Mesnard has privilege in talks with Ugenti-Rita
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled on November 18 that Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, has legislative privilege and doesn’t have to answer questions about conversations he had with Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, while he was speaker of the House and the expulsion of then-Rep. Don Shooter was pending.Â
Nutt resigns LD14 House seat
Rep. Becky Nutt is stepping down effective Monday. “It has been my great honor to serve with you, sir, and to be part of your leadership team these past three... […]
Rep. Lieberman resigns to run for governor
Rep. Aaron Lieberman announced Monday he is resigning from the state House of Representatives to focus on his gubernatorial campaign.Â
Sinema, Kelly, uncommitted on D.C. statehood
Thirty-three Democratic state senators and House members are calling on the state’s congressional delegation to support Washington, D.C., statehood, in advance of a June 22 U.S. Senate hearing on the topic.
D.C. statehood a racial, voting rights issue
When our State Senate considers D.C. statehood, they should treat this issue as a necessary and substantive pro-democracy reform rather than giving it the cursory and partisan treatment that the House did. If this issue comes up in the U.S. Senate, I hope Sens.Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly will recognize D.C. statehood for the racial justice and voting rights issue that it is.
The Breakdown: A sine die surprise
The Arizona Legislature is officially done, and what a weird session it's been.
Senate abruptly adjourns, House bills go down without vote
The Arizona Senate abruptly ended the 2020 legislative session today, catapulting leaders into planning for a special session an hour or so earlier than they expected. Senators, who already... […]
The Breakdown: Love letters and budget
The House is embroiled in scandal over a Republican representative’s personal life for the third time in as many years, and this time, there are letters.
Ex-Arizona lawmaker sentenced in fatal Alaska shooting
A former Arizona lawmaker convicted in the shooting death of a man at a remote cabin site in Alaska in 2016 has been sentenced to 65 years in prison, with 20 years suspended.
Walt Blackman: A graduate of ‘Real World U’
Walt Blackman could hardly believe that he was the first black Republican elected to the state Legislature. It’s true, though – the folks at the House checked it out for him.
Legislator proposes law to ban politics from classroom
Rep. Mark Finchem wants the State Board of Education to craft an educator code of ethics explicitly prohibiting politicking in the classroom - an activity already banned under state law.
House approves bill permitting ‘God enriches’ motto to be posted at schools
House Democrats failed Tuesday in their bid to keep the name of the Almighty out of the classrooms -- at least the English version.


















