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Lawmakers: Changes needed on foreclosure bill
UPDATE - Sen. Steve Pierce told the Arizona Capitol Times that his foreclosure bill will have to be fixed, either in special session or next year when the Legislature begins the regular session. Pierce and stakeholders met this afternoon (July 28) to discuss changes to the legislation.
GOP working both sides; separate budget deals in play
It’s been three weeks since lawmakers were called into a special legislative session to patch a massive hole in the budget, but there are finally signs that negotiations with Democrats may be bearing some fruit.
New law expands religious expression in schools
Sen. Linda Gray often cites "The New England Primer" while delivering speeches on the Senate floor. In a committee hearing June 10, the Glendale Republican read an excerpt: "I believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of heaven and Earth, and in Jesus his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and bur[...]
Drug-sniffing dogs vs. privacy rights: Court rules 2006 search violated Constitution
Acting on a tip, policemen conducting surveillance on a home in the outskirts of Tucson waited until the right moment to make their move on a suspected drug house. The last of the home's occupants had just left, and a police canine unit soon confirmed it had identified the odor of narcotics seeping from the garage of a home belonging to Jose Salvador Guillen.
Brewer to pick next justice within weeks
Roughly four months after an announcement that Arizona Supreme Court Justice Ruth McGregor would step down from the bench, Gov. Jan Brewer is poised to choose the state's next justice.
Methadone bill signed into law; no mention of methadone
Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill on July 13 that originally aimed specifically to penalize people caught driving while under the influence of methadone. But the legislation was watered down to a point where the final language differs only slightly from existing law. It actually morphed several times, as sometimes happens to measures as they work their way through the Legislature.
Lawmakers could have avoided line-item vetoes
When Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a large portion of the budget approved by lawmakers earlier this month, she sent the Legislature back to square one. Now Republican leaders are working with Democrats instead of the governor to craft a spending plan, and the state still faces a $2.5 billion deficit a month after the fiscal deadline.
Advocates tout private roads as possible ’11 budget solution
There is no question that Arizona is in need of money. There is also no doubt that the state will need more roads as its population grows. Rep. Andy Biggs is hoping that a new law to allow private toll roads will help Arizona meet both needs.
Kyl will vote against Sotomayor
Sen. Jon Kyl announced July 23 that he would vote against Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court, saying he is not convinced that she will set aside her biases and decide cases impartially based on the rule of law.
Brewer frustrated by budget inaction
Gov. Jan Brewer said she is disappointed in the pace of the Legislature’s special session and urged lawmakers to move swiftly in approving a full budget.
Bolles’ killer dies in Tucson prison
The man convicted in the 1976 murder of Arizona Republic investigative reporter Don Bolles died in a Tucson prison medical unit on July 21, according to the Arizona Department of... […]
Building a new budget, starting from scratch
House Speaker Kirk Adams on July 20 said lawmakers will try to craft another budget by September, but he would not put a specific timeframe on it because lawmakers are, essentially, starting from scratch.
