Lesko’s decision opens door for fresh faces in LD27
U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko’s decision not to run for re-election in Congress leaves an opportunity for fresh faces to replace some of the most high-profile Republicans in the state Legislature, including the leader of the state House of Representatives. House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Peoria, announced his candidacy on Nov. 2 to run for the seat occupied by Lesko in Congress.
Lawmakers consider two potential Rio Verde water solutions
A potential solution to get water to the Rio Verde Foothills passed through the Legislature on Monday, but even though the residents like it, a different proposal might have a better chance of becoming law.
House Dems resume voting for bills, end protest
House Democrats resumed voting in support of bills this week after voting “no” against all bills put up for a vote last week.
Panel moves to force Scottsdale to give Rio Verde water
A House panel passed a bill that would force Scottsdale to temporarily resume service providing water to the unincorporated Rio Verde community, but Democrats withheld the support needed for immediate relief.
GOP lawmakers ready budget to send to Hobbs
Legislative Republicans are gearing up to send a budget to Gov. Katie Hobbs soon, which will likely be met with a hasty veto.
Slew of newcomers fill empty seats in Legislature
The House will start 2022 with nine new members who were appointed to fill spots that opened due to a slew of resignations after the 2021 session. And that means new faces will be heading a couple of powerful committees.
Senate closes doors on transparency
Months after the Senate lifted other Covid restrictions, doing away with requirements to wear masks or keep distance at meetings, the building remained locked and historically public caucus meetings continued being held behind closed doors.
Lawmakers can call bluff with slim margin
House Republican leaders bent on passing a flat tax and succeeding with threadbare majorities where past Republican supermajorities had failed hatched a plan last week: put the tax bills up for a vote and embarrass their outspoken holdout into voting for it.
From luaus to private parties, fundraising persists despite COVID
With the election drawing near, lawmakers are ramping up efforts to fundraise. For some, this means hosting or attending parties – even as the COVID-19 pandemic, though subdued in Arizona since its mid-summer peak, continues to kill dozens in the state each day.
Incumbents kill union ploy to shape Democratic caucus
When Democratic primary voters rebuked a series of challengers to progressive incumbents and their allies on August 4, they weighed in on the identity crisis of a long-suffering party finally approaching the precipice of success.
Even amid COVID, scandals set the tone at the Legislature
The 2020 session was, in some ways, the story of two scandals: one that rocked the Capitol and continued reverberating weeks after the Legislature adjourned, and one that quickly fizzled... […]
House resumes work, pushes liability bill
Republican lawmakers are moving to make it harder for someone who contracts COVID-19 to sue the business where they believe they were infected or a company that made a device... […]