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Cities, counties urge Brewer to veto consolidated elections bill
Dozens of local and county officials are asking Gov. Jan Brewer to veto a bill that would force cities to consolidate their elections dates with the state.
They argued that HB2826 would stamp out local control, politicize non-partisan elections and increase election costs.
Pearce allies OK legislation to pave way for recall reimbursement
Allies of former senator Russell Pearce secured a critical step in pushing for legislation that creates the framework for reimbursing officials who face recall elections.
The proposal could pave the way for Pearce getting a reimbursement of more than $260,000 — the amount his campaign spent defending him last year, when he was ousted from the senate in a recall election.
GOP lawmakers seek to overturn redistricting commission’s authority to create maps
Republican lawmakers today authorized the Legislature to file a lawsuit challenging the state redistricting commission’s authority to draw congressional and legislative maps.
Senate OKs overhaul of state personnel system
The GOP-controlled Senate today approved Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to overhaul the rules that govern state workers. The measure seeks to remove workers from the state’s merit system, giving supervisors more flexibility in firing them. The measure split the Senate along party lines.
NH measure supports Arizona’s SB1070 immigration law
CONCORD, N.H. a�� A New Hampshire resolution in support of the tough Arizona law that requires police to check the immigration status of people they want to stop for any reason drew opposition Tuesday rather than support. Only opponents testified at a sparsely attended Senate hearing where the sponsor didn't even show up.
Phoenix delays pension reform until state action
Reforming the pension system for Phoenix employees may have to wait until city officials see how an overhaul of the state employee system plays out. Some reforms the city is considering are similar to state proposals that would force workers to pay more into the system. But a judge recently ruled that unconstitutional in a case brought against a state pension plan.
Pearce allies exploring 11th-hour push to reimburse him for recall election
Allies of ousted senator Russell Pearce aren’t giving up on the idea of reimbursing him for campaign expenses related to his November recall election.
Lawmaker’s next focus: Brewer’s personnel overhaul
After wrapping up work on the budget, senators immediately turned their attention to a sweeping proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer to overhaul the rules that govern state employees.
Traffic engineers: intersection bill safety concerns overblown
Despite safety concerns that some police officers have raised about changing the definition of intersections in Arizona, traffic engineers from the state’s two largest metro areas said small changes to traffic light timing should address at least some of those concerns.
Lawmakers, Brewer plan $50M sweep of money intended for foreclosure crisis
Housing advocacy organizations are crying foul over a proposed sweep of $50 million from a multistate mortgage settlement, and one group is threatening to sue to stop Gov. Jan Brewer and the Legislature from taking the money intended to ease the effects of a foreclosure crisis that hit Arizona harder than nearly any other state.
New Ariz. bill on electronic billboards approved
Arizona legislators have approved a negotiated compromise to allow electronic billboards in some parts of the state but not others where astronomy observatories are located.
Bill shields professionals from losing licenses based on religious objections
The Senate today approved legislation to prohibit the government from suspending or revoking a person’s professional license for declining to provide a service because of a religious objection. The measure, SB1365, divided the Senate along party lines: Republicans backed the bill while Democrats opposed it.
