Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
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.”
Campaign manager: Lewis likely to run in 2012
Republican Jerry Lewis, who defeated Senate President Russell Pearce in a recall election, will likely run for a full term in the Senate next year, his campaign manager told the Arizona Capitol Times.
GOP leader: More illegal immigration bills coming next session
Senate President Russell Pearce has been ousted, but his allies in the Legislature aren’t about to let his defeat deter them from pushing anti-illegal immigration measures that the outgoing senator would undoubtedly like to see become law.
A turning point in the immigration debate?
Republicans who oppose Senate President Russell Pearce’s strict enforcement to confronting illegal immigration are quick to paint Jerry Lewis’s victory last Tuesday as a turning point in the debate in favor of a more nuanced solution to this complex problem. Eager to seize the momentum, they are creating a narrative for the whole nation. While they acknowledged that Pearce’s defeat to Lewis [...]
AZ Supreme Court: Recall laws meant to protect public, not politicians
The Arizona Supreme Court today said recall laws should be construed “liberally” because they’re written to protect the public’s right to remove an official — not for a politician’s benefit.
DEFEATED: Pearce’s ouster viewed as cautionary tale for immigration hawks
Senate President Russell Pearce’s defeat on Nov. 8 was a colossal political victory for critics of his strict-enforcement approach to confronting illegal immigration.
And many immediately saw it as a cautionary tale for politicians here and elsewhere who share his views.
From Pearce to Pierce: Prescott rancher elected new Senate President
Republicans today selected Sen. Steve Pierce as their new leader, a move that quickly filled the vacuum that resulted from the toppling of Senate President Russell Pearce two days ago.
Three senators jockey for Senate presidency
The toppling of Senate President Russell Pearce will trigger a shakeup in Senate leadership that will see Republicans choosing a new president.
And depending on who replaces him, that shakeup could also mean changes in the makeup and chairmanships of committees.
Some GOP senators expected to give Lewis cold shoulder
Jerry Lewis gained political enemies when he took on Senate President Russell Pearce in a historic recall election on Nov. 8.
Starting next year, the political neophyte will be sharing a parking lot with some of them.
Actually, some even suggested setting up Lewis’ office just several steps from the parking lot.