Who’s got the juice? Some of the biggest power brokers of 2014 election are unknown
Determining the most influential people of 2014 becomes far more difficult when so many of them are anonymous. Such was the case in Arizona, where a predominant feature of the election cycle was “dark money,” the anonymous campaign spending that has proliferated in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Citizens United ruling in 2010.
A rooftop ‘brawl’ over solar energy’s soul
The Corp Comm’s hearing yesterday (Nov. 13) into APS’s proposal to install solar rooftop panels brought about passionate defenses of the company’s pitch and the existing rooftop-solar industry, but also attacks and snide remarks. “This is a brawl,” one industry insider told our reporter yesterday (Nov. 13).
If things were better, it would be worse
Some lawmakers are kicking around the possibility of delaying the implementation of the phased-in tax cuts that were part of the 2011 Arizona Competitiveness Package. But thanks to the sluggish economy, the fiscal impact of those cuts is smaller than JLBC anticipated when the bill was passed.
Court gives immigrants in Arizona chance for bail
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling has cleared the way for a wave of bail hearings for immigrants across Arizona. Hundreds of immigrants who have been denied bail under a strict Arizona law will now have the opportunity to be released.
AP Sources: Executive orders on immigration to affect millions
President Barack Obama is poised to act soon to unveil a series of executive actions on immigration that will shield possibly around 5 million immigrants living in the country illegally from deportation, according to advocates in touch with the White House.
Douglas’ first task: Administering state’s new Common Core test
The first task for Diane Douglas, who calls her election to superintendent of public instruction a mandate to end Common Core, will be overseeing the state’s new test for measuring public school students under the learning standards.
Cochise County Attorney Allen R. English
Allen Robert English, born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1858, earned a law degree by age 19. His father was a well-to-do shipbuilder and his mother was from a pioneer Irish family, the Fitzgeralds of Maryland.
Caught in the middle: Democrats, Republicans rejoice in defeating Orr
In his attempt to walk the middle road in the highly partisan Arizona Legislature, Republican Rep. Ethan Orr of Tucson united the conservative right and the liberal left against him, creating strange bedfellows and a perfect storm that swept him out of office.
Pending tax cuts scrutinized as debt rises
Three factors have consistently been cited as big contributors to the estimated $1 billion deficit the state will face in fiscal year 2016 and some lawmakers are urging action on the one they actually control — tax cuts from a three year-old economic stimulus bill.
Utility regulators shelve proposal to soften open meeting law
If three of the five members of the Arizona Corporation Commission coincidentally attend the same holiday party next month, that could land them in hot water.
Arizona should seize the moment as a trade partner with Mexico
The dynamic friendship between Arizona and Mexico is again at a crossroads, as Mexico’s burgeoning middle class and rising economic status stand to change the dynamics once more. Arizona should take advantage of this moment and continue advancing positive relationships and trade partnerships with Mexico.
Fate of the hidden museum
As the Burton Barr Phoenix Central Library approaches its 20th anniversary, the potential and promise of an integrated curriculum of art and literature lie ahead with a renewed focus on the body of knowledge art is capable of contributing to the overall curriculum of the library.