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New target date for budget: Aug. 20
Arizona lawmakers are planning to send a set of budget bills to the Governor's Office on Aug. 20, after a short floor session today that ended without any action. But that budget plan will not include the proposal for a sales tax referral, something that Gov. Jan Brewer has insisted on for months.
House Approps passes repeal of equalization tax
The same day Arizona counties were required by law to adopt property tax rates, a House panel gave its approval to a measure that would eliminate a statewide property tax.... […]
Scarpinato to take helm of Yellow Sheet
On September 1, Daniel Scarpinato, the Capitol correspondent for the Arizona Daily Star, will become editor of the Yellow Sheet Report, a subscription, Web-based, daily newsletter covering politics and government.
Health care debate brings thousands to downtown Phoenix
Tom Jenney stood near the Phoenix Convention Center on Aug. 17 with a small square patch of Astroturf hanging around his neck. He wore the unusual accessory in an effort to lampoon U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has derided high-profile protests of federal health care reform as orchestrated events void of grassroots authenticity.
Sans action today, equalization property tax set to return
Arizona's residents face a higher tax bill this year as time is all but out to repeal a property tax that has been suspended for the last three years. Without legislative action and the governor's signature, the state equalization property tax is set to come back this year.
Sotomayor a flashpoint for Hispanic vote
Stores have not reported stocking Sonia Sotomayor action figures. But as the first Hispanic and only the third woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, she has become one of America's top role models. Her confirmation also led to lot of political guesswork - namely if the state's Hispanic community will exact a political toll on the two Arizona senators who voted against seating her.
Pierce pulls double duty
On a rack in Steve Pierce’s office sits a cap that declares, “Operation Chaos.” Pierce, a freshman senator from Prescott, wore it while the Legislature passed a set of budget bills in June.
Judge needs more time in Quelland case
The appeal of an order to remove Rep. Doug Quelland from office has moved more slowly than anticipated, and an administrative law judge has scheduled additional hearings in late September. Judge Robert Shedden originally set aside two days to hear Quelland's appeal of a May decision by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission that called for fining the lawmaker $45,000 and removing him from offi[...]
AZ lobbyists run through $3.5M in 2008
Last year represented bad times for the United States economy, but the financial reverberations generally weren’t felt in Arizona’s lobbying community, though 2009 might be a different story.
Supreme Court explains ruling on spat between governor and Legislature
The Arizona Supreme Court on Aug. 13 delivered a detailed explanation of a decision it reached in June regarding an acrimonious state budget dispute between Gov. Jan Brewer and Republican lawmakers.
Senate revives sales tax referral
The Arizona Senate has revived a measure that contains a provision for a sales tax increase, even though some lawmakers have called it a "dead horse." Senate President Bob Burns indicated lawmakers would continue to work to pass the ballot referral.
Brewer: Senate holdouts acting irresponsibly
With a budget package, sans tax hike, seemingly on its way to her desk, Gov. Jan Brewer took a few shots at lawmakers, accusing the senators who voted against the budget of acting irresponsibly.
