Lawmakers grateful for rainy-day fund, some hold to principles against it
As some grocery store shelves lay as bare as Cactus League stadiums and restaurant dining rooms, lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature are scurrying to wrap up their business, begin their social isolation and hunker down for a storm. Their rainy day is here.
Old tactics, new territory as lawmakers embrace partisan COVID-19 framing
In any other week, Rep. Anthony Kern’s dinner choices wouldn’t have mattered to anyone but the most fervent crusader against lobbyist influence. This week, depending on who you ask, he’s either a hero fighting government overreach or the face of irresponsibility.
Arizona lawmakers mull shutting down session to prevent coronavirus spread
A House Democrat has announced he’ll be stepping back from most lawmaking duties for the remainder of the session amid calls from some legislators to temporarily suspend the session to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, known as COVID-19.
Legislative Democrats unveil ‘the people’s’ budget proposal
Democrats in the House and Senate released their $12.5 billion budget proposal Monday morning, insisting that it’s not too late for the minority party to get a seat at the negotiating table even as crossover week approaches.
Senate leaders not interested in investigating sexual harassment allegation against Ugenti-Rita
Republican leadership in the Arizona state Senate has no interest in investigating allegations of sexual harassment made against Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, and Senate Democrats are not pushing the issue.
Senate Democrats call for investigation of Ugenti-Rita over sexual harassment allegations
Senate Democrats today asked Senate President Karen Fann to investigate whether Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita violated the Senate’s sexual harassment policy.
Big fights loom over few differences in GOP spending proposals
Cage fighting has begun at the state Capitol.
Ducey goes partisan in 2020 State of the State Address
As Gov. Doug Ducey welcomed in a new decade with his address to the joint session of the Legislature on January 13, it became clear that he left the Era of Good Feelings behind in 2019.
Q&A with Senate Minority Leader David Bradley
As he enters his final year in the Legislature, Senate Minority Leader David Bradley is in a contemplative mood.
Vets, deregulation, corrections, education top Ducey’s 2020 priorities
Gov. Doug Ducey on Monday gave off his sixth State of the State address, reflecting on the last decade and calling to further his universal occupational licensing initiative, trim government and support an economy that grows with Arizona.
Borrelli again targets medical marijuana dispensary kitchens
A state GOP senator wants to allow the Arizona Department of Health Services to inspect medical marijuana kitchens without giving notice and blames the marijuana industry for killing the same effort last session.
Senate, fired Democratic staffer deadlock on reinstatement terms
The Arizona Senate and fired Democratic policy adviser Talonya Adams are headed back to court next week after failing to come to terms on her job reinstatement by the court-ordered deadline of Oct. 31.