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

In her news conference Friday (July 3) announcing she is going to resign as Alaska governor, Sarah Palin bemoaned what she said were women in political office being held to a different standard. In a 2008 interview at a Newsweek event in Los Angeles, however...

Amendments yesterday (July 1) to state election law (H2603, substituted on floor with S1087) crashed and burned in the Senate as a negotiated fix-up for Clean Elections missed its necessary three-quarter majority. Now, lawmakers would have to get approval from Brewer to resurrect the idea in a special session...

Jim McNulty, 83, a former state senator (1969-74) and one-term congressman died yesterday from Parkinson's disease complications, the Arizona Daily Star reports. Mr. McNulty also served on the Arizona Board of Regents and the Board of Education. He was defeated for a second term in Congress in 1984 by Jim Kolbe.

If Gov. Jan Brewer is looking for support for a 2010 run, Rep. Nancy Barto might not be the best person to turn to for support. At a legislative wrap-up breakfast today sponsored by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, emcee Chip Scutari asked a panel of Barto, Rep. Chad Campbell and Rep. John Kavanagh whom they thought would be governor in January 2011.

Former senator John Kaites has teamed up with Jerry Reinsdorf and Tony Tavares, former baseball team owner, in a bid to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Glendale, the Phoenix Business Journal reports.

Gov. Jan Brewer and legislative leaders have struck a deal on the budget that, among other provisions, calls for more than $600 million in spending cuts...

Jim Pederson's surprising announcement he will not run for governor leaves Attorney General Terry Goddard in the catbird seat, Capitol insiders say.

Jim Pederson, who was expected to take on Attorney General Terry Goddard in the Dem primary for governor, has been phoning friends and close associates to tell them he is not going to run, one of those associates told the Yellow Sheet.

Sources keep telling our reporter that Jim Ward has cultivated homegrown conservative muscle to immediately disarm carpetbag shouters and eventually help him win the CD-5 primary and return that congressional seat to the GOP.

Gov. Jan Brewer is planning to attend a "Passing of the Gavel" party tomorrow for Chief Justice Ruth McGregor's impending retirement at the end of the month, and sources say the governor might give a short speech. Some at the Legislature have noted that because the governor's challenge will be heard Tuesday, with McGregor still presiding over the court, the event presents the appearance of impropriety.