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Senate panel moves budget forward, but questions go unanswered
The Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a $9.13 billion budget package fiscal 2014-2015 on Tuesday afternoon, with all votes breaking on party lines as the chamber’s Republican majority took charge.
Senate approves CPS audit despite concerns it could slow child welfare reforms
The Arizona Senate approved a measure that calls for an external audit of the beleaguered Child Protective Services agency, despite concerns that the measure could impede efforts by Gov. Jan Brewer and a coalition of lawmakers and stakeholders working to create a new child safety division.
Tovar’s challenge: Uniting a divided Democratic caucus
Sen. Anna Tovar enters her first session as minority leader, having ousted Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor from the post during the interim. Tovar is tasked with uniting a now divided Democratic Caucus – some lawmakers are still bitter over Landrum Taylor’s ouster – and continuing to make Democrats’ presence felt at the Capitol, perhaps as an ongoing part of a coalition of Democrats and some Repu[...]
Quotes of the week
The most outstanding quips, gibes and utterances from Arizona's political scene this week.
AZ lawmakers target guns, unions, marijuana & more in 2014
As Arizona’s economy rebounds and revenues stabilize, Gov. Jan Brewer and legislators can finally focus on more traditional policy debates, instead of mightily trying to save a sinking fiscal ship.
State lawmakers, White House tout Tucsonan as Obamacare success
Laid off and with a pre-existing medical condition, Tucson resident Sue Voelker said it was a struggle to get health insurance – until the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
Senate coup reveals deep-seated differences among Dems
What was supposed to be a humdrum meeting to select a replacement for outgoing Democratic assistant leader Linda Lopez in October became its own spectacle after colleagues ousted Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor as minority leader.
Senate Democrats regroup in brutal aftermath of leadership change
On the surface, all appeared well among Democrats in the Senate. The 13-member minority caucus had a common cause to unite around in Medicaid expansion during the 2013 legislative session and was able to form a new majority in the Senate chamber by joining forces with a few breakaway Republican lawmakers.
Arizona Democrats tout Obamacare benefits, despite problems with rollout
Despite the troubled rollout of the Affordable Care Act, Arizona Democrats touted the law’s “many, many positive aspects” and showcased one woman Monday who successfully got health insurance through healthcare.gov.
Hot contests
Early voting in the 2014 primary begins in nine months, and candidates are already firing up their campaigns.
Democrats oust Landrum Taylor as Senate Minority Leader in favor of Tovar
In a dramatic turn of events, Senate Minority Leader Landrum Taylor was ousted as minority leader by her party-mates following a closed-door meeting in the Senate today.
Livingston scores a perfect legislative batting average
The award for best legislative batting average for the session — the calculation of bills introduced versus bills signed into law — goes to Rep. David Livingston, a freshman Republican lawmaker from Peoria who has been vocally critical of the governor.
