Patterson’s committee assignments suspended

House Speaker Andy Tobin has suspended the two committee assignments of Rep. Daniel Patterson, a Tucson Democrat facing an ethics complaint and related criminal charges accusing him of domestic violence.

Brewer, GOP lawmakers at odds over budget negotiations

Legislative leaders and Gov. Jan Brewer are hoping to jumpstart budget negotiations and thaw the relationship between them that saw the governor last month direct her staff not to meet with House and Senate staff.

Brewer, lawmakers end budget stall, reopen talks

The Governor’s Office and legislative leaders have reopened lines of communications involving the state budget, signaling a thaw over how to craft the state’s spending plan in the next few years. Gov. Jan Brewer, Senate President Steve Pierce and House Speaker Andy Tobin met Thursday. After the meeting, Pierce said staffers from both sides could start working together as soon as this weeken[...]

Arizona schools ask for waiver from some federal No Child Left Behind mandates

Arizona officials have asked to replace federal standards under the No Child Left Behind act with state-level student performance standards and a school accountability system that they say will be more efficient and less burdensome.

Redistricting commission to discuss budget problems

The cash-strapped Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission will meet on Friday to discuss its ongoing budget problems.

The meeting – the IRC’s first since January – comes as the commission faces the possibility of running out of money before June 30, the end of the 2012 fiscal year. And uncertainty over the 2013 budget is even greater.

Line in the sand

Republican governor and GOP Legislature are digging in for long budget fight

Brewer orders halt to budget negotiations

Gov. Jan Brewer threw a counterpunch at GOP lawmakers following the Monday release of their budget plan, ordering a halt to meetings between the two sides’ budget staffs until the legislative budget plan is changed to address some of her key concerns.

Tobin’s redistricting plan running into roadblocks — and out of time

House Speaker Andy Tobin is trying to keep alive his proposal that would ask voters to accept alternate redistricting maps, but the special election plan he is considering appears dead on arrival thanks to logistical and legal roadblocks — and a lukewarm reception from some of his Republican colleagues.

Don’t give redistricting back to the Legislature

Five pieces of new legislation introduced by House Speaker Andy Tobin have taken power-grabbing to a whole new level, and would set redistricting back to a time of shadowy legislative deals. We could start by asking the now worn-out phrase, “What part of independent does the Arizona House not understand?”

Richard Miranda resigns from House

Rep. Richard Miranda is resigning from the state House of Representatives, claiming health and family issues.

The other fight we’ll (probably) never get to see

Tobin’s attempt to give voters the option of discarding the IRC’s maps in favor of lines that he and a House staffer drew in secret is on life support, but he said today that he’s not giving up on his push for a special election.

Brewer unveils personnel plan

Rep. Justin Olson introduced Gov. Jan Brewer’s personnel plan Tuesday, just in time for the 275-page bill to be heard in committee on Thursday.