Democrats call on one of their own to resign
Democrats in the House and Senate are calling for one of their own to step down amid allegations of domestic violence.
Rep. Daniel Patterson’s former live-in girlfriend and campaign manager was granted an order of protection against him on Friday, liberal blog Three Sonorans reported yesterday.
Perhaps in an attempt to avoid another drawn-out saga like the one after former Sen.[...]
Capitol Quotes: Feb. 24, 2012
This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.
Swift budget unveiling spurs critics
In less than 24 hours, the House and Senate had introduced, discussed, and voted on their budget proposals – a move that has led some lawmakers to grouse about the lack of time to consider the important policy implications.
Bill would require all college students to pay $2,000 of their tuition
The House Appropriations committee narrowly passed a bill today that would require all university students to pay at least $2,000 of their tuition.
House Dems: Tea party bills diverting attention from jobs, education
“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.
House Democrats pushing renewable energy bills
Give money to schools to install solar panels on their roofs. Eliminate extra paperwork for homeowners seeking to install panels on their roofs. Endorse a plan that encourages utilities to invest in the state’s renewable energy industry.
Tobin defends secretive map drawing
While legislative Republicans have repeatedly castigated the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission for sometimes operating outside of the public’s view, House Speaker Andy Tobin’s counterproposal was written out of anyone’s view.
Special election on redistricting would cost $8M
If Republicans go along with House Speaker Andy Tobin’s plan to force a special election that would seek to change the state’s legislative and congressional maps, it will cost Arizona more than $8 million.
House GOP looks to rule change for spending limit
House Republicans are trying to get around one of last year’s vetoes by amending the Legislature’s procedural rules.
Obama reprises State of the Union themes, praises Intel
With Intel’s Chandler factory serving as a backdrop and an example of the kinds of high-tech manufacturing jobs he wants to bring back to the United States, President Barack Obama reprised much of his State of the Union address in Arizona during a speech today.
Standing before thousands of cheering supporters and Intel employees, Obama praised the microprocessor manufacturer as the type[...]
Dems call for bipartisan cooperation, funding restoration, business tax reform
Democratic lawmakers today outlined their goals for the 2012 legislative session, stressing a need for bipartisan cooperation, while also ripping Republican-led legislation of recent years.
Q&A with House Minority Leader Chad Campbell
It hasn’t been a banner past couple years for the Democrats. Faced with a Republican supermajority, their power at the Legislature has been limited.
Assessing this year’s session, House Minority Leader Chad Campbell has a similarly dim outlook. Democrats are still outnumbered two-to-one, and a looming election may mean lawmakers focus on more ideological issues. But there are some p[...]