Republicans’ ‘bait-and-switch’ budget lacks vision
Arizona Legislative Republicans did the state a disservice by pushing through a bait-and-switch budget that lacks vision, leaves kids of working families without health care coverage and fails to create jobs.
Democrats choose partisan zeal over participating in the great Arizona recovery
Republicans passed a budget this week and, as usual, we did so without the help of Democrats. Despite the fact that we made no cuts in essential services while providing $150 million for statewide K-12 education funding, $21 million for universities and $100 million for health & welfare programs, there never seems to be enough spending to satisfy all their demands.
Bill aimed at stopping United Nations takeover of U.S. advances
The Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday gave initial approval to a bill that some proponents say is aimed at stopping a United Nations conspiracy to take away the rights of American citizens. Critics say the bill is not only based on crackpot “one-world-order” theories, but that it would make valuable state programs illegal and take away the state’s authority to manage natural r[...]
Democrat-turned-independent Nicholas Fontana to replace Patterson
Nicholas Fontana, a Tucson criminal defense attorney who will replace former Rep. Daniel Patterson in the Arizona House of Representatives, said he switched his life-long Democratic affiliation to independent, just so he would qualify for the seat.
House OKs bill protecting licensed workers who deny services on religious grounds
Arizona workers would not lose their professional licenses for denying services on religious grounds under a new bill, although supporters acknowledged they knew of no cases where such action had occurred.
Patterson re-registered as a Democrat before resigning
Last week, Daniel Patterson ditched his Democratic Party affiliation and registered as an independent, decrying partisan politics at the Capitol.
But at some point yesterday, Patterson re-registered as a Democrat, the Pima County Recorders Office confirmed. The Pima County Democratic chairman said Patterson told him he did it before he resigned, a move that thrusts the appointment proc[...]
Ethics Committee: Expel Patterson
After two hours of back-and-forth discussion, the House Ethics Committee today voted to recommend Rep. Daniel Patterson’s expulsion from the House of Representatives, and one committee member said to expect a full House vote on the recommendation later this afternoon.
Patterson demands ethics hearing to cross-examine accusers
Rep. Daniel Patterson today demanded that the House Ethics Committee give him an opportunity to testify before its members, cross-examine his accusers and address each incident of impropriety anonymously claimed against him.
Patterson said the ethics charges against him result from a group of lobbyists and lawmakers who sought a reason to have him kicked out of office, and one civil rig[...]
Arizona House rejects immediate ouster of Patterson
The Arizona House has refused to immediately expel Rep. Daniel Patterson over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward other lawmakers but agreed to speed up the pending ethics case against the newly turned independent from Tucson.
Az House kills bill to divert land conservation funds
The Arizona House has voted down a proposal to use $40 million from a land-conservation fund for forest restoration and historical and cultural resources.
House advances $700k ‘compromise’ funding for Redistricting Commission
The Arizona House of Representatives today gave preliminary approval to a plan that would give the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission $700,000 to get through the rest of the fiscal year, after a series of costly court battles drained the commission’s $3.5 million in yearly operating money.
Patterson lashes out against fellow Dems
Rep. Daniel Patterson lashed out against his colleagues today, saying that he was the victim of a “lynch mob mentality” and that some members were going to “look very foolish” when the truth came out.
The Tucson Democrat said that he would not be “bullied” into stepping down or reconsidering his bid for re-election this fall, despite being dogged by accusations of domestic v[...]