House approves money aimed at stopping smugglers
The House has approved a measure that will give $5 million to Pinal County to fight drug smugglers, despite opposition from Democrats who said the money would be better spent paying for a transplant program that was cut last year.
Bundgaard stays on as Majority Leader
Scott Bundgaard remains majority leader of the Arizona Senate after a closed caucus of Republicans met amid controversy over his involvement in an alleged domestic violence incident.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Gould, the Ethics Committee chairman, is still mulling the mechanics of a potential Ethics Committee hearing into the incident.
Ariz. Senate OKs resolution backing Wis. governor
To the irritation of minority Democrats, the Republican-led Arizona Senate is on record as supporting Wisconsin's Republican governor in his fiscal belt-tightening efforts that include restricting collective bargaining for public employees.
The superminority quandary
House Democrats have introduced 178 bills in the 2011 legislative session, and at the 52-day mark only 19 of those bills remained alive.
In filing bills, they have a choice: Make a statement and lose, or move to the center and (maybe) survive.
IRC choice for chairman: Independent Colleen Mathis
The four partisan members of the Independent Redistricting Commission appointed a politically independent chairwoman on Tuesday, and made public pledges to cooperate with each other through what some believe will turn into anything but a nonpartisan task.
Arizona redistricting panel to meet for first time
The state's new redistricting commission meets for the first time Thursday, with the four members picked so far selecting an independent who will serve as the fifth member and chairman.
Women in Public Policy
Which veteran lawmaker is tone-deaf? Which one would pass out campaign yo-yos if she could? One even says she eats dessert first if it is available “just in case something happens” that would prevent her from enjoying it later. The 50th Legislature, which started in January, features 31 women lawmakers, which is an increase of three over the 49th Legislature’s total of 28. While this grou[...]
Giffords’ friends in Congress to hold fundraiser
Congressional friends of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, the Tucson congresswoman shot in January, are holding a campaign fundraiser next month for her 2012 election.
Arizona redistricting panel to hold first meeting
Arizona's redistricting commission meets for the first time later this month as it reconstitutes itself to start the process of drawing new congressional and legislative districts for use in the coming decade.
Not too competitive
The Arizona Legislative Latino Caucus today made it clear they believe maintaining districts that are practically guaranteed to send Hispanic lawmakers to the Legislature is more important than creating competitive districts.
Capitol Quotes: Jan. 28, 2011
‘A guy named Prescott Winslow lost in Winslow. Why was that?’ — Andrei Cherny, on Democrats’ poor showing in the 2010 election.
Cherny yanking deflated Dems toward the center
Faced with the task of bringing his party back from the worst defeat in its history, newly elected Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny is looking toward the center.