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

Doug Quelland maintains he didn't break any laws during his successful 2008 campaign for the House of Representatives, claiming he didn't do the things the Citizens Clean Elections Commission had determined earlier this year when it recommended his removal from elected office.

A group of lawmakers are taking a closer look at a program that gives income-tax breaks to people who donate money for private school scholarships. A Sept. 21 hearing on school-tuition organizations at the state Capitol came on the heels of newspapers reports that highlighted ways the tax-credit program could be abused.

There are 13 legislators in the House of Representatives who can hear the hoof-beats of term limits fast approaching, and their plans after the forced exit from the chamber range from possible runs for higher office to recapturing memories from youth.

A controversial constitutional amendment that limits the length of time that lawmakers can stay in office will force more than one-third of the senators out of their chamber by the end of next year, a massive revamp unprecedented in recent years.

Looking for supporters of term limits? Good luck finding any at the Capitol. Many who actively worked to change the state's Constitution nearly two decades ago say the rules harm the political process and need to be scrapped.

Once again, lawmakers adjourned, only to see Gov. Jan Brewer veto parts of the budget they passed. And once again, Brewer announced her intention to bring them back into special session to deal with the consequences.

Legislative leaders say the governor exceeded her constitutional authority in some of her line-item vetoes of budget bills this month, but they decided against taking the matter to court. Gov. Jan Brewer said she "absolutely" stands by her action, adding she didn't give much thought to the lawmakers' statement that she doesn't have authority to line-item veto items that don't have to do with appropriations.

Some state employees might have to look for new jobs before Feb. 1, when a budget amendment requiring a 5 percent reduction in state employees must be carried out.

Facing the prospect of difficult elections ahead, three Arizona Democrats are stocking up on campaign cash - with help from their colleagues and leaders in Washington.

A recently passed state law intended to help small Arizona banks recoup enormous financial losses incurred through waves of foreclosure was quietly stripped from statute as part of a budget agreement signed by Gov. Jan Brewer on Sept. 4.