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A Desert Mirage: 1 year later, no progress on state border fence
A year after Arizona began a nationally publicized effort to build its own border fence through private contributions, not a single fencepost has gone up. And there are several barriers standing in the way of the project.
Fillmore calls for Crandall’s ouster, despite history of defending disgraced ex-lawmakers
Rep. John Fillmore has defended a former lawmaker who was accused of domestic violence. And he’s asked the courts to be lenient on another legislator who was convicted of defrauding a children’s charity.
But the Apache Junction Republican says his political challenger, Sen. Rich Crandall, should be subject to an ethics trial, removed from his committee chairmanship and ultimately oust[...]
Crandall threatens lawmaker’s bills in sign feud
In a voicemail message left on the cell phone of a legislator he says harassed his daughter last week, Sen. Rich Crandall suggested that he would work to kill her bills next year.
“I’m furious at you right now,” Crandall said in the July 12 message for Rep. Brenda Barton, R-Payson. “You better not try to run any education legislation next year.”
(Plus, listen t[...]
Quayle, Schweikert seek to define themselves in debate
Aside from a handful of key votes, U.S. Reps. Ben Quayle and David Schweikert sought to define themselves - without drawing stark contrasts with each other - in a debate Monday between the two up-and-coming Republican freshmen.
Sinema dominates CD9 fundraising
Kyrsten Sinema raised an eye-popping $367,000 last quarter, improving substantially on her first-quarter numbers and making the former Democratic senator the top fundraiser on either side of the aisle in the competitive race for Arizona’s 9th Congressional District.
Former Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny, who dominated CD9 after the first quarter, raised about $302,000. Th[...]
Kyl, McCain warn that Cardon could hurt GOP’s chances in November
Arizona’s two longtime U.S. senators lambasted political newcomer Wil Cardon for what they described as inaccurate attack ads that they say will hurt Republican frontrunner Jeff Flake’s chances against a formidable Democratic opponent in the race for an open Senate seat in November.
Open primary foes organizing, but money is biggest hurdle
The Open Government Committee has had the campaign trail all to itself for the past year as it collected signatures and spread the word about the “top-two” primary election system it hopes to create in Arizona.
Crandall, Fillmore spar over sign removal
Two Republican legislators running for the same Senate seat are accusing each other of lying after a third GOP lawmaker caught Sen. Rich Crandall’s daughter taking down one of Rep. John Fillmore’s campaign signs.
Analysts: AZ could get cash infusion by lifting Medicaid freeze
A year ago, Republicans boasted that they made the tough decisions on state spending needed to close a massive budget deficit. The decision to freeze enrollment in state-funded health care for the poor was held up most often by Republicans as a shining example of how they addressed the festering fiscal imbalance.
But one incentive might persuade Arizona’s policymakers to let the unins[...]
‘Top-2’ foes preparing lawsuit to stop ballot measure
A former Republican congressman and the Maricopa County attorney are spearheading an effort to oppose a proposed constitutional amendment that would end partisan primaries in Arizona.
AZ retailers ratchet up pressure for online sales tax
Arizona retailers are planning to increase the pressure on lawmakers to force online retailers to collect state sales tax.
The Arizona Retailers Association is concocting a public-relations campaign to intensify awareness and garner support for an online sales tax.
Lawmakers preparing for special session on ‘top-2’ primary (UPDATED)
Gov. Jan Brewer wants lawmakers to refer a measure to the ballot to correct what she views as the most glaring problem with a proposal to create a “top-two” primary election system in Arizona.
But while many lawmakers have talked for months about referring a competing ballot measure that could potentially sink the Open Elections/Open Government Act in November, Brewer wants to keep [...]
