Worsley campaign team shaping up
The campaign team of a Mesa businessman who is challenging former Senate President Russell Pearce for a legislative seat is quickly shaping up. Bob Worsley, who recently filed his paper work to run for newly drawn Legislative District 25, has hired the services of veteran consultant Sean Noble’s firm, D.C. London.
Flake looks past primary challengers to Dem opponents
As he kicked off a statewide bus tour for his U.S. Senate campaign, Congressman Jeff Flake took shots at the two Democrats vying for the seat but made no mention of his big-spending GOP primary opponent.
House panel OKs drug tests for unemployment beneficiaries
The House Appropriations Committee narrowly passed a bill Thursday that would require drug tests for anyone receiving unemployment benefits, even though some of the bill’s supporters admit that it could jeopardize the federal funding that helps pay for the benefits.
Bill to phase out capital gains taxes advances, but questions remain
An economic development bill championed by Rep. J.D. Mesnard and House Speaker Andy Tobin passed the Senate Appropriations Committee with unanimous GOP support, but several Republicans said they had concerns about the measure and even the bill’s sponsor said it’s likely to undergo changes.
Glendale woman tells how contraceptive meds ended years of debilitation
Liza Love has found herself at the Arizona state Capitol a lot recently. The Glendale resident has been speaking out against a bill that she has a very personal connection to: HB2625, which she says would make it difficult for women to obtain prescription birth control if their employers have a religious opposition to it.
Schweikert consultant: Boehner will cut us a check
The intraparty war between congressional Republican leadership and the conservative Club for Growth appears to have simmered down for now, even while the race between U.S. Reps. David Schweikert and Ben Quayle is growing fiercer.
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner this week agreed to give Schweikert a contribution from his PAC to compensate for a contribution he made earlier to his primary[...]
Republicans begrudgingly cast enough votes to pass IRC funding
There was no shortage of complaining about giving the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission additional money to pay its legal obligations, but Republican senators ultimately opted to provide the funding. By doing so, lawmakers avoid a potentially drawn-out legal battle, which would have cost both sides more money.
Pierce wary of Tobin’s planned redistricting lawsuit
Senate President Steve Pierce said today that he has serious concerns about spending public money to sue the state’s redistricting commission – and even if lawmakers could be convinced to do that, he’s not sure it would be legal.
Democrats denounce GOP bills as war on women’s health, choices
Democratic legislators continued to denounce what they call Republican attacks on women’s rights, criticizing today three House bills that they say would reduce women’s abilities to make their own health care decisions.
Parker kicks off CD9 campaign
Vernon Parker kicked off his campaign for Arizona’s 9th Congressional District with the aura of a frontrunner. In a race for a competitive but Democratic-leaning district, Parker is the only big name in the GOP primary so far. Heavyweights who were expected to get into the race such as Hugh Hallman, Steve Moak, Gary Pierce and Don Stapley have all opted out.
Anti-union bills being parceled out to gain success
Backers of anti-union bills are planning to parcel out the provisions of a measure that is advancing in the Senate, an apparent move to give each idea the best chance of passing. The Senate Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved an amendment to prohibit pay to public employees who do union activities, a practice called “release time.”
Crandall decides not to seek reelection; endorses Worsley
To prevent his family from becoming the target of attacks, Sen. Rich Crandall says he decided not to seek re-election if it meant running against former Senate President Russell Pearce.
Instead, Crandall is backing SkyMall founder Bob Worsley, who announced March 19 that he is seeking the Republican nomination in the Senate race in the new Legislative District 25.