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All eyes on the House after Senate approves pension reform
A jubilant Senate claimed victory on a historic public safety pension overhaul on Thursday, passing a long-awaited and hard-bargained package of reform bill out of the chamber with unanimous support.
State Senate panel OKs police and fire pension plan overhaul
Legislation enacting a major overhaul of the state's badly underfunded public safety worker pension plan was unanimously approved Wednesday by a Senate committee and will likely come to a vote Thursday by the full Senate.
Senate seeks speedy pension reform, but House wary
Flanked by Senate President Andy Biggs, local officials and a coalition of various public safety groups, Republican Sen. Debbie Lesko on Tuesday publicly unveiled the much-anticipated legislation to overhaul the Public Safety Personnel Pension System.
House reportedly working on competing pension reform measure
A few hours before a landmark overhaul of the state’s pension system for police officers and fire fighters was set to be publicly unveiled by a senator who negotiated the legislation with union and city officials over the past year, some stakeholders were summoned to a meeting in the House, where multiple sources said competing legislation might be offered.
Senate committee passes photo-radar ban on state highways
A Senate committee has passed a ban on photo radar along state highways that would only affect two cities.
Sen. Lesko decides not to run for Corporation Commission
Sen. Debbie Lesko, R-Peoria, has decided not to seek a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission. Instead, Lesko said she will run re-election to the Senate.
Non-solar customers should not have to subsidize solar users
Solar is undoubtedly a popular energy choice for consumers across Arizona. The topic comes up on a regular basis when talking with my constituents.
Senate President Lesko?
The career path for Lesko does not necessarily lead to the Corp Comm – at least not immediately, a Capitol railbird told our reporter yesterday. The source said there is a very short list of senators who can succeed Biggs as Senate President, and Lesko sits atop it.
Firefighters seek pension reform, but compromise elusive
Faced with the prospect of an insolvent retirement system, the Arizona firefighters union has largely embraced a pension reform proposal offered by the Legislature four years ago and have hunkered down to put their own version of that plan into motion.
The other side of brave is crazy
Lesko has been leading work groups with Arizona Free Enterprise Club, law enforcement and firefighters’ unions, cities, Ducey’s office and others to discuss PSPRS reforms. Last week, she had a meeting with the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank that advocates for public pension reform.
Pension reform coming, but how remains unsettled
Firefighters have been working with Biggs and Lesko on a plan to reform PSPRS, and hope to push a constitutional amendment in 2016 – the only question is whether lawmakers will send the amendment to the ballot or whether the firefighters will have to dip into their own funds to launch an initiative campaign.
