Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

After more than two hours of discussion, the House Committee on Insurance and Retirement passed a bill Feb. 4 mandating health insurance marketplace navigators and certified application counselors (CACs) undergo background checks and obtain licenses before aiding health insurance marketplace applicants.

Health care will be an issue of reckoning for legislators this year. A less covered but extremely important topic is setting higher expectations in Arizona when it comes to incorporating technology into a patient’s access to care. Specifically, improving how insurers act upon prior authorization, a process required by insurance plans before certain medications are approved for patients.

Some statewide candidates are stuffing the warchest, some see only a trickle, some are spending fast.

A bill that throws the book at pimps and men who pay minors for sex received unanimous approval today in the House Judiciary Committee in a hearing that touched a nerve with the fathers of daughters on the panel.

Wil Cardon leads all candidates in fundraising for the secretary of state’s race, with fellow Republican Michele Reagan trailing not far behind.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of a group of charter schools today, saying the state cannot reduce voter approved-funds earmarked for teacher pay raises and the classroom to offset overpayments in previous years.

Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor, a Phoenix Democrat, is dropping her bid to become the next secretary of state.

The Child Advocate Response Examination team seconded Gov. Jan Brewer’s call for a separate child welfare agency in its report released today.

The Yavapai County Attorney’s Office has scheduled an informal settlement conference in the campaign finance case against Attorney General Tom Horne.

Fewer than half of adult Latino citizens voted in the 2012 presidential elections, according to the U.S. Census, and that has prompted two national Latino organizations to step up voter registration efforts this year, months ahead of the 2014 elections.