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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Birthright-law foes want Pearce tossed from office
Critics of the birthright legislation, which aims to challenge the interpretation that children of undocumented aliens are American citizens, upped the ante this week by starting an effort to remove from office the state’s most ardent foe of illegal immigration.
Birthright proposal not on the majority agenda
For the most powerful man in the Senate, denying American citizenship to children born to undocumented aliens is the next step in the Arizona-led crusade to confront illegal immigration in the country. But a majority of Senate President Russell Pearce’s colleagues don’t see it as a priority, and they may not go along if the so-called birthright citizenship bill is voted on before the Legislatu[...]
A ‘cigar wrapper’ by any other name
A Senate panel on Wednesday waded into an ugly fight between a trade association of cigar manufacturers and one of its members over “blunt wraps.”
Lawmakers pass anti-casino bill, but it’s not exactly a win for proponents
Lawmakers on Wednesday approved a bill aimed at stopping the Tohono O’odham tribe from building a casino in Glendale. But the bill, which barely squeaked through in the Senate, lost its emergency provision. That means it would take effect 90 days after the session ends.
House Democrats unveil policy agenda
Having shrunk in number, Democrats are more forcefully positioning themselves as the public’s eyes and ears at the Capitol.
No-texting bill may have the votes, but its foes have the power
A no-texting-while-driving bill may have enough votes to pass this year in the Arizona Legislature, but it probably does not have enough firepower.
Budget Plan B may not exist, or it may mean ‘K-12, beware’
Last year, Brewer and the Republican-led Legislature adopted a budget plan that relied on revenues that never materialized. This year, the governor is proposing Medicaid cuts that the federal government may disapprove or worse, state courts may strike down as illegal.
Brewer signs bill, plans to apply for Medicaid waiver Monday
Declaring that her plan to drastically cut funding for health coverage is Arizona’s “only option” to stabilize its budget, Gov. Jan Brewer promptly on Friday signed a bill that gives her the authority to ask the federal government’s permission to implement her proposal.
It’s famous now, but SB1070 used to be a nondescript bill number
History is a fickle mistress, so no one today can say with certainty what the legacy of the Arizona Legislature’s 2010 session will be.
Fresh out of budget solutions, lawmakers warm up to trickery
Weary of scrounging for solutions to a relentless financial mess, some Arizona lawmakers have changed from criticizing budget gimmicks to shrugging and accepting probably the most blatant one of all.
Democrats protest, but House, Senate panels pass waiver request to drop 280,000 from Medicaid
Despite vigorous objections from Democrats, Republican-controlled House and Senate panels gave Jan Brewer the authority to ask for the feds' permission to drastically scale back subsidized medical coverage for Arizonans.
Early childhood agency amenable to Brewer’s loan proposal
Officials at the state agency devoted to early childhood development are studying the governor’s proposal to borrow $330 million for one day and use the money to balance the state’s budget shortfall.
