House panel approves poverty benefits extension, but with strings attached
An Arizona House panel approved a bill that would allow people living in poverty to receive cash assistance for longer.
Time limit strikes back: Cut in aid to needy families costs DES millions
The Department of Economic Security has a $9 million shortfall in its child support division caused by repeated limits to TANF, according to a budget request it sent to the Governor’s Office. Without the backfill of funds, DES says its services, like finding child support scofflaws, could be hobbled.
State representative indicted in alleged food stamp scam
A state grand jury has indicted a Democratic lawmaker on allegations she ripped off the state’s food stamp program.
Bill preempting cities from imposing business mandates passes
State lawmakers took two slaps at local governments in the name of business interests but, in the end, just couldn't bring themselves to approve a third.
State measure would prevent cities from setting their own minimum wages
The Arizona Senate tomorrow is set to consider a measure that would strip Arizona’s counties, cities and towns of the ability to set their own minimum wages and their explicit right to adopt employee benefits of their own liking.
Revised pay bill would exclude sick leave, health insurance, maternity leave
State lawmakers are moving to undermine the ability of cities to require employers to provide things like sick leave to local workers. And they're doing it in a back-door way.
Prescott appealing firefighter benefits ruling
Prescott is appealing a retirement board's decision to grant benefits to one of the 19 Hotshots killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire.
Arizona finishes 12th in national ranking on energy-efficiency policies
WASHINGTON – Arizona is the 12th-most energy-efficient state in the nation this year, the same position the state held last year, according to rankings released Wednesday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Cuts to food stamp benefits hit more than 1 million Arizonans Friday
More than 1.1 million Arizonans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – better known as food stamps – will see their benefits reduced Friday in a long-planned national cut.
Arizona legislation planned on responders’ benefits
Some of the firefighters killed in the Yarnell Hill Fire were only seasonal Prescott city employees so their families don't qualify for full survivors' benefits, but a legislative leader wants to change that.
Domestic partners employed by state gain win at Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court today let stand a ruling that struck down Arizona’s policy of denying benefits for domestic partners of state employees.
Judges’ pension case linked to meaning of the word ‘benefit’
Justices on the Arizona Supreme Court on June 4 wanted a clear definition of a benefit to help them decide whether the Legislature’s 2011 cut in annual cost-of living-increases for state retirees is constitutional.