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

To hear Kris Mayes explain it, the super-heated debate over the use of solar energy and other renewable resources to help power the state has simmered down.

After about an hour of discussion, Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would exempt religious assemblies from registering as political committees despite advocating for specific political issues.

Sometimes, the party description next to a lawmaker’s name becomes the extra hand that helps push legislation forward – and that’s exactly what happened with a bill that would ban texting while driving.

The Arizona Senate is scheduled to vote today (March 22) on a bill that would make it illegal in Arizona to text while driving. A vote on the texting bill was scheduled last week but the sponsor says he had it postponed because of tension among senators over the budget and payday loan legislation.

The Arizona Senate is scheduled to vote today (March 22) on a bill to strengthen reporting requirements on abortions.

During her first 13 months on the Ninth Floor, Gov. Jan Brewer said repeatedly that it would be devastating to balance the budget by shortchanging the public school system, and she has opposed - and even vetoed - legislation that would have led to massive reductions in education funding.

In its last action to shore up the staggering state deficit, Arizona lawmakers decided to ask voters to dismantle a program aimed at expanding education and health services for children.

Lawmakers may find themselves back at the Capitol for another budget round if voters in November knock down a proposal to eliminate an early childhood development program and take its money, and sweep funds reserved for preserving Arizona's open spaces.

This was not the way Ted Vogt imagined his final semester of law school. It began normally enough, with classes and a clerkship and the inevitable plans to take the Bar exam and line up employment after graduation.

Attorney General Terry Goddard weighed in on Proposition 100 for the first time, saying he cannot support the temporary sales tax increase without an assurance from Gov. Jan Brewer that she will veto a tax cuts package being considered in the Legislature.