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Valley leaders tout study quantifying impact of tourism downturn
You don't have to work at a resort or sell souvenirs to be hurt by the downturn in Arizona's tourism industry, a group of Valley leaders said Sept. 22. "Do you know a teacher, a police officer, a firefighter, a librarian?" Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said. "They're all dependent on tourism because of the sales and property tax it provides."
Brewer: Arizona’s international trade a strength despite recession
Aggressive, agile, smart. Arizona needs to be all of these to build on international business growth that has defied the economic downturn, Gov. Jan Brewer said Sept. 22. "Exports create jobs, and I encourage and applaud businesses that are ready to enter the global marketplace," Brewer said in her International State of the State Address to the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations.
State unemployment rate levels off – for now – as back-to-school jobs kick in
Arizona's unemployment rate remained fairly steady in August, dipping slightly to 9.1 percent as back-to-school jobs offset losses in retail and leisure and hospitality, the state Department of Commerce announced Sept. 17.
Highway safety chief: Ban on texting while driving unworkable
Banning texting while driving would make Arizona safer, but such a law would be prohibitively difficult to enforce and would fail to address the wider issue of distracted driving, the director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety said.
Brewer approves $50 million in stimulus money for Corrections
Gov. Jan Brewer on Sept. 18 approved the use of $50 million in federal stimulus money to help pay the salaries of Department of Corrections officers. The $50 million is the first portion awarded by Brewer from a pool of stimulus money called the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Government Services Fund. The $185 million pool can be used by the governor for essentially any government services she[...]
Blind veterans first to go digital with new ‘talking book’ players
Vince Morrison was one of the first in line to get a digital book player for the blind. As a veteran of World War II in Europe, he earned it. At 89, Morrison is legally blind. The Mesa resident now listens to books on tape, and soon he'll have access to the digital equivalent. He gets his recordings free from the Arizona State Braille and Talking Books Division. It administers the federally fun[...]
Rabago will decide on AG race by year’s end
Assistant Attorney General Vince Rabago acknowledged that he is among the ever expanding group of people who are eying the 2010 AG's race. Rabago, an assistant AG in Attorney General Terry Goddard's Tucson office, has not yet filed an exploratory committee or made a decision to run, but said he will decide by the end of the year.
Rotellini files exploratory committee for AG run
Felecia Rotellini, a former state prosecutor and recently departed superintendent of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, filed an exploratory committee to seek the Democratic nomination for attorney general in 2010.
Lawmakers lament term limits, but the public supports them
Looking for supporters of term limits? Good luck finding any at the Capitol. Many who actively worked to change the state's Constitution nearly two decades ago say the rules harm the political process and need to be scrapped.
No agreement when, or if, special session will begin
Once again, lawmakers adjourned, only to see Gov. Jan Brewer veto parts of the budget they passed. And once again, Brewer announced her intention to bring them back into special session to deal with the consequences.
U.S. Supreme Court considers ‘Hillary’ film in ruling
It didn't take long for "Hillary: The Movie" to turn into Citizens United v. the Federal Elections Commission, and now Arizona's Capitol insiders are waiting to see how the U.S. Supreme Court will deal with a longstanding roadblock designed to limit the political activity of corporations and unions.
Financial Institutions agency seeks self-funding
The demands placed on the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions grew rapidly with the state's booming housing market, and haven't abated much with the subsequent bust. What's more, the state's crippling budget crisis has stripped the department of some of its resources at a time when it needs them most.
