Is the Arizona Chamber really serious about business?

When I received the Arizona Capitol Times (June 25, 2010) issue I was excited to see the front-page article entitled, “Business groups move to center.” The article starts off noting the commitment by the business community to send a message to our legislators to stop wasting time on “kooky stuff like ‘birther’ bills.”

Open Letter to Corporation Commission Candidate Barry Wong

Dear Mr. Wong: To say that I was shocked and dismayed to read in Wednesday's Arizona Republic of your proposal to deny utility services to illegal immigrants would be an understatement. Your cynical attempt to ratchet up the rhetoric over immigration to score cheap political points in a bid for office marks a new low in our state's immigration debate.

Court will hear employer sanctions law challenge

The Supreme Court is entering the nation's charged debate over immigration, agreeing to hear a challenge from business and civil liberties groups to an Arizona law that cracks down on employers who hire undocumented workers.

Business groups move to center

Arizona’s business community has sent a message to legislative candidates: Commit to a pro-business agenda, and stop wasting time with kooky stuff like “birther” bills.

In exchange, candidates who cooperate may get tons of cash for their campaigns and the support of chambers of commerce across the state.

McCain to hold town-hall meeting in Yuma

Sen. John McCain will be campaigning in Yuma in southwestern Arizona on Friday. The senator will open his Yuma County Campaign Office and then head to Armed Forces Park to receive an award from the county Chamber of Commerce.

Chamber chalked up wins, but still pushes for tax cuts

A number of important legislative reforms supported by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Arizona Manufacturers Council made their way to Gov. Jan Brewer and were signed into law, including, for the second consecutive year, major regulatory and tort reforms.

Lopsided campaigns await Prop. 100 vote

On one side of the Proposition 100 debate is a broad coalition with a seven-figure budget, organized rallies, signs on virtually every intersection and TV ads running statewide. On the other side is a group of vocal opponents with few resources, less than $100 in the bank and some “NO on 100” buttons.

Arizona Chamber stayed neutral, removing a big roadblock

Sen. Russell Pearce’s battles with Arizona’s business community over immigration policy have become legendary, but the Mesa Republican this year secured a ceasefire with the state’s largest business association by... […]

Special interests seek end run to gut Clean Elections

It’s been a dozen years since Arizona voters passed the landmark Citizens Clean Elections Act, allowing candidates to seek office without depending on corporate brass, labor unions and deep-pocketed special interests. Clean Elections has given community leaders, teachers and small business folk the chance to run for office and govern answerable not to Big Money, but to Arizona’s voters.

CEO of failed bank named financial institutions chief

The former CEO of a failed bank that went into receivership with federal officials in December will be Arizona's next top banking regulator.

Gov. Jan Brewer on April 6 named Valley Capital Bank CEO Lauren Kingry as the next superintendent of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions.

Uncharted territory: regulating social networking

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is about to tread into uncharted territory: regulating what employers can purposefully view on social networking sites.