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Barber will seek full term
Ron Barber went from placeholder to full-fledged candidate, with an announcement today that he’ll seek a full term in Congress.
Mesa businessman to run in Pearce’s legislative district
A businessman has emerged to run for a seat in a newly drawn East Valley legislative district, a move that sets up a potential showdown with former Sen. Russell Pearce, the author of Arizona’s SB1070. Bob Worsley, founder of the in-flight catalog company SkyMall, declared today he will be seeking the Senate seat in new Legislative District 25.
IRC to sue state for more funding
The Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee will file suit against the state Friday in an attempt to force the Legislature to provide more funding for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Brewer personnel plan sails through House
A personnel reform plan championed by Gov. Jan Brewer sailed through the House on a party line vote, with a few tweaks to soften the blow for law enforcement officers and other state employees who will retain their civil service protections.
Corp. Comm. barred from adopting more stringent renewable energy standards
A panel of senators today approved legislation to bar the Arizona Corporation Commission from adopting renewable energy standards that are more stringent than what is currently in place. Many consider the bill an attempt by lawmakers to assert control over the state’s energy policy, but critics said it infringes on the commission’s constitutional authority to set rates for public utility co[...]
Supporters find another avenue for anti-union bills stuck in House
With two anti-union bills stuck in the House, supporters are hoping to rescue the legislation by amending another measure to carry the controversial provisions.
Miranda pleads guilty to wire fraud
A former member of the Arizona Legislature accused of defrauding a nonprofit he once ran has pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud and attempted tax evasion charges.
Former Democratic Rep. Richard Miranda of Tolleson admitted Wednesday to selling a building that belonged to the nonprofit Centro Adelante Campesino without authorization from the group's board for $250,000 and keeping [...]
Brewer’s cornerstone bill delayed in House
The cornerstone bill in Gov. Jan Brewer’s 2012 agenda was supposed to be debated on the House floor today, but it was left off today’s House floor calendar, pushing off debate of the sweeping personnel reform legislation until later in the week.
Bill allowing employers to deny contraception coverage advances
Any business with a religious objection to contraception would be allowed to not include it in their insurance coverage under a bill that was approved by a Senate committee Monday. Current law allows only religious employers, which are defined as nonprofit groups that primarily employ and serve persons who share their religious tenets, to provide health plans that don’t cover contraceptives.
Group files ballot measure for 1-cent sales tax hike
A coalition aiming to bolster K-12, higher education, state infrastructure and children’s health care funding filed a ballot measure today for a new 1-cent sales tax hike that would go into effect as soon as Proposition 100 expires in 2013.
The initiative, filed by the group Quality Education and Jobs, would direct about 80 percent of the money it raises to education, with the overwhe[...]
Critics say ACA tax credits to businesses should be fully disclosed
Since the Arizona Commerce Authority officially launched on July 1, it has awarded $17.2 million in incentives to companies moving to or expanding in Arizona. But detailed information is available for less than half of that money.
That’s because $9.3 million has been awarded in the form of tax credits, which are defined in Arizona statute as confidential taxpayer information.
Patterson charged with 4 counts of domestic violence
A Tucson legislator is facing four counts of misdemeanor domestic violence stemming from a Feb. 24 physical altercation with an ex-girlfriend, even though his attorney says the Arizona Constitution prevents the lawmaker from being charged.
However, a Phoenix attorney says Rep. Daniel Patterson has no such protections under the Constitution.
