Recent Articles from Luige del Puerto
Mormon church position on illegal immigration
On June 10, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued an official statement on immigration that called on its members to follow the law – and also to view the immigration debate that is roiling in many parts of the country through the prism of compassion. The statement reads:
Mormon lawmakers split over LDS position on illegal immigration
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently joined an increasingly loud chorus of voices calling for a nuanced and humane solution to this complex problem.
The church boasts a perceived conservatism and politically prominent members, but how the LDS statement will precisely influence immigration legislation remains to be seen.
Sen. Gray to MCC: Don’t reverse course on increased tuition for illegal immigrants
A state senator is accusing the Maricopa Community Colleges board of planning to break the law by reconsidering its tuition rates, a move the legislator said would result in undocumented students paying in-state tuition rates.
Debt reduction is next fiscal hurdle
After policymakers borrowed heavily to keep government afloat amid a festering fiscal crisis that blew holes in the state’s budget for four years, a former Senate president tried to put into place a mechanism to rein in politicians’ appetite for debt-financing.
Arizona lawmaker evacuates home, another hopes he won’t have to
Sen. Gail Griffin, a Republican from Hereford, was forced to evacuate her home this week as the Monument Fire rages through the canyons of Southern Arizona.
Special session failure highlights struggle within GOP
Like taxes, budget and immigration, the special session that failed to extend unemployment aid to those who have been out of work the longest became another arena in the war to define the soul of the Republican Party.
The program’s most vocal critics and most ardent supporters are, not surprisingly, members of the GOP.
County validates more than enough signatures for Pearce recall election
Elections officials in Maricopa County have so far verified as valid more than 8,000 signatures submitted by a group seeking to recall Senate President Russell Pearce.
Legislature adjourns without extending unemployment aid
By the time Republicans called it a day, it almost seemed like a textbook case of what to do — if you don’t want a special session to succeed.
Expectations low as second day of special session begins
With both sides digging in, the hope of extending unemployment aid to jobless Arizonans appears to be fading.
Lawmakers are expected to resume the special session this afternoon, but the Legislature is more apt to close down the session without acting on the legislation than it is to approve the bills.
Pearce highly unlikely to lose Senate presidency over recall effort�
Organizers of the recall effort against Senate President Russell Pearce said their filing last week of more than 18,000 signatures would make it impossible for Senate Republicans to allow him to remain in the chamber’s top post.
Brewer: Special session a ‘total meltdown’
Failing to deliver an extension to unemployment benefits, the first day of the special session instead ended in recrimination that is once again threatening the fragile relationship between Gov. Jan Brewer and the Republican-led Legislature.
Pearce asks Horne for opinion on corporate donations to recall committees
Senate President Russell Pearce has asked Attorney General Tom Horne to weigh in with a formal legal opinion on whether a political committee opposing an attempt to recall him can accept money from businesses.