Failed union legislation drives primary challenges to incumbent Democrats
The ghosts of defeat, of deals gone awry and of soured relationships are haunting House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez and several of her close allies in the party as influential labor attorney and lobbyist Israel Torres is flooding contested Democratic primaries with union cash
State’s 3 universities are powerhouses in struggle against virus
Times of crisis test us in many different ways. Usually, in ways we feel like we could have happily lived without. But it is also the case that as we […]
GOP legislators look to curtail emergency powers of governor
Some lawmakers say it’s time to revisit Arizona laws that give the governor broad powers in cases of emergency. Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, wants a constitutional amendment sent to […]
Q&A with House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez
House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez led a wartime caucus. Besieged by a majority that alternated between hostility and indifference, a public health crisis and a state in general disarray, the […]
Progressive organizers continue winning streak in truncated session
Six months ago – or an eternity, depending on how you count – before the coronavirus, before the most recent wave of public demonstration against police violence, before the David […]
Capitol pivots to create agenda for special session(s)
Lawmakers and staff are preparing for multiple special legislative sessions to address COVID-19 and economic recovery now that the regular session has officially ended.
House adjourns, bringing session to uneasy close
The state House of Representatives has finished its work and notified the Senate of its intent to adjourn sine die today, bringing one of the strangest legislative sessions in recent […]
First House floor session in COVID era begins with failed adjournment motion
The state House’s first floor session since March began — and nearly ended — with fireworks. Almost immediately, Democrats on Tuesday moved to notify the Senate that the chamber had […]
A majority under pressure reveals legislative fissures
Early the morning of May 7, a Thursday, a motley crew of senior Senate Republicans and their Democratic counterparts, disregarding a chorus of conflicting desires from the membership as a whole, pulled the plug on the 2020 legislative session.
Legislature on track to adjourn May 1
The Arizona Legislature will end its session next week, killing hundreds of outstanding bills and giving lawmakers several months to hunker down and prepare to come back in the summer -- by which time a clearer picture will emerge of the state’s financial and physical health.
Ducey could have sole discretion over a large pot of state, federal aid funds
The passage of a federal stimulus package to help state and local governments weather the COVID-19 pandemic gives Gov. Doug Ducey discretion over at least part of a $1.5 billion sum — adding to tens of millions he already had at his disposal as part of an emergency spending plan passed by the Legislature in March.
Legislature passes $11.8B budget, $50M for COVID-19 aid
The Arizona Legislature will adjourn until April 13 after lawmakers in the House passed a $50 million deal Monday intended to mitigate the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.