Center’s priority: protecting those who practice religion

Judicial-reform proposals are just two items on the Center for Arizona Policy’s 16-part agenda for 2011.

Policy center’s quandary: How to give voters scoop on judges

Uncomfortable with the sources of information voters have before judicial-retention elections, the Center for Arizona Policy is seeking more revealing electronic scorekeeping on judges’ rulings.

Constitutional obstacle course: the challenges facing the birthright citizenship bill backers

Frustrated by the federal government's refusal to solve illegal immigration, some lawmakers want the U.S. Supreme Court to resolve who exactly is an American citizen.

In trying to define citizenship, birthright busters will have to navigate not only through the U.S. Supreme Court, but the U.S. Senate, other states and even their own caucus.

Judge rules Legislature acted properly in withholding money from schools

The Arizona Legislature is in the clear with its decision not to increase education funding for inflation in the fiscal 2011 budget, according to an order released today by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Mangum.

Even without controversial blunt wraps provision, tobacco bill still fails in Senate

At first, Sen. Michele Reagan, R-Scottsdale, thought her fake ID and "blunt wrap" bill would sail through the Senate. But that second part landed the bill in the middle of an ugly feud between a national group of cigar manufacturers and one of its members.

Tohono O’odham sues over annexation bill

The Tohono O’Odham Nation filed a federal lawsuit against the State of Arizona and the City of Glendale over a law designed to block the tribe from building a casino.

State to feds: Medicaid advice didn’t help

Maybe if the letter had started more warmly, with something like, “Dear Jan,” Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer would have responded less vehemently to the offer of assistance by Kathleen Sebelius, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Pearce picks Stertz, Pima County Republican, for redistricting panel

Senate President Russell Pearce has appointed Richard Stertz to serve on the Independent Redistricting Commission, leaving the fourth and final legislative appointment in the hands of Senate Minority Leader David Schapira.

It was one of those times when ‘every’ didn’t really mean every

Despite Gov. Jan Brewer’s insistence to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that Arizona had followed every single one of her suggestions for cutting Medicaid costs, AHCCCS still provides several optional services that could be eliminated without running afoul of federal law.

Blendu files paperwork for House run in 2012

Former state Sen. Robert Blendu, a Republican from Litchfield Park, said he will run in 2012 for a seat in the Arizona House.

Brewer, Horne announce counterclaim against feds in 1070 suit

Gov. Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne on Thursday went on offense against the federal government, filing a counterclaim in the feds’ lawsuit against Arizona’s landmark illegal-immigration law.

Brewer names DC services chief to DES post

The Department of Economic Security’s new director has no illusions about the challenges his agency faces as he prepares to take its helm.