Republican candidates for the Arizona Corporation Commission violated the rules by using hundreds of thousands of dollars that were meant to be spent in the primary to go after their Democratic general election opponents, the agency that runs the state’s public finance system agreed today.

Arizona's campaign finance commission on Wednesday will consider a proposed settlement agreement to have the three Republican candidates return a total of nearly $29,000 of public financing.

The campaign to defeat a 1-cent sales tax initiative collected $550,000 from three sources with ties to Republican causes and candidates.

Trailed by her husband, Mikel, who carried a pink guitar case bearing the message “Tell the Right They’re WRONG,” Beth Weisser of Kingman arrived Sunday to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

The race is on to woo voters for a slate of ballot measures passed by the 50th Legislature on property taxes, government financing, trust land and states’ rights.

Some of the seven propositions on the November 2012 ballot have dry subjects that might be difficult to grasp, making it all the more important for backers to get organized and present a coherent message, said David Berman, a professor at Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute of Public Policy.

The Arizona Corporation Commission has approved a compromise plan on a 13-mile power line for the proposed copper mine near Tucson.

The Goldwater Institute, a think tank known for its dogged pursuit of conservative ideals, laid down an ambitious — and combative — agenda at the state Capitol this year.

Legislation aimed at barring the Arizona Corporation Commission from adopting renewable energy standards that are more stringent than what is currently in place is an unconstitutional power grab by lawmakers, the Commission’s lead attorney says.

A panel of senators today approved legislation to bar the Arizona Corporation Commission from adopting renewable energy standards that are more stringent than what is currently in place. Many consider the bill an attempt by lawmakers to assert control over the state’s energy policy, but critics said it infringes on the commission’s constitutional authority to set rates for public utility companies.

A bill that would give the Legislature a say over energy rules adopted by the Arizona Corporation Commission is being scaled back. An amendment proposed for consideration by a Senate committee Wednesday would rewrite the bill approved by the House.