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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
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.
Del Puerto: real work starts this week for Legislature
Arizona Capitol Times reporter Luige Del Puerto talks about the real work that will begin at the Legislature this week.
Arizona’s gun advocates in delicate spot
Arizona’s gun advocates, usually gung-ho when discussing proposals to further ease gun restrictions, are turning down the volume, at least temporarily.
Q&A with Senate President with Russell Pearce
Even before he became president of the Arizona Senate, Russell Pearce, a conservative Republican from Mesa, was dominating much of the action in the Legislature. But as he takes over the top spot in the Senate, he has lost some of the freedom he had to set his own course.
Q&A with Senate Minority Leader with David Schapira
Senate Minority Leader David Schapira is a young man with responsibilities usually associated with more seasoned politicians. As a leading representative of Democratic interests in the Capitol, his job is to persuade Republicans to listen to alternative solutions, whether about balancing the budget or fixing the economy, and to try to forge partnerships with some of them to pass or block legislati[...]
Pearce reserves “SB1070,” his favorite bill number
David Schapira, a Democrat from Tempe, dropped nine bills this week thinking one of them would be numbered "S1070." To his surprise, he got bill numbers “S1069” and “S1071,” but “S1070” went to Senate President Russell Pearce, the author of last year’s hotly-contested immigration policy.
Legislators seek constitutional amendment to limit federal borrowing
If the federal government wants to borrow money, states should have a say in it, Republican lawmakers and a representative of the Goldwater Institute said Wednesday morning.
Legislature swiftly passes, Brewer signs bill to restrict funeral protests
To members of a notorious Kansas-based church who are planning to picket the funerals of victims of the shooting rampage in Tucson, Arizona sent this message today: We don't want you here.
With a close friend in critical condition, Lawmakers avoid pomp on first day of session
The sorrow that cast a pall over the traditionally jubilant opening day of the legislative session was all too visible on Sen. Linda Lopez’s face.
