In a highly emotional vote, the Senate on Thursday approved a bill that loosens restrictions carrying firearms to most public places.
A U.S.-Arizona dustup: ‘Freedom to breathe’ bill may backfire, force EPA takeover of state’s pollution controls
Henry Darwin, who is no fan of the Environmental Protection Agency, doesn’t want the Legislature to shove the federal agency out of Arizona.
Darwin, who heads the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, worries that a final shove aimed at freeing the state from federal intrusion will have the opposite effect.
Pearce points to Constitution for power to oust activists
In banning some immigration activists from setting foot in the Senate building, Senate President Russell Pearce insists he has the backing of the state Constitution, which says each legislative chamber will determine its own rules and procedures.
State nullification bill is back — barely
Proving once again that no legislation is ever dead until lawmakers have wrapped up the year’s session, supporters of a proposal creating a state mechanism to nullify to a federal law managed to revive it on Thursday.
Senate passes bill creating tea party license plate
A bill advancing in the Arizona Legislature would give Tea Party supporters their own license plate but without taxpayers-provided startup costs that supporters wanted.
Senate says ‘no” to state nullification bill
The Arizona Senate has rejected a states' rights measure to create a nullification process for the state to declare a federal law unconstitutional.
Bill giving sheriffs more control over budget fails in Senate
A bill meant to give county sheriffs more control over their budgets died, at least for the moment, in the Senate on Tuesday after one of its strongest advocates, Senate President Russell Pearce, failed to muster enough votes for passage.
Pearce restricts press conferences inside Senate
Arguing that the move would make it easier to secure the chamber, Senate President Russell Pearce on Tuesday issued a memo saying press conferences that are open to the public will no longer be allowed inside the Arizona Senate building.
Senate approves bill to dump clean elections
The Arizona Senate wants voters to decide whether to bar the use of public money for candidates' campaigns.
