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Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Pearce recall election gets high court approval
The Arizona Supreme Court today quashed a challenge to the recall election targeting Senate President Russell Pearce, affirming a trial court’s earlier decision that the recall petitions are valid.
Bundgaard faces full-blown ethics investigation
Sen. Scott Bundgaard avoided a criminal trial, but a decision today by his colleagues to hold a full-blown ethics investigation ensures he won’t escape the political wringer.
In early interview, Cortes planned to court Hispanic voters
Critics of Senate President Russell Pearce have labeled Olivia Cortes a "stealth" candidate who is aiming to divide his opposition. This month, media reports quoted a circulator Cortes supposedly hired as admitting that she is running to dilute the vote against Pearce, the state's foremost immigration hawk.
And even though she has denied that the Pearce camp had asked her to run, an early [...]
Key absence could quash Bundgaard ethics hearing
A full-blown investigation of Sen. Scott Bundgaard’s infamous freeway fight seemed certain to take place when an ethics complaint was filed against him last month.
But one member of the ethics panel won’t be around when the committee meets today to decide whether to proceed with an inquiry. And that missing vote could neutralize efforts to investigate Bundgaard.
Fiscal Fright: Budget storm clouds could put state ‘under water’ in 2014
Arizona has weathered its share of economic storms in recent years. Stopgap measures, a temporary tax increase and incessant budget slashing allowed the state to precariously stay afloat.
But the horizon promises no relief yet. In fact, many budget decisions drawn up by state leaders have actually put Arizona on a course toward troubled waters.
Dubious candidate Cortes enters Pearce recall election
A Mesa Republican whom many believe is a sham candidate designed to divide the opposition against Russell Pearce has turned in signatures to qualify for the November special recall election targeting the Senate president.
Pearce touts tax cuts in first mailer; no mention of illegal immigration
Senate President Russell Pearce is touting his work to reduce corporate taxes and balance the state budget in his campaign’s first mailer aimed at keeping his legislative seat in the recall election targeting him.
Ethics panel to meet Tuesday to decide Bundgaard’s fate
The Senate Ethics Committee, which is considering a complaint against Sen. Scott Bundgaard, will meet on Tuesday to decide whether to hold a full-blown inquiry.
Firm can offer one mile of discount border fencing
A very small portion of Arizona’s border fence project might be realized sooner than expected. Sen. Steve Smith, the project’s author, earlier disclosed that he’s in negotiations with a fence manufacturer about possibly donating or selling “several miles” of fencing at a greatly reduced rate to Arizona.
Bundgaard wants Gould off ethics panel
Sen. Scott Bundgaard is lobbying for the removal of the chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, a clear attempt to push back as he faces a potential ethics inquiry over a roadside fight with his ex-girlfriend.
Bundgaard’s attorney, James Austin Woods, told Senate President Russell Pearce in a letter Tuesday that the Peoria Republican wouldn’t get a fair hearing if Sen. Ron Gould re[...]
Fall of a rising star: Insiders say Bundgaard’s political future bleak
A few months after his rise to power, the fortunes of Sen. Scott Bundgaard, once considered a potential congressional contender, dramatically plummeted.
A February fight with his then-girlfriend on the shoulder of a Phoenix freeway left Bundgaard not merely physically bruised, but also politically battered.
Smith says portions of privately funded border fence could go up soon
Critics view Arizona’s plans to build a fence on the US-Mexico border as either foolhardy or simply political posturing, but the author of Arizona’s border fence project claims it could go up sooner than expected.
