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Supreme Court hears arguments on Tucson election law
In a rare personal appearance before the Arizona Supreme Court, Attorney General Tom Horne today argued that a 2009 law aimed at revamping the way Tucson elects city officials is of statewide importance because the city’s current system upsets an otherwise fair and even application of municipal elections in the state.
IRC pondering legislative changes
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is considering a handful of changes to its legislative map, including proposals that would add another competitive district.
Bill would create Pat Tillman specialty license plate
At the Capitol, a lawmaker is on a personal mission to make sure that Pat Tillman’s legacy lives on.
Appeals court upholds state Medicaid cuts
The Arizona Court of Appeals upheld massive cuts to the state’s Medicaid program, keeping Arizona’s precariously balanced budget intact and dealing a severe blow to advocates who said the partial enrollment freeze violated voter mandates.
GOP commissioner seeks to dismantle competitive district, make changes to congressional map
A major overhaul of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission’s congressional map would eliminate Maricopa County’s centerpiece district and drastically shift the lines in rural Arizona.
Ethics Committee hires ex-federal prosecutor in Bundgaard case
The Senate Ethics Committee has hired a former federal prosecutor to investigate whether Sen. Scott Bundgaard broke ethics rules in a roadside scuffle with his ex-girlfriend.
And the attorney, Kory Langhofer, appears to be aggressively pursuing the case: He said he will likely call witnesses to testify in the ethics trial next month, including alleged victim Aubry Ballard, police officers[...]
State wins key decision in charter suit
A lawsuit to decide the constitutionality of Arizona’s funding system for K-12 education is headed to trial, but attorneys defending the state believe they can convince a judge to dismiss the case before then.
Aguirre exploring run for Grijalva’s U.S. House seat
In 2010, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva narrowly staved off a challenge from a Republican upstart.
Next year, Grijalva’s fight may begin in the primary, as a former Democratic state senator says she is mulling a run against the five-term incumbent.
Advocates to seek choices for kids in failing schools
A legal challenge to a state program that allows disabled students to attend private schools isn’t stopping school-choice advocates from trying to expand it.
Counties plan to lobby against giving money to state budget
Maricopa County has decided to push back against the multi-million dollar contributions the state has forced it and four other counties to provide during the past three fiscal years to help fill holes in the budget.
Self preservation: Lawmakers lament recall process, want to make it more difficult
Still shaken from the successful recall of Senate President Russell Pearce, some lawmakers are seeking to make it more difficult for voters to oust politicians from office.
One Pearce ally plans to sponsor legislation that would require recall organizers to obtain signatures from a majority of registered voters in a district — an unprecedented proposal that would far exceed signature [...]
Battling rising permit costs tops business group’s regulatory reform agenda
The state’s commitment to regulatory reform is clashing with its need to balance the budget, and the result is a rising cost of doing business for Arizona companies.
