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

Teachers who gathered at the Arizona Capitol last year to protest budget cuts wouldn’t be able to do so again unless they took a vacation day under a bill approved by a House committee Feb. 23.

A House panel has approved a bill that would require schools to annually report how many illegal immigrants are enrolled and how much it costs to educate them.

TUCSON - Republican officials are looking for candidates to replace former District 30 Sen. Jonathan Paton who resigned from office Feb. 22. Paton is running against incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Arizona voters will know the impact of their decision when they cast ballots in a May 18 special election on a proposed temporary sales tax increase to help balance the next state budget, Republican legislative leaders said Feb. 22.

A state lawmaker is proposing a new diploma that would allow high school students to attend community colleges or technical schools as early as sophomore year.

A Senate panel has approved legislation to adopt a British tradition of having the head of government take questions from lawmakers on a regular basis.

A bill that would link passage of third grade to a student’s performance on the AIMS test has been approved by the House Education Committee.

Sen. Jonathan Paton said today will be his last in the Arizona Senate. "It has been a privilege serving with you," Paton said.

The math isn't adding up for Arizona's payday loan industry. The industry that provides small short-term loans is fighting in the Legislature to keep itself alive beyond a June 30 termination date that was included in the authorization law enacted 10 years ago.

They come from various age groups, religions and ethnic backgrounds. Some are wealthy, while others are struggling college students. But they are united by one belief: The state is moving in the wrong direction - and they've decided to do something about it by running for office.