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Inmate advocates question claim that Arizona prisons have no solitary confinement
Raising doubts from skeptics, Department of Corrections Director Charles Ryan told a legislative committee Wednesday the department has no solitary confinement, despite keeping the maximum-security inmates in their cells alone for 22 hours a day.
Lawmakers prepare to adjourn as Medicaid expansion moves toward approval
Lawmakers are prepared to sine die Thursday afternoon and leave what’s become an increasingly toxic atmosphere at the Capitol as bipartisan coalitions in each chamber have seized control and began systematically approving Gov. Jan Brewer’s budget proposal in special session.
Brewer taps former lawmaker Vogt to head up Veterans Services
Gov. Jan Brewer named former Rep. Ted Vogt as the next director of the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services. Brewer said Vogt’s military background makes him “uniquely qualified” for the position. Vogt is a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and commander of an anti-terrorism unit.
Compromise could clear the way for CPS reforms
A compromise between House and Senate lawmakers could allow time-sensitive reforms to Child Protective Services to clear the Legislature this session, but other CPS-related measures may still face the governor’s veto stamp.
Anti-abortion bill put on hold as lawmaker proposes study committee
A Paradise Valley Democrat introduced a floor amendment Tuesday that would eradicate an anti-abortion bill. The House postponed action on SB1069 after Rep. Eric Meyer introduced a proposal to create a study committee that would examine whether abortion clinics are in compliance with state regulations
13 apply for redistricting panel vacancy
Thirteen people have applied to fill a vacant Democratic seat on the state’s five-person redistricting commission to replace a commissioner who suddenly resigned in May.
Medicaid expansion coalition flexes its muscles
The bipartisan coalition forming around Medicaid expansion flexed their political muscle on Monday, shooting down a pair of amendments and approving another amendment to a Medicaid expansion supporter’s bill involving school bonding.
House panel kills Medicaid expansion, but battle rages on
A legislative panel today killed the Medicaid expansion portion of the state budget, leaving supporters with options that include using a strike everything amendment on a new health bill to bring the measure to a vote from the full House or suspending the House rules altogether.
House panel gives OK to unannounced inspections of abortion clinics
The House Appropriations Committee on Monday approved a pro-life measure that would allow unannounced inspections of abortion clinics and prohibit them from providing abortions to Medicaid patients.
CAP abortion language for Medicaid expansion clears committee
A Center for Arizona Policy proposal intended to prevent Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan from benefitting abortion providers merited little debate as it passed the House Appropriations Committee as part of a larger pro-life bill.
House takes aim at Senate budget package, Medicaid expansion
It has been three weeks of legislative deadlock since the Senate passed a state budget including Medicaid expansion, but the gears are moving again and the House is getting ready to take a vote on the Senate’s budget plan.
Top legislative leaders meet similar fate in dealing with governor
It may have taken House Speaker Andy Tobin longer to realize, but eventually he came to the same conclusion that Senate President Andy Biggs reached months ago.
