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Several panels could be home to next ‘jobs’ bill
The number of economy-related committees raises an interesting question: Which panel will consider legislation aimed at improving the state’s economy?
Dems complain border security panel is redundant
Some Democratic lawmakers couldn’t help but scratch their heads when the list of new Senate committees was released in November.
Goldwater report blasts government discipline procedures, highlights costs incurred
The lengthy reviews, administrative hurdles and general lack of swiftness that comes along with firing or disciplining government employees in Arizona sometimes invites dangerous and expensive outcomes, according to an extensive report from the Goldwater Institute, a libertarian government watchdog firm.
Brewer seeks to join Glendale casino lawsuit
Glendale’s most prominent politician, Gov. Jan Brewer, wants to join the city’s bid to stop the Tohono O’odham from building a casino just outside city limits.
U.S. Supreme Court poised to strike death blow to matching funds
The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to strike a key provision of Arizona’s Clean Elections Act, leaving the future of state and national public campaign financing programs in limbo.
Arizona police a buzzkill for visiting medical-marijuana users
While the state Department of Health Services scrambles over the next 120 days to draft the rules and regulations for how medical marijuana will be grown, dispensed and used across the state, uncertainty over the right of visiting medical marijuana patients to possess pot in Arizona has created confusion that may have to be sorted out in court.
McComish calls Senate committee assignments ‘unfair’
Sen. John McComish said he’s got a lot more to offer the Senate than he will be allowed to contribute next year, based on his assessment of the committee assignments that were announced earlier this week.
Sen. Lopez marries longtime beau
Sen. Linda Lopez had one more reason to celebrate during the Thanksgiving holiday. The Tucson Democrat got married to her long-time boyfriend, Rudy Jones, on Nov. 26.
Conservatives may push to ignore Medicaid requirement
Arizona’s skirmishes with the federal government could become a full-scale war if some conservative legislators succeed in their push to violate provisions of the federal health care law.
Brewer skeptical about Harper’s border plan
Gov. Jan Brewer's pleas for more federal troops on the border have largely fallen on deaf ears in Washington, D.C., and Sen. Jack Harper's plans for a state-run volunteer militia may meet the same fate on the Ninth Floor.
Biggs to head Senate Appropriations; committee memberships announced
Senator-elect Andy Biggs will not only head the Appropriations Committee – where the budget bills are traditionally assigned – the Gilbert Republican also was appointed as vice chairman of the Government Reform and Judiciary committees.
Like it or not, here comes ‘Obamacare’
It’s a safe bet that Republicans in the Arizona Legislature never envisioned themselves as facilitators of the federal health care law. Yet, ironically, that’s exactly the role they may fill as they mull legislation to set the stage for what they have dubbed derisively “Obamacare.”
