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Tempe Democrat recycling old bills, hoping Legislature eventually will pay attention
Sen. Ed Ableser came out of the gate sprinting — pre-filing 17 bills before the session began. But after seven years in Legislature’s Democratic minority, previously as a member of the House, he has learned to temper his hopes of actually getting them signed into law.
Wild West moments of 2012
While the mood at the state Capitol this past year might be best described as riotous, 2012 — the Chinese Year of the Dragon — was marked with fewer gaffes, catfights and over-the-top name calling among Arizona’s political elite.
Supervisors decide not to replace Arredondo
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has decided not to appoint a temporary replacement for former Rep. Ben Arredondo, who resigned on Oct. 9 after pleading guilty to federal criminal charges.
Republicans to lose Senate supermajority but still dominate chamber
The wave that carried a Republican supermajority into the Legislature two years ran into a seawall tonight, when the G.O.P. appeared to have lost four seats in the Senate, thereby giving up the power to override a gubernatorial veto.
Ed Ableser beats Jerry Lewis
Voters’ love affair with Sen. Jerry Lewis, the Mesa Republican who unseated Russell Pearce last year, ended tonight. Despite a strong push to the finish, Lewis lost his race to his Democratic opponent, Rep. Ed Ableser of Tempe, the initial vote tally tonight showed.
Republican group targets state Senate races
A well-funded independent expenditure group launched what is likely to be the first of numerous attacks targeting three Democratic candidates in hotly-contested state Senate races.
Lewis proposes strict lobbying reform; Ableser accuses senator of copying his plan
Sen. Jerry Lewis, the Mesa Republican who ran on a platform of transparency and lobbying reform during the recall election last year, on Oct. 3 unveiled a proposal to tighten the reporting requirements for legislators and lobbyists and make it easier for the public to find out how the two groups interact.
Ableser goes on offensive vs. Lewis in Senate debate
Rep. Ed Ableser, a Democrat from Tempe, last night pressed Republican Sen. Jerry Lewis, R-Mesa, over his support for a state budget that kept money for schools relatively flat and didn’t restore funding for an insurance program for low-income children.
Republican Senate candidates hold financial advantage
Republican legislative candidates in hotly-contested races have on the whole stockpiled a bigger war chest than Democrats as November approaches, finance reports filed with the Secretary of State show.
GOP Sen. Lewis competes against Rep. Ableser in Democrat-friendly Tempe
After several tries, Sen. Jerry Lewis, R-Mesa, finally found a resident who was willing to step outside his door and talk about politics one Saturday morning in September. Armed with a voter list and a pocket full of flyers, Lewis, who is running for the state Senate against Democratic Rep. Ed Ableser of Tempe, had been knocking on several doors in a working class neighborhood in Tempe.
Arizona Legislative campaign finance round-up
Mesa businessman Bob Worsley has far outraised his primary opponent, former Senate President Russell Pearce, taking in about $67,000 in contributions during the first five months of the year. Pearce, meanwhile, collected a mere $2,800 during the same period, according to the latest campaign finance reports. The deadline to file the reports was July 2, and they reflect campaign finances throu[...]
