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Legislature losing budget savvy
Resignations of veteran legislators in order to run for Congress will mean losing institutional knowledge, particularly of the budget process, at a time when that acumen is most needed.
Ash chosen to lead influential RNC committee
HONOLULU - An Arizona native was selected to head the most powerful committee within the Republican Party during a semiannual meeting of the GOP's national board.
Burns plugging holes as senators resign to run for Congress
Faced with the resignations of Jim Waring and Jonathan Paton, Senate President Bob Burns may have to appoint freshmen committee chairs or pick from the veteran lawmakers who are on his naughty list. Burns has other options as well, but none of them are ideal.
Waring says he’ll resign today
Sen. Jim Waring, a Phoenix Republican who is running for U.S. Rep. John Shadegg’s seat, said he will turn in his resignation letter today. Waring said he wanted to make sure that his bills — among other things — are taken care of before he steps down.
Brewer wants special session to pass sales tax referral
Gov. Jan Brewer is anxious to call a special session to ask voters to approve a temporary sales tax increase to help bridge the state's deficit, Senate President Bob Burns said during a meeting of Republican lawmakers on Jan. 26.
Gorman resigns from Senate
Sen. Pamela Gorman, who represented District 6 in the Senate since 2007, has resigned her seat to run for Congress.
‘I hate this bill and I vote aye’
Last year, Sen. Jack Harper gave his word that he would vote for a bill to restrict notary publics from notarizing documents that would present a conflict of interest. He made good on his promise by voting for it in committee. But when the bill failed there, Harper said he was relieved that it didn't pass. The situation illustrates the fact that lawmakers sometimes vote for measures they don’t n[...]
Goddard offers criticism, not solutions at Dem convention
Terry Goddard didn’t produce any solutions for the problems facing the state, but he had a lot of harsh words for Gov. Jan Brewer and the Republican legislative leaders.
Munger campaign boasts $200,000 in fundraising
When Republican gubernatorial hopeful John Munger files his first campaign finance report of the election cycle it will show a war chest of more than $200,000 in donations, according to a campaign spokesman.
Speed cameras could be gone in a flash
The end appears near for speed cameras on Arizona highways. The biggest question is which method will be used to get rid of them. So far, lawmakers have introduced three measures to repeal the statutes that allow the photo-enforcement system. Another bill doesn't exactly repeal photo enforcement, but it would render the system useless.
End of GOP budget fight? Seriously?
For the first time in at least six years, the annual release of budget plans by the Arizona Legislature and the governor didn't result in bickering. Of course, it helps that the legislative Republican majority didn't put out anything even closely resembling a budget plan this year.
Brewer reaching out to rank-and-file lawmakers
Gov. Jan Brewer's budget proposal will be a hard sell to Democrats. And some provisions, such as her temporary sales tax increase, will be difficult for Republicans to embrace.
