Sign In
Free Newsletter
Recent Articles from Yellow Sheet Report
GOP excited, Dems deflated by speech
Ducey’s speech was well-received by GOP lawmakers. There weren’t any surprises, but Republicans were optimistic about the tone and direction he set for his administration. “Obviously, he’s outlining a vision, and next week we’ll hear more specifics.
Sit tight, the end is nigh
Some of Brewer’s agency heads and others have been fidgeting over whether they’ll still have jobs under Ducey’s new administration. Last Wednesday, Ducey’s transition team told them to wait a little bit more, although it also looks like they – and those who are seeking jobs in the new administration – will have their answers soon.
Don’t forget your checkbook
The end of any year is always met with a mix of emotions – gratitude for the things that went well in the previous 12 months, excitement about the upcoming challenges and regret for the things that didn’t go as hoped. For those who make a living in the government affairs arena, there’s an additional emotion: stress stemming from the flurry of legislative fundraisers that take place the first[...]
TPT reform fixes taking shape
As noted yesterday (Dec. 29), a big push is underway to clean up the TPT reform law enacted in 2013. Some members of the contracting industry are working with Lesko, who is expected to run the legislation, our reporter has learned.
Arizona on short list of must-watch Senate races
Politico this morning spot-lighted 16 of the “most consequential” US Senate races to watch in 2016. Among them is Arizona’s race, which is likely to feature a re-election bid from […]
Ward: legislative counter to DACA order likely
Ward wrote a letter to Brewer on Tuesday expressing support for the governor’s continued attempts to block Dreamers from obtaining driver licenses. To read more on this item plus all […]
Another big fight awaits new energy regulators
The Corporation Commission today tabled a staff-driven proposal to investigate whether the renewable energy rule that requires utilities to derive an increasing portion of their power from residential solar and other distributed energy sources should be scrapped.
It worked so well we’re not doing it again
A report commissioned by the Dept of Corrections on the execution of Joseph Wood found no fault in the agency’s two-drug protocol. Still, consultants who prepared the report, which was released today (Dec. 22), recommended that DOC ditch the protocol. Subsequently, DOC Director Charles Ryan has decided not to use the two-drug combination of midazolam and hydromorphone in executions.
The Ducey hiring train keeps on chugging
Ducey’s transition team today (Dec. 19) announced another batch of senior staffers. Three of the hires were expected – Mike Liburdi as general counsel, Daniel Scarpinato as deputy chief of staff for communications and JP Twist as a senior advisor – but one caught some observers off guard: Victor Riches, who will be the deputy chief of staff for policy and budget.
They need the space for these guys
Ducey made some long-awaited staffing announcements today, including the hotly anticipated decision on what role Danny Seiden will have in the new administration. Seiden will serve as Ducey’s deputy chief of staff for external affairs and policy development.
Small groups don’t cut it
In an interview yesterday afternoon, Dial laid out his ideas for bringing back approps subcommittees. The likeliest path is legislation, with intent language describing how the subcommittees would operate as a part of the budget process, that would require leadership in each chamber to re-establish the subcommittees via the Senate president’s and speaker’s rule-making process.
Rah-rah for subcommittees
Brophy McGee gave a resounding endorsement of Dial’s plan to restore the subcommittee process in crafting a budget, saying her colleague is “right on the money” with the idea. “The budget process has become much more the purview of leadership, and members are left out in a sense and given a package to vote on.
