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Leader emerges in LD2 Senate race
Former legislator Jack Jackson, Jr. holds the early lead in the Democratic Senate primary in Legislative District 2, an expansive area in Northeast Arizona. Jackson, who is in the four-way... […]
Lawmakers miss fewer votes this year
10 senators, 15 House members log perfect attendance on floor votes
UpClose with Albert Hale
Sen. Albert Hale lives in two distinct worlds. On weekdays, he uses his skills as an attorney to represent the Navajo people and other Native American tribes at the state Capitol. He's one of only two Native Americans in the Anglo-dominated Arizona Legislature.
Hale files bill to regulate Native American rituals
A Democrat from Window Rock has filed a bill to regulate the use of traditional Native American rituals, such as sweat lodge ceremonies, off of tribal lands.
Burns removes two from Senate Approps
Senate President Bob Burns has reduced the size of the Senate Appropriations Committee to 9 from 11 members, removing Sen. John Huppenthal and Sen. Albert Hale. Huppenthal, a Chandler Republican, was appointed temporarily to the committee last year to replace Sen. Pamela Gorman. He requested to be removed for the 2010 session.
When the offer’s off
After the bills passed, Sen. Albert Hale complained that he and the Republicans were in the middle of negotiations when leadership decided to go ahead and vote the bill out, presumably since they already had Sen. Thayer Verschoor's vote. The move doesn't bode well for future negotiations, Hale said.
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[...]
Senate approves bills in debate, final vote expected today
In almost staccato fashion, senators approved a package of bills to reduce state spending by about $300 million on Nov. 18 - first in committee and then on the floor. Senators attempted several amendments, both in committee and during Committee of the Whole.
Senate Appropriations panel approves bills
The budget fix to eliminate a portion of the state's $2 billion deficit is moving through Senate committees while the House is on hold until Nov. 19. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved four bills after a relatively short deliberation on Nov. 18. Some of the bills received bipartisan support.
A third of Senate to say goodbye in 2010
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.
Courting Democrats – one at a time
Running out of time and options, Republican leadership in the Senate has turned its attention to a handful of Democrats to cajole their support for a ballot referral on a sales tax increase.
