Sign In
Free Newsletter
Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Cities, towns asking state to ease budget pressures
With state finances on the sunny side, cities and towns hope to convince lawmakers to relieve some of the budget pressures on local governments.
And it appears legislators are listening.
Unions forego all-out battle with Legislature — for now
Public unions are avoiding a forceful confrontation with conservative lawmakers who are pushing for a slew of anti-union proposals – for now.
Instead of declaring an open war by organizing massive protests at the state Capitol — a tactic adopted by labor unions in Wisconsin who faced a similar threat last year — unions here have had a more tempered response.
Goldwater Institute branded as ‘lobbyist’ for anti-union bills
Behind an array of proposals to weaken unions is a small but influential conservative group that is partly responsible for moving Arizona’s needle to the right of the political spectrum.
The Goldwater Institute developed and drafted legislation that is now the focal point of what could be the biggest political fight at the state Capitol this year.
But now the group itself, [...]
Brewer’s personnel plan seeks to ease firing, hiring state workers
Gov. Jan Brewer is seeking to fundamentally alter the way state employees are hired, fired and managed.
In short, the governor wants to make it easier for administrators to hire and fire workers.
In a two-page outline of her “personnel reform” proposal, obtained by the Arizona Capitol Times today, newly hired rank-and-file employees would no longer be considered [...]
In looming budget fight, Pierce says GOP caucus is ‘further to the right’ than Brewer realizes
The political tango over the shape of the state’s budget for the next few years has begun.
Legislative leaders met with Gov. Jan Brewer Tuesday, but the two sides couldn’t yet agree on how to proceed with crafting the state’s spending plan.
Anti-union measures advancing quickly
An array of proposals that would significantly weaken public unions is advancing quickly and is now a step closer to getting the nod of the full Senate.
Senate GOP goes behind closed doors to discuss Brewer’s personnel reform
Republican senators were briefed today about major changes to the state’s personnel system that the governor is seeking.
Measure to dismantle Clean Elections moves forward
Opponents of Arizona’s system of publicly financing candidate campaigns secured an important victory Monday, when a panel of lawmakers approved a ballot measure to eliminate it.
Guns-on-campus bill advances despite overwhelming opposition
The testimony heard by lawmakers on Monday was overwhelmingly against a proposal to allow guns on university and college campuses, but it was not enough to dissuade Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee from advancing the measure.
Guns-on-campus proposal is clearer, but still highly controversial
Gov. Jan Brewer last year rejected a proposal that would have allowed guns on campuses because it lacked “clarity.”
This year, gun proponents have revived the proposal — minus the provisions that led to Brewer’s veto.
Political firestorm looms as lawmakers advance strict anti-labor measures
In what is shaping up as one of the biggest political fights this year, conservative lawmakers are pushing a slew of measures that would fundamentally weaken public-sector unions in Arizona.
Taken together, the anti-union bills that were approved this week by a legislative committee are more restrictive than what was enacted in Wisconsin, where political turmoil erupted after its govern[...]
LD4 Republicans pick 3 to replace Burges; Bundgaard ally selected
Republicans from the West Valley on Wednesday nominated a district party chairwoman and two others to replace the House seat formerly held by Sen. Judy Burges.
