Gov. Jan Brewer threw a counterpunch at GOP lawmakers following the Monday release of their budget plan, ordering a halt to meetings between the two sides’ budget staffs until the legislative budget plan is changed to address some of her key concerns.

A state House committee has approved a bill requiring full-time students pay generally $2,000 annually toward their tuition at a state university.

Phil Lovas, a 43-year-old hotel developer and Peoria Republican, will replace Rep. Judy Burges in the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 4.

“Extremist” bills inspired by the tea party movement are taking the Legislature’s attention away from issues important to Arizonans, such as jobs, fixing schools and making government accountable, House Democratic leaders said Monday.

In 2009, this city had so many foreclosures that President Barack Obama appeared at one of its high schools to speak about the national housing crisis. In 2011, a Mesa district recalled its state senator and anti-immigration leader Russell Pearce in a historic election. A month ago, Gov. Jan Brewer shook her finger at Obama at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

A proposal to allow guns on university and college campuses is stuck in the Senate.

The bill’s chief sponsor, Sen. Ron Gould, R-Lake Havasu City, said he’s so far only corralled 13 “yes” votes for the proposal.

As Sen. Linda Gray’s final term at the Legislature winds down this year, she fondly recalls the friendships and accomplishments she will take with her. What she isn’t fond of is being forced to go.

“It’s the only ‘profession’ in which when you become good at it, you’re asked to leave,” Gray says.

When Rep. Russ Jones moved into his office in the Arizona House of Representatives, his predecessor, Rep. Jim Carruthers, told him to beware of the “trains” that he could see, but perhaps would not hear coming.      

Conservative Republicans who dominate the Legislature say the timing is right to overhaul Arizona’s civil justice system, arguing the changes are needed to improve the state’s business climate.

But so far, their success has been mixed.

It's hard to believe the Arizona Legislature is spending its time on a bill to limit indecent speech by teachers. Of course, nearly everyone would agree teachers should not be foul or crass. But nearly no teachers are.