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Authorities debate whether lavish economic development incentives are worth the price
Arizona’s city, county and state governments are handing out billions in economic development incentives to attract business — but not without resistance from critics who dispute their necessity.
Pacheco’s flower power
When it comes bringing color and fragrance into the lives of Arizona’s lawmakers, nobody does it better than Jessica Pacheco.
Food and beverages: Lawmakers benefit from lobbyists’ largesse
Buying lawmakers a meal or a drink is one of the most common ways lobbyists form relationships with lawmakers, and some lawmakers take more advantage of the free meals than others.
From Austin to New Orleans, lawmakers travel at the expense of lobbyists
Travel and lodging account for 12 percent of the money spent in lobbyist expenditure reports that include a beneficiary name from 2011 to 2012.
Power brokers: The most lobbied lawmakers and the busiest lobbyists
a small number of lobbyists spend much more money on lawmakers than the rest. And a select set of lawmakers attract more lobbying attention than others. Lobbying records required by state law hint at who these power brokers are, and give a peek into a small network of lobbyists, their clients and lawmakers who wield extra influence.
Lobbyists expect pressure to give more to politicians
So-called hell week, the annual spate of fundraisers before the start of the legislative session, may get more hellish for lobbyists because of new campaign finance rules that allow contributors to give far more money.
Opponents say higher contribution limits violate Clean Elections, Voter Protection Act
A provision in the 1998 ballot measure that created Arizona’s Clean Elections system may hold the key to whether the state’s new campaign contribution limits will go into effect for 2014.
New contribution limits could be game-changer for campaigns
Campaign cash may come pouring into some of Arizona’s top races next year thanks to a new law allowing candidates to raise far more money.
Critics say the bill will flood campaigns with more money and influence-buying, and that it may be the final nail in the coffin of Arizona’s voter-approved Clean Elections system.
Yuma police recommend charges against state senator
Yuma police are recommending prosecutors pursue four misdemeanor charges against state Sen. Don Shooter, who heatedly confronted a teacher at a Yuma charter school and later claimed his medically disabled grandson was repeatedly “humiliated and bullied” by his teacher.
Predicting Brewer vetoes is difficult; reasons vary
Figuring out how to avoid Gov. Jan Brewer’s veto pen is a guessing game that leaves even some of the most seasoned veterans at the Capitol perplexed.
Many lawmakers and lobbyists say there are no hard and fast guidelines for avoiding a veto from a governor who vetoed 91 bills in her first four legislative sessions.
Poll: GOP voters in key districts oppose AHCCCS expansion
Republican primary voters in six GOP-controlled legislative districts largely oppose Medicaid expansion and are likely to vote against any lawmaker who supports it, according to a poll from Colorado-based Magellan Strategies.
Dueling polls reach different results on Medicaid expansion support
Two recent polls on Gov. Jan Brewer’s Medicaid expansion plan reached substantially differing results, with one showing overwhelming public support and the other reflecting more evenly split public opinion with Republicans opposed.
