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Plight of the minority: Was self-assigned ‘watchdog’ role a success for the Democrats?
Lacking the numbers to block Republican-backed bills, Democratic legislators billed themselves as watchdogs whose main task at the Capitol was to highlight legislation they considered to be harmful to the state.
Republicans decide against trying to override any of Brewer’s vetoes
Before the session began, Republicans crowed about the super majorities, and boasted that it would allow them to overrule Gov. Jan Brewer, should she have the temerity to veto their bills.
But Brewer vetoed 29 bills this year, including several that had overwhelming Republican support in both chambers. And despite their supermajority advantage, the Republicans in the House and Senate n[...]
Ethnic studies fight gets local: Controversial program pits Democrats against Democrats
The cultural clash over Tucson Unified School District’s ethnic studies program used to be one of Phoenix against the Old Pueblo.
A new conflict has emerged, however, which pits teachers in the program, their supporters and the Pima County Democratic Party against two Democratic school board members, the district’s superintendent and a Tucson group dedicated to improving public sch[...]
Speaker Tobin promises continuity, Court ‘honored’ to be new leader
The man with the gavel insists the change is more superficial than substantive.
“Speaker Adams and I have a very similar record, similar style,” Andy Tobin, R-Paulden, said just minutes after he was officially installed as speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives at a special April 28 meeting.
House budget serves as key issue in Senate races
Expect to hear a lot about the House GOP's budget blueprint going into next year's elections, particularly in Arizona, Nevada and wherever else Republican representatives hope to make the jump to the U.S. Senate
Recall efforts filed against 3 council members
Three of Phoenix's nine City Council members face recall efforts.
Ann Kirkpatrick announces plans to run again
Former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick has confirmed she is running for the U.S. House of Representatives. Kirkpatrick served one term in the House before losing last fall to Republican U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar.
Wisconsin’s Senate Republicans won’t turn page
As if pending litigation and recall elections weren’t enough to choke Wisconsin’s government to a halt, state Republicans have decided to prolong the volatile Senate relations sparked by Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill and antagonized by the Democrats’ multi-week stay in Illinois.
Heinz resigns as House minority whip
House Minority Whip Matt Heinz suddenly resigned his leadership post this afternoon, citing a need to spend more time and energy on legislation.
Senate budget: A bargaining chip?
Despite all the raw emotions it stirred and all the opposition it encountered, the Senate’s budget-slashing and gimmicks-busting proposal isn’t going to be state’s final spending plan.
Its most contentious aspects, more likely than not, will be softened and its most ragged edges smoothed out before it wins support in the House of Representatives and with Gov. Jan Brewer.
Arizona Senate advancing Republican budget plan
The Arizona Senate is advancing a budget plan with spending cuts that majority Republicans say are overdue to fit state spending to state revenue.
A hardy-hard job: Left with little legislative power, Democrats use humor to express discontent
Sen. Steve Gallardo, a Phoenix Democrat, gestures during an impassioned speech on the Senate floor. Gallardo and some of his Senate Democratic colleagues occasionally use humor to lampoon bills they dislike, but have no power to stop.
