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Lawmakers’ voting participation remains high in shorter session
Records from the past three legislative sessions point to a simple truism of the citizen-legislature model: The shorter the session, the better the attendance.
By keeping a 100-day session — the length prescribed by legislative rules — 27 of the Legislature’s 90 members voted on every bill that was brought to the floor, and only one lawmaker missed more than 20 percent of floor vo[...]
AEA eying possible lawsuit over paycheck deduction bill
The state's largest teachers union is mulling a lawsuit against a new state law it says unfairly restricts the way it can use union dues to communicate with members about political issues.
Few see increase in civility following Giffords’ shooting
The January shooting in Tucson, which occurred just two days before the 2011 legislative session began, inspired soul searching among rattled and emotional lawmakers, who pledged a new era of civility across the partisan divide. Others vowed drastic changes to Arizona’s laws on guns and mental health in response to a mass shooting carried out by a man with documented-but-untreated mental health [...]
Group plans major overhaul of presidential election process
A group of frustrated voters from across the political spectrum is hoping to reform the way the nation elects its president, and Arizona will be on the front lines in that fight next year. The only question remaining is whether the state’s conservative lawmakers are willing to abandon the current constitutionally established election method that is as old as the nation.
Latino lawmakers call for Arpaio resignation following allegations by former employee
Latino lawmakers are calling on Sheriff Joe Arpaio to resign, following allegations made by a former Maricopa County Sheriff's Office employee that he ignored her warnings that the agency was misspending millions of dollars.
Freshmen reflect on 2011: Views mainly depend on party affiliation
With more than three tumultuous months under their belt, House and Senate greenhorns have been property initiated. And looking back, some of them seem a little shell-shocked, while others appear to be having the time of their life.
Brewer finds her ‘sea legs’ after two tumultuous years
After two years of intraparty fighting, drama and chaos, 2011 must have been a welcome relief for Gov. Jan Brewer.
Plight of the minority: Was self-assigned ‘watchdog’ role a success for the Democrats?
Lacking the numbers to block Republican-backed bills, Democratic legislators billed themselves as watchdogs whose main task at the Capitol was to highlight legislation they considered to be harmful to the state.
Pivotal witness against ethnic studies program files suit against TUSD, teachers
A former teacher considered to be a pivotal witness against the Tucson Unified School District’s Mexican American Studies program alleges in a lawsuit filed May 9 the district and his former colleagues defamed him.
Unions file suit against law that restricts picketing
Unions filed suit May 9 against Gov. Jan Brewer to halt the enforcement of a new law that, among many provisions, makes unruly picketing illegal and lowers the standard for defaming an employer.
Republicans decide against trying to override any of Brewer’s vetoes
Before the session began, Republicans crowed about the super majorities, and boasted that it would allow them to overrule Gov. Jan Brewer, should she have the temerity to veto their bills.
But Brewer vetoed 29 bills this year, including several that had overwhelming Republican support in both chambers. And despite their supermajority advantage, the Republicans in the House and Senate n[...]
Pearce: No spending increase even if state gets extra cash
Pointing out that Arizona faces a revenue cliff when a temporary sales tax increase expires in two years, Senate President Russell Pearce said any extra money the state collects won’t be used to restore cuts or be spent on new programs.
