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Brewer brings Christmas, Hanukkah back to Capitol displays
Gov. Jan Brewer said she isn't going to play "word games" with holiday decorations in State Capitol's Executive Tower lobby. "I believe in calling something what it is, and it is a Christmas tree, just as a menorah is a menorah," the governor said in a statement on Nov. 24.
Cronkite/Eight Poll: Most Arizonans optimistic about economy
Most Arizonans think the economy will get better next year, according to a Cronkite/Eight Poll released Nov. 24. Fifty-four percent of those polled said their own economic situation will be significantly or somewhat better a year from now.
Barnes’ comments take a turn for the weird
While the Senate barely said a word about the budget bills, the House spent more than an hour debating their merits when they came up for a vote Nov. 23. It was a strikingly partisan debate on spending cuts to education and social services. At times it was adversarial. At other times it was just strange.
Brewer, lawmakers blast League on illegal immigration; League says they missed the point
Before Gov. Jan Brewer and legislative leadership can settle their most recent legal dispute with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, the sides may have to agree on exactly what they're fighting about.
Brewer hails passage of cuts, says it’s a good day
Gov. Jan Brewer, flanked by Senate President Bob Burns and House Speaker Kirk Adams, signed the special session bills just hours after they passed the House.
Verschoor votes “yes,” Legislature adjourns sine die
A Republican senator who had skipped a vote on four special session bills last week returned to the Capitol Nov. 23 to apologize for his absence and to vote in... […]
Teacher’s union seeks court intervention in policy changes
Arizona’s largest teachers’ union has asked the state Supreme Court to overturn laws that affect the pay and retention of public school teachers. In a 32-page petition for special action,... […]
Tracking the special session
Click here for up-to-the-minute updates on the Legislature's fourth special session. Our reporters will be at the Capitol all day (or all week, if it comes to that), tracking the progress of the four pieces of legislation in the House and Senate.
Will legislative PACs be used to corral votes?
A pair of political committees created by top legislative Republicans will raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to spend in next year's elections, which is causing some to wonder if it's appropriate for them to wield that kind of power.
Verschoor breaks silence, explains why he skipped out
Sen. Thayer Verschoor broke his silence Nov. 20, saying he skipped the third day of the Legislature’s special session because he was still trying to negotiate a deal on the package of legislation with the House and the governor.
Lawmakers consider seeking exemption from stimulus requirements
Standing between lawmakers and millions of dollars in budget cuts to education are three letters - M-O-E. Since Arizona started drawing federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, some lawmakers have decried the maintenance-of-effort, or MOE, requirements for portions of the money.
Budget bill fails in Senate; Verschoor AWOL
The Senate has hit a major snag and has failed to pass the main budget measure that is part of a package that partially fixes a $2-billion deficit, and it has adjourned until Nov. 23. The bill went down by a vote of 14-13. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Gray voted "no" so he could bring the vote up for reconsideration later. All the Democrats voted "no" on the bill. So did Sen. Ron Gould, a[...]
