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Budget-cutting Legislature wraps up session
Conservative lawmakers who rose to power following the last election set the tone for this session and left significant marks on major pieces of legislation that have come to define the achievements and failures of Arizona’s 50th Legislature, which wrapped up the annual legislative session just as the sun was rising this morning.
Legislature passes bill to wrestle control of federal money from governor
Few measures beg for a gubernatorial veto more than this one.
Perhaps the only question left is – will the Legislature counter a veto with an override?
Senate passes bill to extend waiting period for divorce
Last-ditch efforts by social conservatives helped to successfully revive legislation that would extend the waiting period to file a divorce in some cases.Â
Outline reveals details of Brewer personnel plan
A proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer would uncover employees from the state’s merit system, remove terms of office for agency heads, and alter the way employees may appeal disciplinary actions, according to a summary of a 300-page-plus bill that the governor wanted the Legislature to pass this session.
Bill providing property tax break to businesses sails through
Despite objections from fiscally conservative legislators, the Senate approved on Monday a measure that would allow businesses that meet certain requirements to pay a lower property tax.
Brewer vetoes ‘poorly written’ guns-on-campus bill
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has vetoed a bill to allow guns to be carried on public rights of way on public university and community college campuses.
Senate passes ballot referral that aims to dismantle Clean Elections system
In a major victory for opponents of the state’s Clean Elections system, the Senate approved a ballot referral Monday that aims to gut public financing for candidates of public office.
Major pension reform bill headed to Governor’s Office
The Senate beat the sine die clock on Monday to pass legislation that contains major changes to the state’s pension systems.
The measure, which backers said would head off a collapse of the public pension programs, advanced on a party-line vote, 21-9.
Pearce: Last day of session may be tomorrow
The Legislature is likely to wrap up its work on Tuesday, Senate President Russell Pearce indicated today.
Two remain for IRC executive director post
During a closed-door executive session last week, Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission selected the final two candidates vying to serve as the agency’s executive director.
The commission interviewed five candidates, selected from among several dozen more, for several hours during the private April 14 meeting, then chose two of the five for additional interviews April 20 â€[...]
JP prepares for his own redistricting process
Judges in the state’s justice courts are redrawing their precinct boundaries, a process that attracts little public attention but carries a full measure of political drama and intensity.
And Justice of the Peace Lester Pearce oversees the politically-partisan process of redrawing Maricopa County’s justice court districts.
Merit selection of judges facing possible revamp
Merit selection proponents had to give ground this year in the annual struggle to do away with the state’s system of choosing judges.
