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

Republican governor and GOP Legislature are digging in for long budget fight

Proponents of a bill that would use state tax credits to encourage lenders to open their wallets for small businesses say they can help struggling entrepreneurs get access to much needed capital without invoking the most dreaded phrase in the debate over government incentives — “picking winners and losers.”

The House Appropriations committee narrowly passed a bill today that would require all university students to pay at least $2,000 of their tuition.

Sen. Frank Antenori, a Tucson Republican, received a boost today after the Senate’s most influential member said he’s behind his candidacy for Congress. “I can’t vote there, but I’d vote for Frank Antenori,” Senate President Steve Pierce told the Arizona Capitol Times today.

A state House committee has approved a bill requiring full-time students pay generally $2,000 annually toward their tuition at a state university.

A bill to generally require that full-time students pay at least $2,000 toward their annual tuition at a state university gets its first hearing Wednesday.

Phil Lovas, a 43-year-old hotel developer and Peoria Republican, will replace Rep. Judy Burges in the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 4.

The anemic fundraising for Sen. Steve Smith’s build-your-own-border-fence campaign is getting some help from a professional public relations firm.

Legislative leaders are pushing ahead with their budget proposal after efforts to get the governor involved have failed.

But in going ahead, lawmakers risk alienating Gov. Jan Brewer, who has a competing budget plan.

The move could also spur the sides to begin meeting on the state’s spending plan.

The Goldwater Institute looked to a group of community organizers and Democratic operatives for inspiration for its latest school choice idea.

The institute helped draft and is advocating for SB1204, which would allow parents of students attending failing schools to close down the school, convert it to a charter school or remove the principal.