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Brophy McGee receives threatening voicemail over Medicaid expansion
The debate over Medicaid expansion has become so contentious that Rep. Kate Brophy McGee received an “abusive, threatening and vulgar” voicemail that scared her so much she is having House security investigate the matter.
Breakaway senator mulls whether to seek another term
A member of the coalition of Senate Republicans who broke away from the majority party and voted for Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion proposal is contemplating whether to run for office in 2014.
Sen. Bob Worsley, R-Mesa, said that while he intends to run at this point, the decision is one he must still mull over in the coming year – and any reservations he has to running have noth[...]
Democratic redistricting commissioner resigns
Democratic commissioner Jose Herrera unexpectedly resigned from the state’s five-person Independent Redistricting Commission today.
Federal court rejection of Arizona’s 20-week abortion law likely to be appealed
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision on May 21 striking down Arizona’s ban on abortions after 20-weeks of pregnancy came as no surprise to most who were involved in the case, although for differing reasons. And now sights are on an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Courts deal with special needs of mentally ill who break the law
For Judge John Nelson of Yuma County Superior Court, there weren’t many options in his county for dealing with mentally ill criminal defendants who violated probation. He and his fellow judges often were limited to just sending them to prison.
Funding formula of state pension plans in hands of AZ Supreme Court
The Arizona Supreme Court is set to hear arguments June 4 in a case that will determine the financial future of Arizona’s employee pensions. Whatever the Supreme Court decides in Fields v. Elected Officials Retirement Plan will also settle two other lawsuits sparked by SB1609, a 2011 law that overhauled state pensions, and determine whether retirees will continue to receive generous [...]
Economic development bills waiting on budget
The fever pitch for economic development legislation has died down somewhat following signs of recovery and passage of blockbuster bills in the past two sessions. But lawmakers are still pushing job-creating legislation, which has been stalled for months over the ongoing budget stalemate.
Voters to decide if state can declare fed actions unconstitutional
Voters in the 2014 general election will decide whether Arizona can reject federal actions and programs that the Legislature or the voters deem unconstitutional.
Early voting bills revived — but only temporarily
Just when it appeared the controversial election bills involving the Permanent Early Voting List were dead, they received new life last week after Senate leadership introduced an elections omnibus bill incorporating five measures. Then they stalled again.
Follow the money
Lobbying reports show how much was spent, who spent it, but not necessarily who was being courted
The Arizona Capitol Times obtained the electronic quarterly lobbying reports for the first quarter of 2013 under the state’s public records laws, analyzed the expenditures across hundreds of transactions and interviewed many of those involved in the spending.
Capitol Times journalists win honors in Arizona Press Club contest
Arizona Capitol Times journalists won a total of 16 awards, including six first-place awards, in this year’s Arizona Press Club contest. The winners were announced May 18.
Brewer, league compromise on sales tax reform, but still no deal
Gov. Jan Brewer made a major concession to her transaction privilege tax reform bill that eliminates the most contentious provision, but that wasn’t enough to get the League of Arizona Cities and Towns on board.
