Former undocumented immigrants turned lawmakers want ‘Dreamers’ to speak out
House Democrats Isela Blanc and Cesar Chavez want “Dreamers” to keep making their voices heard and telling their stories as Congress wrestles with how to address Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Chris Kotterman: Former Boy Scout committed to seeing children succeed
For years, Chris Kotterman, the Arizona School Boards Association director of governmental affairs, always got the question, “Oh, are you Penny’s son?” But recently, as he has settled in his career, that question has flipped.
Lobbyists take leap of faith to open progressive firm in red state
No one is required to work for anyone, and lobbyists are no exception. But no firm in Arizona is as blunt about the process of vetting clients as Creosote Partners, launched this week by lobbyists Marilyn Rodriguez and Sam Richard.
Theresa Ulmer turns one term as a lawmaker into a career as a lobbyist
Theresa Ulmer has been a Capitol regular since 2010, when she was elected to her first and only term in the House of Representatives. And what a difference nearly a decade has made.
Some Republicans blame ‘left’ amid calls to tone down rhetoric following Virginia shooting
The revelation that alleged Alexandria, Virginia shooter James Hodgkinson was a Bernie Sanders volunteer whose social media postings were filled with anti-Trump and anti-Republican rhetoric brought a round of recriminations from some Arizona Republicans who blamed the “left” for the attack.
Dems see tough primary as the way to a gubernatorial win
The Democratic gubernatorial candidates crave a scrappy primary race in 2018, one they hope will produce a candidate strong enough to unseat Republican incumbent, Gov. Doug Ducey.
Wrap up with Katie Hobbs
Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs, D-Phoenix, led Democrats in her chamber through yet another session where the minority party tried and failed to substantively change the budget. But the Phoenix Democrat found a few reasons to be pleased with the session, while mostly remaining frustrated by Republican legislative victories.
Passage of election consolidation – from the Capitol to the courthouse
Republicans who pushed for Senate Bill 1152 intending to spark a lawsuit over consolidated elections will likely get their wish.
Testy session, debates marked by use of ‘impugning’ rule in House
Throughout the 2017 legislative session, the House floor was a hotbed of animosity, as Democratic lawmakers repeatedly tested the boundaries of what they could say about their colleagues, and Republican lawmakers repeatedly tested the limits of how far the chamber’s rules could stretch to limit speech.
Wrap up with Doug Ducey
In the end, Gov. Doug Ducey got nearly everything he wanted – slightly more money for teachers, a huge university bonding plan and several controversial education programs like universal vouchers and performance funding for schools.
Democrats almost had a voice in budget process, but Republicans didn’t hear them
Republicans say Democrats overplayed their hand. Gov. Doug Ducey and GOP leaders were willing to talk, but Democrats asked for too much and were too firmly entrenched in their request to make negotiating a reality.
Socialists spring from Democratic Party fissure
Although Democrats and leftists have united in their opposition to Trump, experts say there’s still a gaping wound that hasn’t healed after the Democratic primary.