Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

Gov. Jan Brewer met this afternoon with members of her cabinet to discuss preparations for a possible shutdown of the federal government, which would affect a wide array of Arizona agencies and services, and even the Grand Canyon State's namesake.

Arizona's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in August as the state's economy added jobs overall even as some sectors recorded losses. The July seasonally adjusted rate was 8 percent.

The new chief executive and president of Maricopa County's public health care system is expected to start his new job at the end of September. Steve Purves was hired to succeed Betsey Bayless as the Maricopa Integrated Health System's top leader.

Phoenix officials are worried that a provision imposed by the Legislature to ensure a return on its investment in the Phoenix Convention Center will cause the state to withhold sales tax revenue from the city.

Arizona has failed to pass along millions of dollars given to the state from Washington to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.

The Obama administration’s decision to delay an employer-mandate in the Affordable Care Act has earned the praise of Arizona businesses but has left political observers concerned about rising costs and the possibility for further delays.

WASHINGTON – Almost half of Arizona’s general revenues came from federal funds in fiscal 2011, the third-highest share in the nation, according to a recent report from the Tax Foundation.

With the unpredictable dynamics in the Legislature this year — a fractured Republican caucus tearing at each other, while the newly- empowered minority party focused mostly on one issue — some major lobbying groups at the Capitol had trouble getting their legislation through.

Arizona’s system for tracking fugitives, accused felons and mentally ill people is rife with loopholes, creating the potential for hundreds of thousands of people who are banned from owning guns to buy them anyway.

A provision in the recently passed budget throws a lifeline to Snowflake by authorizing the Arizona Commerce Authority to issue a $2 million loan to help the town prevent a critical railway spur from being sold for scrap metal.