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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Sen. Smith makes way for Melvin; will run in House
Sen. Steve Smith, a Republican from Maricopa, has reached a deal with a colleague to run for the House, a move that avoids what could have been a bruising primary slugfest for the Senate seat.
Cherny steps down as Democratic Party chair
Andrei Cherny, chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party, is stepping down from his position in order to take on a “new and different task.”
He didn’t mention it in the letter he sent out today, but Cherny is expected to soon announce he is running for Congress in the new 9th Congressional District, which includes parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Mesa.
Antenori running for Congress
Sen. Frank Antenori of Tucson today announced he is running for Congress to fill the vacancy created by the recent resignation of Congresswoman Gabriele Giffords.
Big shake up at hospital association as 3 hospital groups withdraw membership
Three big hospital groups in the state have severed their membership from the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association.
Abrazo Health Care, Banner Health and Dignity Health, which runs St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, today informed the association that they are withdrawing.
School lunch opt-out stirring emotional debate
Despite stiff opposition from teachers and health advocates, the Republican-led Senate is pushing ahead with a bill that would give schools the ability to opt out of the federal school lunch program, which provides free or reduced-price meals to low-income pupils.
Senate panel OKs bill to create state militia for border security, disasters
A Senate panel today approved a proposal to create an armed militia that could be deployed to the Mexican border and support local governments combat the drug cartels.
Group seeks to alter immigration discussion in Arizona
A coalition of businesses, religious organizations and political figures is pushing an ambitious project to change the tone of the immigration discussion in Arizona and steer it toward policies that promote comprehensive, more humane and nuanced solutions.
Shooter considering banning public testimony on budget bills
The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said Tuesday he is considering banning all public testimony when lawmakers take up the state budget later this year.
Pierce isn’t so keen about buying back state buildings
While he likes parts of the governor’s spending plan, Senate President Steve Pierce isn’t completely convinced that the state can afford to buy back the buildings it mortgaged during the fiscal crisis two years ago.
SB1070 repeal bill reopens deep political divisions
Though it has practically no chance of passing, a bill to repeal SB1070 exposed deep political divisions at the state Capitol about how to confront illegal immigration, a complex and often emotional issue.
Those divisions were again on display on the Senate lawn, when dueling protesters hailed and criticized the immigration law — all within an earshot of each other.
Burges sworn in as newest senator
Won over by her legislative experience, Maricopa County’s supervisors today picked Rep. Judy Burges to replace former Sen. Scott Bundgaard.
Burges, who has been a lawmaker since 2005, became the Senate’s newest member later in the afternoon, when she took her oath of office and was promptly escorted to her new seat.
No relief for hospitals in Brewer’s budget
With an uptick in state revenues, Gov. Jan Brewer is proposing to alleviate some of the pain the state’s Medicaid providers have been experiencing.
The governor wants to give a 3 percent rate increase to state health care providers, including physicians, behavioral health professionals and nursing facilities.
But one group that is among the worst hit by years of incessant b[...]
