I have always supported Tom Forese, even if I have not always agreed with him. As a state lawmaker Tom Forese was a champion of free markets, where he advocated for deregulation that enabled ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to compete in our economy. I was disappointed, however, to see Mr. Forese stray from conservative principles during his time at the Arizona Corporation Commission.

The idea of budgeting additional money for newly created committees, which the commission did not have before, led Commissioner Bob Burns to dissent from the commission’s budget request, a rare move meant to register his discontent with the program.

Calling the process illegal, a utility regulator is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to void last week's vote giving the state's largest electric utility permission to immediately charge its customers an extra $7 a month.

In an extensive ruling Monday, Judge Daniel Kiley rejected arguments by Arizona Public Service that he is legally powerless to intercede in what the company contends is a dispute among Arizona Corporation Commissioners.

The Arizona Corporation Commission is still without an ethics code, despite an initial pledge a year ago to come up with one and a federal bribery case casting a shadow over the regulatory body.

Citing the indictment of one of its former members, state utility regulators voted today to review a policy allowing utility company owners to pass along some of their personal income tax burden to customers.

Lobbyist Jim Norton is stepping down from Axiom Public Affairs to fully focus on his defense against an indictment for fraud, bribery and other charges.

The city of Tempe is working to restrict the influence of lobbyists and money in elections beyond state law. City Councilwoman Lauren Kuby said, "Money is at the root of all public policy ills."

Picking up where he left off last year, Arizona Corporation Commissioner Bob Burns is pursuing rules on transparency and electioneering disclosure for his beleaguered regulatory body.

Forese took over as Corp Comm chairman today, while former Ducey staffer Ted Vogt was swiftly installed as executive director of the regulatory agency.