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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Brewer: No special session without “clear path to victory” at the ballot
Gov. Jan Brewer today said she won’t call a special legislative session to either repeal or reform the independent redistricting process, despite calls from some lawmakers that she do so this week.
The governor’s emphatic statement, which was released after she met with House Speaker Andy Tobin and Senate President Steve Pierce, means the chances of lawmakers convening by tomorrow t[...]
Hospital group sues state over provider cuts
The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association is suing the state and the federal health department over the decision to cut the reimbursement rate to hospitals and health care providers.
Arizona gets $30M from feds for state-based exchange
Arizona today received $30 million in grant money from the Obama administration to help the state establish a health insurance exchange.
This is on top of the $1 million in planning grant the state earlier got.
The exchange, which is aimed at making it easier for individuals and small businesses to purchase health insurance, is a key component of the federal health care ove[...]
Panel rejects recommendation to mandate smoking cessation coverage
A joint legislative panel today refused to recommend a proposal that would require insurance companies to cover programs to help people stop smoking.
Campaign finance maneuvers drawing state scrutiny
The difficulty of persuading groups to comply with campaign finance reporting laws stems from a more aggressive interpretation of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave corporations and labor unions the same speech rights as individuals.
Loophole enables groups to conceal sources of electioneering money
The elections last month exposed what appears to be a gaping hole in Arizona’s campaign finance laws: The inability of elections officials to force groups to register as political committees or report their spending.
Lewis takes oath of office, pledges focus on economy
Exactly two weeks after unseating Russell Pearce in a recall election, Republican Jerry Lewis took his oath as the Senate’s newest member and promised to focus on getting the economy back on track.
Repeal of ‘Clean Cars’ program nears finish line
Despite steep opposition from environmentalists and consumer advocates, the Brewer administration is pushing ahead with the adoption of a less stringent standard for curbing car emissions.
Schapira explores run for Congress, highlights education work
Senate Minority Leader David Schapira today announced he is exploring a run for Congress. In doing so, the 31-year-old Democrat can begin raising money and gauging his level of support in what is expected to be a Democratic-leaning district that includes his hometown of Tempe.
State revenue up for 15th consecutive month
State revenue rose again in October, giving policymakers a reason to cheer. This marks the 15th month in a row of revenue growth, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee reported last week. Buoyed by a strong showing in individual income taxes, revenue increased by 16.6 percent last month compared to the year before.
Official canvass means Pearce out as lawmaker; Lewis wins by 12 points
As of this morning, Russell Pearce, the Senate’s former president and Arizona’s most visible anti-illegal immigration advocate, is no longer a lawmaker.
Pierce brings tell-it-like-it-is approach to Senate presidency
When asked of his plans a few days after his colleagues put him in charge, incoming Senate President Steve Pierce replied: “See, I’d just tell you. I don’t know what that is right now.”
