Mesnard aims to reaffirm state’s debt limit, end ‘creative financing’
The way Sen. J.D. Mesnard sees it, when the people who crafted the Arizona Constitution put in a $350,000 debt limit they weren't kidding.
Independent healthcare providers believe health plans should pay their bills
It is not controversial to ask companies to pay their bills on time, talk to their partners when there is a dispute and provide a reason if they are not going to pay their bills. This is what HB2290 asks the commercial health insurers to do.
Senate votes to exempt new businesses from having to pay state taxes
Starting a new business? Arizona lawmakers apparently want to help you succeed.
Senate kills expansive zoning deregulation plan
The Senate killed a bill with some bipartisan opposition– and a hint of bipartisan support– on Monday that would have drastically cut down on zoning restrictions statewide in the sponsor’s hopes of increasing Arizona’s affordable housing supply.
Will Big Pharma fool Congress again?
Why do some Capitol Hill lawmakers continue to peddle Big Pharma’s predatory drug pricing agenda? Arizonans desperately need Congress to lead on this issue.
Dual enrollment opens the door to college
After three years of declining student achievement, increased absenteeism, and rising dropout rates, the Arizona Senate is considering a bill to address all those issues.
Bill would let certain parents bring loaded guns onto campuses
House lawmakers voted Wednesday to let certain parents bring their loaded guns onto school campuses despite the fact they themselves are protected by rules and a metal detector that keep their armed constituents out.
Mayes, lawmakers slam Saudi water deal
Officials on both sides of the aisle want to do something about the deal that’s letting a Saudi-based company pump Arizona groundwater for nothing more than the price of a cheap land lease in La Paz County.
Report: teacher recruitment and retention crisis continues
Arizona’s teacher recruitment and retention crisis stretched into a seventh year, according to the most recent survey data from the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association.
House votes to waive AEL with bipartisan support
The House voted to waive the aggregate expenditure limit (AEL) today with bipartisan support, clearing the two-thirds majority necessary to send it forward. The resolution, sponsored by Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, needed 40 votes to pass and received 46.
Bill addresses release of terminally ill inmates
The Board of Executive Clemency would no longer have to seek out a governor’s signature to grant release to inmates with terminal illnesses and would generally expand the power of the board to grant medical release under a proposed bill.
Sinema’s immigration plan doesn’t work for Arizonans
Kyrsten Sinema -- Arizona's Democrat-turned-independent U.S. senator -- and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina recently negotiated an immigration package that, in theory, could solve the worst border crisis in American history. Unfortunately, in practice, the package would do little to staunch the record influx of illegal immigrants. If anything, it could make the problem even worse.